FAQs

Because requirements and preparation are not the same thing. Many states do not require business or administrative training for directors, yet administrators make daily decisions that affect finances, staffing, compliance, and program stability. The credential prepares leaders to manage the business and systems side of early education, not just meet minimum qualifications.

A CDA prepares someone to teach in an early childhood classroom. An administrative credential prepares someone to manage a childcare program. Once an educator begins making decisions about staffing, budgets, enrollment, or policies, classroom training alone is no longer enough.

This credential was created and is taught by owners and directors who have operated childcare programs. It focuses on practical decision-making, shared vocabulary, and systems thinking across the entire administrative team. The content is field-tested, regularly updated, and designed for real childcare operations, not theory.

The Early Childhood Education National Administrator’s Credential is a professional credential that prepares administrators to manage the business, operations, and systems of an early childhood program.

The credential is designed for directors and assistant directors and is also useful for office managers, enrollment coordinators, site managers, and regional managers.

No. The CDA is for educators. This credential is for administrators. They serve different purposes and work best together.

Once you begin making decisions that affect staffing, budgets, enrollment, policies, or compliance, administrative training becomes necessary.

Most directors were promoted from teaching roles and were never trained in HR, finances, marketing, or operations. Many states do not require this training, which leaves administrators unprepared for the realities of the role.

Programs function better when administrators share a common vocabulary and understanding of how decisions connect. Team-based training reduces conflict, improves communication, and aligns priorities across roles.

It means administrators understand the same concepts, terms, and frameworks, allowing them to plan, evaluate results, and solve problems together instead of working in silos.

Enrollment drives revenue. Revenue determines how many staff can be hired, scheduled, and paid. Administrators must understand this relationship to make sustainable decisions.