CDA Application Fee Scholarships – High School
Financial assistance for high school students to cover the cost of the CDA Council Application fee
After an eligible high school applicant completes their Career and Technical Education (CTE) training and is ready to apply to the CDA Council for the final components of their credential, DECAL Scholars offers the CDA Application Fee Scholarship to cover the $425 CDA Council Application fee (includes the exam and Professional Development Specialist (PDS) verification visit).
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If you are a high school student and have completed your CTE training, you may now apply for a CDA Application Fee Scholarship – High School.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible for CDA Application Fee Scholarships – High School, you must have:
Completed the CTE CDA/ECE Pathways coursework in one of Georgia’s public high schools within the past 12 months
CDA Application Fee Scholarships – High School
Frequently Asked Questions
The following documentation must be sent to DECAL Scholars in addition to your application:
-
Copy of official high school transcript showing completion of your CTE CDA/ECE Pathways coursework
- Copy of YourCouncil (CDA Council) CDA Profile page reflecting your customer ID number.
- Copy of the FRONT and BACK of a secure and verifiable document.
- Copy of your Georgia Professional Development System profile reflecting your GaPDS number, the name of your current employer, and a “Pending” or “Active” status (click here for more information).
If you have completed your CDA training, you can create a YourCouncil account and get ahead with filling in all of the information needed, compiling your portfolio, selecting your Professional Development Specialist (PDS) and your exam date, and more. However, you will not be able to complete your PDS verification visit or exam until the CDA Council receives payment from the CDA Application Fee Scholarship.
DECAL Scholars offers a CDA Exam Fee Retake Scholarship for one additional attempt at the exam if you failed on the first attempt. Contact support@decalscholars.com for more information.
Yes, DECAL Scholars Scholarships programs are here to support you throughout your educational journey. Visit our Academic Scholarships page to learn more about the next steps you can take to receive a college credential or degree.
It is a much faster process to submit your application and allow DECAL Scholars to pay the CDA Council directly for your Application fee upon approval of your DECAL Scholars application.
You can pay for the CDA Application fee on your own and submit the receipt for reimbursement, but please keep in mind it might take longer to process your payment.
Once your CDA Scholarships application is approved, DECAL Scholars will cover up to $425 of the cost of the CDA Application Fee, paid directly to the CDA Council.
The Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) is an innovative service provided by Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning for the early care and education workforce. It allows you to develop a profile of your career in early care and education including employment history, training hours and credentials/degrees earned.
Registering is easy! You can sign up immediately, even if you have not earned a credential or degree. Click here to download your free guide to creating a GaPDS account. To learn more about the GaPDS or to create your own GaPDS account visit gapds.decal.ga.gov.
If you have questions or need technical support, contact the GaPDS at 404-334-6461 (866-258-7737 outside the metro Atlanta area) or email gapds@decal.ga.gov.
While not a college credential, the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is an entry-level credential that is widely recognized in the industry, issued by the Council for Professional Recognition.
Earning the CDA credential is a three-step process that requires:
- 120 clock hours of CDA training covering 8 subject areas
- Experience in the classroom and compiling a portfolio
- CDA Exam and verification visit by a Professional Development Specialist (PDS)
The CDA credential must be renewed every three years. Click here to visit the Council for Professional Recognition’s website for complete information.
Several technical colleges provide programs that allow for the transfer of CDA training into college credits, although the specific rules vary among institutions. To obtain more information on this opportunity, it is recommended to contact the early childhood education department at the technical college of your preference.
Congratulations on completing your CDA training!
The next step is to create an account on YourCouncil to apply for your CDA credential. YourCouncil has all of the information you need to learn how to compile your CDA portfolio, select your PD specialist, choose an observation date, and choose your exam date.
It is important that you send all supporting documents at the time of completing your application to avoid any delays in processing.
DECAL Scholars accepts legible PDFs, screenshots, photo copies, scans, and photos. Please do not send documents as links.
ALL documents must be received by the last day of classes in the semester of which you are applying, to be considered for eligibility.