Competency-by-Competency Review and CDA Portfolio Completion

Why This Lesson Matters

You are close to the finish line. Two credentials stand between you and legal practice as a preschool teacher: the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition, and your State Childcare License granted by your state licensing board. Neither credential is earned by accident. Both require deliberate, organized preparation. This lesson walks you through a systematic review of all six CDA Competency Standards and shows you how to assemble a portfolio that meets the Council's submission requirements, while simultaneously pulling together the documents your state licensing board will demand.

The Six CDA Competency Standards

The Council for Professional Recognition organizes early childhood practice into six Competency Standards. Every question on your CDA Exam and every section of your Professional Portfolio maps to one of these standards.

• Competency Standard I – Safe and Healthy Learning Environment: You establish and maintain a setting that protects children from injury and supports their physical and nutritional well-being.
• Competency Standard II – Advancing Children's Physical and Intellectual Development: You use developmentally appropriate activities to build language, literacy, and cognitive skills alongside large- and small-motor development.
• Competency Standard III – Supporting Social and Emotional Development: You help children develop a sense of self, positive relationships with peers and adults, and the ability to manage their own behavior.
• Competency Standard IV – Building Family and Community Relationships: You establish ongoing, respectful partnerships with families and connect them to community resources.
• Competency Standard V – Using Effective Program Management Strategies: You observe, document, and use assessment data to plan and improve your program.
• Competency Standard VI – Maintaining a Commitment to Professionalism: You participate in ongoing learning, follow a code of ethics, and advocate for children and the profession.

During the station rotation, you will answer 20 practice questions for each standard, check your answers against rationale sheets, and log any questions you missed. A score below 75% on any station means you must meet with your instructor before moving on. Treat that conference as a resource, not a penalty.

Writing Strong Competency Statements

Your Professional Portfolio requires one Competency Statement for each of the six standards. A strong statement does three things:

1. Makes a clear claim — state directly that you are competent in this area.

2. Provides specific evidence from your practicum — name a real activity, interaction, or situation from your externship hours. Vague generalities do not satisfy the rubric.

3. Connects your actions to child outcomes — explain what changed or improved for a child or group of children because of what you did.

Example structure: "During my externship, I [specific action]. As a result, [child outcome]. This demonstrates my competency in [Standard]."

After drafting, exchange your statements with a peer who will use the portfolio rubric to give written feedback. Your instructor will then review and return written comments. Do not submit your portfolio to the Council until every statement is rated meets standard.

Safety Considerations Within Competency Standard I

Safety content appears heavily in Standard I and on the CDA Exam. Know these non-negotiable practices:

• Supervision ratios: Never exceed your state's required child-to-teacher ratio. Inadequate supervision is a leading factor in early childhood injuries.
• Safe Sleep: Follow current safe sleep guidelines for infants — firm, flat surface; no soft bedding; infants placed on their backs.
• Allergy and medication management: Document all known allergies prominently. Never administer medication without written parental authorization and, where required, a health-care provider's order.
• Emergency procedures: Know evacuation routes, shelter-in-place protocols, and your program's emergency contact chain. CPR and first aid certification must be current — confirm your card has not expired.
• Sanitation: Proper handwashing and surface disinfection prevent the spread of illness. Use approved, diluted solutions according to program policy and keep cleaning products locked away from children.

Assembling Your State Childcare Licensing Packet

Your state licensing board has its own checklist, and it is separate from the CDA portfolio. Requirements vary by state but commonly include:

• Current CPR and first aid certification cards
• Health clearance or tuberculosis screening documentation
• Background check receipt or clearance letter
• Transcripts or certificates showing required training hours
• A completed application form with fees

Work through your instructor-provided state checklist item by item. Flag anything missing and create a deadline to obtain it. Submitting an incomplete packet causes delays that may affect your start date of employment. Complete the mock licensing application packet in class so you are familiar with the form before you sign and submit the real one.

Putting It All Together

Success in this lesson means every station score is at 75% or above, every Competency Statement is rated meets standard, and your mock licensing packet has no missing items. These are not arbitrary benchmarks — they reflect exactly what the Council and your state board will require. Use error-pattern tracking to direct your final study time toward the standards and topics where your practice scores showed gaps. Peer feedback on your Competency Statements often catches vague language you cannot see in your own writing. Take that feedback seriously and revise before instructor review.