Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →New JerseyChild care
CDA or college credits: which route suits New Jersey child-care staff
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Both routes meet New Jersey's group teacher rule. A CDA needs 120 training hours, 480 work hours and a $525 Council fee. Option B needs 15 college credits: 6 in early childhood education or child development and 9 in a related field. Credits build toward a degree and head teacher roles; a CDA is often quicker.
Two routes in the same rule
N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6 gives a New Jersey group teacher six credential options. Option B is the 6 + 9 college credit route. Option C is the Child Development Associate credential, awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition. Both need the same year of teaching experience with children under six, so the choice is about the credential, not the experience.
The right route depends on where you start, what you want next, and how you like to learn.
Side by side
The table compares the two routes on the points staff ask about most. Costs come from the Council and from Mercer County Community College's 2026-2027 rates; other providers and colleges charge their own prices.
| Point | CDA (Option C) | College credits (Option B) |
|---|---|---|
| What you complete | 120 hours of training + 480 hours of work + Council assessment | 6 ECE or child development credits + 9 related credits |
| Fee you can check | $525 online assessment fee | $260.55 a credit at Mercer for residents ($3,908.25 for 15) |
| Training cost | Varies by training provider | Varies by college and course provider |
| Counts later toward | The CDA itself; some colleges grant credit for it | An associate or bachelor's degree, and head teacher credits |
| Renewal | The Council sets renewal rules | Credits do not expire for this rule |
When the CDA makes sense
A CDA suits someone who already works in a center, wants the group teacher role soon, and does not plan a degree right away. The training covers eight subject areas, with at least 10 hours in each, and the work hours can come from the job you already have. The Council lists a $525 online assessment fee, and the training costs depend on the provider you choose.
The CDA is a credential, not college credit. Some colleges grant credit for it, but that is the college's choice, so ask before you count on it.
- You already work with children under six.
- You want the role within months.
- A degree is not part of your plan yet.
When college credits make sense
College credits suit someone who wants to grow past group teacher. A head teacher in New Jersey needs a degree plus credits in early childhood education or child development, and a director of a larger program needs a bachelor's or master's degree. Credits you earn for Option B can count toward those later steps, while the CDA alone does not.
The 6 ECE credits come from a college that offers early childhood education, such as a county college. The 9 related credits are more flexible. UPI Study's psychology courses carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations; TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Once a college posts the credit on its transcript, you can give the center that transcript. Ask DCF in writing first whether it would count.
- You want head teacher or director roles later.
- You plan an associate or bachelor's degree.
- You want to study at your own pace around shifts.
Mixing the two
Some staff earn a CDA first to meet the rule quickly, then build college credits over the next few years toward a degree. Others start with the 9 related credits in psychology while they work, then add the 6 ECE credits when a county college course fits their schedule. Either way, the year of experience, the 20 hours of yearly staff development and the center's staff records stay the same.
Whatever you choose, ask the DCF Office of Licensing in writing before you spend money, and keep the reply with your records.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the DCF Office of Licensing in writing, before you enrol, whether the 9 credits you plan to take would count toward Option B once they are on a college transcript, and keep the reply with your staff records.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Is a CDA enough to be a group teacher in New Jersey?
Yes, with the experience. Option C of N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6 is a Child Development Associate credential, and every group teacher also needs one year of teaching experience in a group program for children under six. The CDA does not on its own meet the head teacher or director rules.
What does a CDA cost?
The Council for Professional Recognition lists a $525 online assessment fee in its February 2026 process overview. The 120 hours of training cost extra, at whatever price your training provider charges. Check the Council's site for the current fee before you apply, because fees can change between years.
Do college credits help more later?
Usually. Credits can count toward an associate or bachelor's degree, and the head teacher options need a degree plus credits in early childhood education or child development. A college decides how it counts each credit, so ask the college in writing how it would post your courses before you take them.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Psychology of Diversity
Self-paced online Psychology of Diversity course (Psychology 112). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Get DCF's answer in writing first, then take your psychology courses at your own pace and have a college post the credit.
Sources
- NJ DCF: Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 3A:52) (official)3A:52-4.6(c)3: group teacher needs one year of teaching experience in a group program for children under six and one of Options A to F (associate degree in ECE or CD; 6 ECE/CD credits + 9 credits in Education, Psychology, Health Care, Nursing or a related field; CDA; CCP; Registry group teacher endorsement; NJ Infant/Toddler Credential). 4.6(c)5: conditional approval with 12 credits + 1 year (3 credits left, 9 months) or 6 ECE/CD credits + 3 years (9 credits left, 2 years). Head teacher Options A to G; director options. 3A:52-4.7: 20 hours of staff development a year for directors, head and group teachers. Manual effective 20 Dec 2023, expires 20 Dec 2030. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Council for Professional Recognition: CDA process overview (February 2026) (official)CDA needs 120 hours of formal early childhood education training (at least 10 in each of eight subject areas) and 480 hours of work experience within three years; online assessment fee $525. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Mercer County Community College: Tuition and fees (official)Summer 2026 to Spring 2027: $260.55 a credit for Mercer residents, $420.25 for other New Jersey residents, $450.85 out of state, including a $35.75 college fee and $34.50 technology fee per credit. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.