Certificate in Child Development (Pre-degree)

Trinity Washington University’s Child Development Certificate program in Washington DC provides the complete 120 coursework hours required for a Child Development Associate (CDA®) credential. As the only Gold Standard CDA preparation program in the DC region, our certificate serves as a bridge to Trinity’s the Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE).

Earn a Certificate in Child Development that will help prepare you to work with children from birth through age eight. Coursework will cover how childcare centers, schools, and families interact to influence development and learning, the fundamentals of how young children learn, strategies to help early learners acquire language and literacy skills, and techniques for observing and assessing a child’s growth.

Gaining a professional certificate from an accredited university can advance your career and put you a step closer to earning a degree! Trinity has small class sizes for individualized attention, and faculty teaching foundational knowledge in an applied format, integrating students’ work and life experiences with the course information.

Trinity’s faculty have extensive experience in the early childhood field and our courses are designed to provide you with content immediately applicable to your work with young children. Embedded course assignments and activities are designed to build your professional CDA portfolio.

This certificate program is recognized as a Gold Standard level CDA preparation program with the Council for Professional Recognition (the issuing organization of the CDA). Trinity is the only college/university in the DC region to hold this recognition!

All courses can be applied towards an Associate of Arts (AA) Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) at Trinity Washington University.  Start with your Certificate today and seamlessly move onto an associate, bachelor’s, or even a master’s degree program for more career opportunities. See below for direct links to these degree programs!

If you already have a current, valid CDA certificate, you should consider the Associate Degree in ECE program linked below.

Why Earn Your Child Development Certificate in Washington DC at Trinity

Pursuing a Child Development Certificate at Trinity Washington University offers distinct advantages for early childhood educators in the DC region:

DC’s Only Gold Standard CDA Preparation

Trinity Washington University holds the exclusive distinction of being the only college or university in the Washington DC region recognized as a Gold Standard level CDA preparation program by the Council for Professional Recognition. This prestigious designation ensures that our certificate curriculum meets the highest industry standards, giving Trinity graduates a competitive advantage in the DC early childhood education job market.

DC Early Childhood Education Network

Washington DC’s unique early childhood landscape includes federal Head Start programs, diverse public and private preschools, and innovative early learning centers. Trinity’s faculty maintain active connections throughout this network, providing certificate students with insights into DC-specific early childhood policies, practices, and employment opportunities that impact their daily work with children.

Pathway to Educational Advancement in DC

Trinity’s Child Development Certificate program creates a seamless pathway to continued education within one of Washington DC’s premier college for educators. Certificate completers can transition directly into an associate’s degree program in education, with all certificate courses applying toward higher credentials that open additional career opportunities within DC’s education system.

DC-Focused Curriculum

The certificate curriculum addresses the specific needs and challenges of working with young children in Washington DC’s diverse urban environment. Students gain practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners, fostering cultural responsiveness, and navigating DC’s early childhood education quality rating system—skills immediately applicable in DC childcare settings.

Professional Portfolio Development

Trinity’s Child Development Certificate program incorporates assignments specifically designed to build artifacts for your Professional Portfolio—a key component of the CDA credential process. These portfolio-building activities focus on real-world scenarios encountered in Washington DC early childhood settings, preparing you for both credential completion and professional practice.

Local to the D.M.V. for more than 125 years

Trinity has been dedicated to serving learners in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia for over 125 years. At Trinity, your campus is practically next door if you are a resident of the District, Prince George’s County, Maryland, Montgomery County, Maryland, Alexandria Virginia, Arlington County, Virginia, and Fairfax County, Virginia.