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Connecticut Director's Credential (CDC) Requirements

At each level of the CDC, applicants must document their knowledge and ability in the eight core areas of knowledge by:

  1. Meeting minimum educational requirements of 12 credits in Early Childhood (ECE) or After School (School-Age/Youth) Education including Child/Youth Development;
  2. Providing confirmation of required supervisory experience/supervised administrative/administrative experience in an early care or after school setting; and
  3. Presenting evidence of knowledge of administrative and leadership practice in the form of course credit, completion of approved training programs, completion of a prior learning (non-credit) portfolio, or any combination of these methods, in the five areas of competency listed below:

Five Competency Areas

Competency 1: Initial comprehensive course in administration and supervision, required for all levels of the Credential. To meet this requirement, applicants may choose to take a 3-credit comprehensive introductory course in administration and supervision that covers all of the core areas of knowledge listed above.

Competency 2: Personnel management and staff development: Examples of courses in this area are human resource management; personnel management and human behavior.

Competency 3: Budget/fiscal management: Examples of courses in this area are financial accounting; small business management; small business accounting; or non-profit accounting.

Competency 4: Leadership skills: Examples of courses in this area are courses on leadership practices; leading teams; team building; interpersonal communication; leadership and group process.

Competency 5: Child/Family/School and Community Relations: Child, family and school relations; children, schools and the community; family school partnerships; public policy and family; any course on the child and the family which emphasized the relationship between child, family, and the teacher/school. (An introductory course on the family will not be acceptable).

Minimum Experience* and Education** Requirements

Initial Level - Minimum Associate Degree (renewable in 3 years)

  • one year of supervisory experience, and
  • one year of full-time supervised administrative experience
  • AA/AS degree with 12 credits in early childhood or after school education and completion of 3 credits in competency area 1 plus 6 credits in two of the remaining competency areas.
  • Initial Level Renewal in three years. Renewal requires documentation of one additional three credit college course related to CDC or 60 hours of professional development and three (3) professional contributions.

Standard Level - Minimum Bachelor Degree (renewable in 3 years)

  • one year of supervisory experience, and
  • one year of full-time supervised administrative experience, and
  • one additional year of administrative experience.
  • BA/BS degree with 12 credits in Early Childhood or After School Education and completion of 3 credits in competency area 1 plus 9 credits in three of the remaining competency areas.
  • Standard Level Renewal in three years. Renewal requires documentation of one additional three credit college course related to CDC or 60 hours of professional development and three (3) professional contributions.

Master Level - Minimum Master's Degree (renewable in 6 years)

  • one year of supervisory experience, and
  • one year of supervised administrative experience, and
  • two additional years of administrative experience.
  • MA/MS degree with 12 credits in early childhood or after school education and completion of 3 credits in competency area 1 plus 12 credits in each of the remaining competency areas.
  • Master Level Renewal in in six years. Renewal requires documentation of two additional three credit college courses (6 credits) related to CDC or 120 hours of professional development and six (6) professional contributions.

*Official documentation of experience: Applicants must have someone who has directly supervised them verify their experience by written letter. This letter should be sent under original signature directly by the person writing it to the CDC Coordinator at Charter Oak State College.

**Please have all official transcripts sent to Charter Oak State College as verification of degree completion and coursework to meet the competency areas. Transcripts must be sent directly to Charter Oak State College in a sealed envelope. Xeroxed copies or opened envelopes are not official copies. Requirements for the CDC can be met through one or more of the following pathways:

Download Renewal Application