DE · Delaware Stars
Delaware — CDA & ECE Workforce Credentials
Delaware accepts CDA in licensed centers and requires it for assistants in higher-tier Stars programs; ECAP state pre-K requires bachelor's + EC teacher cert.
Data current as of April 2026.
CDA acceptance & requirements
- Lead teacher requirements: Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) accepts CDA among lead-teacher qualifications. Lead teachers can use CDA + experience in licensed centers.
- Assistant teacher requirements: CDA is required for assistants in Delaware Stars (state QRIS) programs at certain rating tiers.
- Director requirements: Higher tier on Delaware DOE credentials + administrative coursework + experience.
- State-funded pre-K (Delaware ECAP): Delaware Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP) requires bachelor's + state teacher cert with EC endorsement. CDA does not satisfy this.
- QRIS: Delaware Stars — 5-tier QRIS administered through OCCL. Higher tiers require defined AA/CDA staff mix.
- T.E.A.C.H. & apprenticeship: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Delaware is administered through Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC) at the University of Delaware.
State-specific ECE workforce credentials
- Delaware DOE Early Childhood and School-Age Credentials — stacked levels recognizing training, CDA, AA, BA, and state teacher cert. CDA is recognized as a step on the credentialing ladder.
- Delaware DIEEC at the University of Delaware provides workforce development support, training, and credential coordination.
- Delaware Department of Education — Early Childhood (B-2) certification for public-school pre-K; BA + state-approved EPP. CDA does not satisfy.
Notable state context
Delaware's small geographic and population scale concentrates workforce development at DIEEC, making the state's pipeline relatively coherent. CDA functions as both an entry credential and as a required floor for assistants in higher-tier Stars programs.