IN · Paths to QUALITY
Indiana — CDA & ECE Workforce Credentials
Indiana places CDA at Career Pathway Level 3; Paths to QUALITY higher tiers require 25%+ of staff with degree or CDA.
Data current as of April 2026.
CDA acceptance & requirements
- Lead teacher requirements: Indiana FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) child care licensing accepts CDA. CDA = Career Pathway Level 3 on the Indiana ECE Career Pathway.
- Assistant teacher requirements: Minimum age 18, HS diploma/GED, plus required orientation.
- Director requirements: Higher Pathway placement + administrative coursework + experience.
- State-funded pre-K (Indiana On My Way Pre-K): Operates through public schools and partner providers; lead teachers' credentials vary by setting (public-school sites require state teacher cert).
- QRIS: Paths to QUALITY (PTQ) — Indiana's QRIS administered by FSSA. Higher tier (Level 2+) ratings require 25%+ of staff with degree/CDA.
- T.E.A.C.H. & apprenticeship: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Indiana is administered through Early Learning Indiana. ECE Registered Apprenticeships through Ivy Tech Community College.
State-specific ECE workforce credentials
- Indiana ECE Career Pathway — Administered by Early Learning Indiana. No separate state-issued certificate beyond Pathway level placement; recognizes CDA, AA, BA, and state teacher cert.
- Indiana Department of Education — Early Childhood Education license for public-school pre-K (B-Grade 3); BA + state EPP. CDA does not satisfy.
Notable state context
Indiana's Career Pathway is a registry-based recognition framework rather than a stand-alone state-issued certificate — meaning the CDA is the operative credential at Pathway Level 3. Paths to QUALITY embeds workforce-credential percentages directly into program rating thresholds.