ND · Growing Futures
North Dakota — CDA & ECE Workforce Credentials
North Dakota places CDA at Growing Futures Categories E-F; Best in Class state pre-K requires public-school teacher cert with EC endorsement (B-3).
Data current as of April 2026.
CDA acceptance & requirements
- Lead teacher requirements: North Dakota DHHS child care licensing accepts CDA. CDA = Categories E-F (the higher entry levels) on the Growing Futures Career Pathways framework.
- Assistant teacher requirements: Minimum age 18, HS diploma/GED, plus required orientation and ongoing PD.
- Director requirements: Higher Growing Futures Category placement + administrative coursework + experience.
- State-funded pre-K (Best in Class): Operates through public schools; lead teachers require state teacher cert with EC endorsement. CDA does not satisfy.
- QRIS: Growing Futures is both the workforce registry and the QRIS framework. Higher tier participation expects degree + state teacher cert mix in pre-K settings.
- T.E.A.C.H. & apprenticeship: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Dakota is administered through Growing Futures partners.
State-specific ECE workforce credentials
- Growing Futures Career Pathways — Administered by Growing Futures (the ND ECE registry). Categories A through I-J (entry through doctoral). CDA = Categories E-F.
- ND Education Standards and Practices Board — Early Childhood Education (B-3) credential for public-school pre-K; BA + state EPP.
Notable state context
North Dakota uses a single integrated framework (Growing Futures) for both registry and QRIS — one of the more streamlined state designs. CDA placement at Categories E-F means it sits above the entry-training tiers and below degree-required tiers.