Kerri Welch

Kerri Welch has over 20 years of extensive experience in the field of early childhood education. More specifically, with the CDA credential, she previously served as an instructor and field supervisor at Dutchess Community College in New York and as a PD Specialist for the CDA Council. She is currently teaching child development classes at Houston Community College.

Kerri has successfully trained a diverse population of students by helping them advance in their careers in early childhood development through implementing a child-centered, developmentally appropriate curriculum that uses positive guidance techniques. She has a Master of Science in early childhood education with a focus on students with disabilities, a bachelor's degree in elementary education, and an associate degree in early childhood education.

Kerri is on the advisory board of Informed Green Solutions, a national non-profit that has pioneered environmental education on green cleaning products for early childhood programs. She is extremely passionate about children's health, nutrition, and safety, especially regarding children with special needs.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Competency Standards for Center-Based Preschool ages 3-5 yrs old
• Infant-Toddler Competency Standards Book

Reading assignments in each lesson will be linked to the following eBook(s) for the designated reading:

• Beginning Essentials in Early Childhood Education, 3rd edition, by Ann Gordon, Kathryn Williams Browne (eBook)
• Infants & Toddlers: Caregiving and Responsive Curriculum Development, 10th edition, by Terri Swim (eBook)

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Certification Requirements:

To be eligible for the CDA certification:

• You must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED, or be a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program, and
• Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood technical education (this course meets CDA requirements)
• Complete a CDA professional portfolio (this course assists with portfolio preparation)
• Complete a CDA verification site visit where a PD Specialist observes you working with children

Please note: Within three years of submitting your application, you must also have 480 hours of professional work experience at a center-based program with experience in all three age groups.

For more information on the CDA requirements, please visit the CDA Council website.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.