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100+ Free CDA Birth to Five Practice Questions

Pass your Center-Based Birth to Five Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Which of the following is the MOST important step in preventing the spread of illness in an early childhood program?

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Key Facts: CDA Birth to Five Exam

120

Training Hours

Council Birth to Five eligibility requirements

8

CDA Subject Areas

Council Birth to Five subject-area list

480

Experience Hours

Council Birth to Five experience requirements

160

Minimum Hours per Sub-Age Group

Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers

$525

Online Assessment Fee

Council Birth to Five application page

1h 55m

Exam Time

Council Birth to Five Setting FAQs

100

Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep question bank

The Birth to Five CDA is a center-based Child Development Associate setting covering infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Official Council materials require 120 formal training hours with at least 10 in each of the eight CDA subject areas and 480 experience hours, including at least 160 hours in each sub-age group. The online assessment fee is $525, the paper assessment fee is $600, and the Birth to Five exam is administered through Pearson VUE with a 1 hour 55 minute time limit.

Sample CDA Birth to Five Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CDA Birth to Five exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which age groups must be represented in the 480 hours of Birth to Five CDA professional experience?
A.Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, with at least 160 hours in each sub-age group
B.Only preschoolers ages 3 to 5
C.Any children from birth through age 8
D.Only the age group observed during the Verification Visit
Explanation: Council Birth to Five materials require 480 center-based experience hours, including at least 160 hours each with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
2Which training documentation pattern fits the Birth to Five CDA requirement?
A.120 formal hours covering birth-to-five development with at least 10 hours in each of the eight CDA subject areas
B.80 hours in preschool literacy and classroom display design
C.120 hours from undocumented conference attendance
D.10 hours total in one CDA subject area
Explanation: The Council requires 120 hours of formal early childhood education covering children birth to five, with no fewer than 10 hours in each of the eight CDA subject areas.
3After a Birth to Five CDA application is approved, what is the current assessment sequence?
A.Schedule and complete the CDA exam first, then schedule the Verification Visit if required
B.Complete the Verification Visit before the CDA exam in every case
C.Skip the CDA exam if the portfolio is complete
D.Wait until the credential is awarded to schedule both assessments
Explanation: The Council states that Birth to Five candidates receive the first Ready to Schedule notice for the CDA exam and become eligible to schedule the Verification Visit only after completing the exam.
4A candidate is ready to apply for the Birth to Five CDA. Which fee statement matches current Council information?
A.The online assessment fee is $525 and the paper application assessment fee is $600
B.The Birth to Five fee is waived because the setting is new
C.The paper application fee is lower than the online fee
D.The fee is paid only after Pearson VUE reports a passing score
Explanation: The official Birth to Five page lists a $525 online assessment fee and a $600 paper application assessment fee, submitted with the application.
5What does the official Birth to Five FAQ say about the Birth to Five CDA exam?
A.It is taken through Pearson VUE and candidates have one hour and fifty-five minutes
B.It is an oral interview only with no multiple-choice questions
C.It is taken only after the credential has been awarded
D.It is administered by the center director during the workday
Explanation: Council Birth to Five FAQ materials state that candidates take the Birth to Five exam through Pearson VUE and have one hour and fifty-five minutes to complete it.
6Under the enhanced CDA decision process, what may happen if a candidate demonstrates a qualifying level of competence on the CDA exam?
A.The Council may make an award decision without a Verification Visit while still considering the full set of requirements
B.The candidate skips the 120 training hours and 480 experience hours
C.The Professional Portfolio is never needed for initial candidates
D.The candidate receives a public numeric cut score that replaces all other evidence
Explanation: Council decision-enhancement materials say candidates with qualifying exam competence may be eligible for an expedited award decision without a Verification Visit, but the standards and requirements remain in place.
7A Birth to Five candidate waits five months after application payment to schedule the exam. What is the main risk?
A.The exam is taken first and both the exam and Verification Visit must be completed within the six-month assessment window
B.The application remains open indefinitely once payment is made
C.The Verification Visit can always be completed before the exam to save time
D.The Council automatically refunds fees if the deadline is missed
Explanation: Council Birth to Five FAQ materials give candidates six months to complete both the exam, taken first, and the Verification Visit. Missing the window can cause the application to expire and fees to be forfeited.
8Who conducts the Birth to Five CDA Verification Visit?
A.A CDA Professional Development Specialist with a Birth to Five endorsement
B.Any parent volunteer selected by the candidate
C.The Pearson VUE test proctor after the exam
D.Only the center director who confirms experience hours
Explanation: The Birth to Five FAQ states that a CDA Professional Development Specialist with a Birth to Five endorsement conducts the Verification Visit.
9What makes a Birth to Five CDA Professional Portfolio different from a portfolio for only one center-based age setting?
A.It must address all Birth to Five sub-age groups: infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
B.It should address only the candidate's favorite classroom age
C.It can omit family feedback if the candidate has many experience hours
D.It is completed by the PD Specialist instead of the candidate
Explanation: Council Birth to Five FAQ materials say candidates complete a professional portfolio that includes all sub-age groups within the Birth to Five setting.
10What is the major practice challenge in the Birth to Five CDA setting?
A.Maintaining developmental continuity while differentiating care, materials, and expectations for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
B.Using preschool expectations for infants so they advance faster
C.Using only infant-safe toys for every age group
D.Avoiding family communication because the credential covers a broad age span
Explanation: Birth to Five educators must understand the whole age span while adapting routines, materials, supervision, and expectations to each sub-age group.

About the CDA Birth to Five Exam

The Center-Based Birth to Five CDA credential is for educators working with children from birth through age five in a center-based setting. Candidates document training and experience across infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, prepare a Birth to Five portfolio, take the Birth to Five CDA exam, and complete the verification visit unless the Council determines a streamlined decision path applies.

Assessment

Computer-based multiple-choice CDA exam; Birth to Five candidates take the Birth to Five exam through Pearson VUE.

Time Limit

1 hour 55 minutes

Passing Score

No public numeric passing score located; the Council renders the credentialing decision using the CDA exam and required assessment evidence.

Exam Fee

$525 online assessment fee / $600 paper assessment fee (Council for Professional Recognition / Pearson VUE)

CDA Birth to Five Exam Content Outline

12-13 questions

Safe, Healthy, and Learning Environment

Safe sleep, sanitation, supervision, nutrition, emergency planning, equipment safety, and mixed-age environmental design.

12-13 questions

Physical and Intellectual Development

Infant motor development, toddler exploration, preschool cognition, language, literacy, math, science, music, and creative expression.

12-13 questions

Social and Emotional Development

Attachment, emotional literacy, guidance, peer conflict, transitions, trauma-informed support, and bias-aware practice.

12-13 questions

Families

Family partnerships, home language, confidentiality, family questionnaires, cultural humility, and difficult conversations.

12-13 questions

Program Operation

CDA eligibility, training documentation, application sequence, verification visit logistics, records, staffing, schedules, and quality improvement.

12-13 questions

Professionalism

Ethics, mandated reporting, boundaries, reflective practice, advocacy, evidence-based decisions, and the enhanced CDA decision process.

12-13 questions

Observation and Recording

Objective notes, anecdotal and running records, screening, authentic assessment, confidentiality, documentation panels, and portfolio evidence.

12-13 questions

Child Development Principles

Developmental domains, milestones, individual variation, play development, executive function, scaffolding, attachment, and inclusion.

How to Pass the CDA Birth to Five Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No public numeric passing score located; the Council renders the credentialing decision using the CDA exam and required assessment evidence.
  • Assessment: Computer-based multiple-choice CDA exam; Birth to Five candidates take the Birth to Five exam through Pearson VUE.
  • Time limit: 1 hour 55 minutes
  • Exam fee: $525 online assessment fee / $600 paper assessment fee

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CDA Birth to Five Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study infant, toddler, and preschool examples for every CDA subject area; Birth to Five questions often turn on age-appropriate practice.
2Memorize the experience requirement: 480 total center-based hours, with at least 160 each for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
3Practice choosing answers that protect safety first, then support development through responsive relationships and play.
4For observation questions, separate objective evidence from interpretation, labels, and diagnosis.
5For family questions, choose respectful two-way communication, confidentiality, home-language support, and cultural humility.
6For process questions, remember the current sequence: apply, receive Ready to Schedule for exam, complete the exam, then schedule the verification visit if required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CDA Birth to Five credential?

It is a center-based CDA setting for educators working with children from birth through age five, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

How many training hours are required?

The Council requires 120 hours of formal early childhood education covering growth and development from birth to five, with at least 10 hours in each of the eight CDA subject areas.

How much work experience is required?

Birth to Five candidates need 480 center-based experience hours within the past three years, including at least 160 hours each with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

How long is the Birth to Five CDA exam?

The official Birth to Five FAQ states that candidates have one hour and fifty-five minutes to complete the Birth to Five multiple-choice exam through Pearson VUE.

How much does the Birth to Five CDA application cost?

The Council lists a $525 online assessment fee and a $600 paper assessment fee for Birth to Five candidates.

Do Birth to Five candidates complete the exam or verification visit first?

Council materials state that candidates receive the first Ready to Schedule notice for the exam and become eligible to schedule the verification visit only after completing the exam.