Center for Early Learning Professionals

What's New in the ECE Community

Free Professional Development Resources: Early Education Pathways (EEP) and iCDA from the Office of Child Care

The Learning Management System formerly known as the Individualized Professional Development (iPD) Portfolio, is now known as Early Education Pathways (EEP). Created and jointly funded by the Office of Head Start (OHS) and the Office of Child Care (OCC) at the U.S, Department of Health and Human Services, EEP launched in July 2026.

Early Education Pathways (EEP) is an online learning platform for the early childhood workforce. It includes the resources previously available through the Individualized Professional Development (iPD) Portfolio; including the iCDA Preparation Series and additional CDA aligned courses.   EEP offers free, self-paced courses, that help early childhood professionals build skills, strengthen practice, and support children and families. Whether you are new to the field or advancing your career, EEP offers flexible learning that fits your schedule.  New to the EEP, learn how to access the EEP.

The iCDA Course Preparation Series is a comprehensive, accessible, and free pathway for professionals to meet educational requirements for their CDA® credential. This research-based series offers eight courses perfectly aligned with the Council for Professional Recognition’s educational requirements—all at no cost. These courses can also be taken as stand-alone training modules. In addition to the iCDA Preparation Series, EEP users can easily access additional CDA aligned courses to reach the required 120 hours, at no cost.

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