FCC Exam at a Glance

What changed for FCC in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to HS diploma/GED (or junior/senior in a CTE program), 120 training hours, 480 work hours in family child care (previously HS diploma/GED (or CTE junior/senior), 120 training hours, 480 work hours in family child care).^[2]

What the FCC is and how it works

According to Council for Professional Recognition, “The CDA Exam has 65 multiple-choice questions – 60 questions and 5 scenario questions”^[1]

The FCC exam is part of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential for people who care for children in a family child care setting. The Council for Professional Recognition runs the credential, and its website is the place to confirm every requirement before you apply.

Format. The exam has 65 multiple-choice questions: 60 standard questions and 5 scenario questions. It is computer-based and taken at a Pearson VUE testing site.

Eligibility. The Council lists a high school diploma or GED (or being a junior or senior in a career and technical education program), 120 training hours, and 480 hours of professional work experience in a family child care setting with children from birth to age 5.

Fees and validity. The online assessment fee is $525. A CDA credential is valid for 3 years from the award date. Renewal costs $250, and you can apply up to 6 months before the credential expires.

What this page does not state. We have not verified the passing score, the time limit or the retake rules, so we do not list them. Details such as these can change, and some requirements may differ by state or program. Check the official Council pages for the current rules.

The practice questions on this site are written by us. They are not real exam questions, and they are meant to build habits of reasoning, not to predict what you will see.

Worked examples: how to reason through FCC questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Transition planning for a child moving from an FCC home to a preschool or kindergarten should include:

1. Sharing developmental records with the family's permission and preparing the child socially and emotionally
2. Abruptly ending care at the last day without preparation or information transfer
3. Requiring the receiving school to visit the FCC home for one full week
4. Withholding developmental records to protect family privacy from all other providers

Answer: A. Sharing developmental records with the family's permission and preparing the child socially and emotionally

Explanation:

Option A is correct. A move to preschool or kindergarten goes better when the receiving school learns what the child can already do and the child feels ready. Developmental records can be shared once the family gives permission, and the provider can prepare the child socially and emotionally.

Option B is wrong because ending care abruptly with no preparation or information transfer leaves the child without continuity. Option C is wrong because it puts an unreasonable demand on the receiving school, and transition planning should not depend on such a condition. Option D is wrong because withholding records from everyone ignores that the family can choose to allow sharing, which protects privacy and still helps the child.

Rule to remember: transitions are planned, consent-based and focused on the child's readiness.

Example 2

Question: What emergency preparedness measures are required for family child care?

1. Written emergency plans, posted evacuation routes, emergency contact information for all children, first aid supplies, and regular drills
2. Only a first aid kit
3. No emergency planning is required
4. Only fire extinguishers

Answer: A. Written emergency plans, posted evacuation routes, emergency contact information for all children, first aid supplies, and regular drills

Explanation:

Option A is correct because emergency preparedness has several parts that work together: written plans, posted evacuation routes, emergency contact information for every child, first aid supplies and regular drills. A plan that nobody has practised is hard to carry out under stress, and contact details are only useful if they are current.

Option B is wrong because a first aid kit covers only injuries, not fire, severe weather or a need to leave the home quickly. Option C is wrong because planning is expected of family child care providers. Option D is wrong because a fire extinguisher is one piece of equipment, not a plan.

Rule to remember: when an answer lists a full set of measures and the others name a single item or none, look for the option that covers planning, information, supplies and practice together.

Example 3

Question: How should a provider handle a child showing signs of illness?

1. Ignore the symptoms.
2. Let them play with others.
3. Contact parents and follow health policies
4. Only tell the child to rest.

Answer: C. Contact parents and follow health policies

Explanation:

Option C is correct. When a child shows signs of illness, the provider contacts the parents and follows the program's health policies. Those policies guide decisions on exclusion, medication and communication with families, and they protect the sick child and the other children in care.

Option A is wrong because ignoring symptoms delays care and lets illness spread. Option B is wrong because letting the child play with others exposes them to the illness. Option D is wrong because telling the child to rest is not enough: the family must be informed, and the provider needs a written policy to act on.

Rule to remember: respond to illness with notification and policy, not with guesswork or silence. A sensible reading of the question also keeps the child comfortable and apart from the group until a parent arrives.

How to use these practice tests

Start by reading the Council for Professional Recognition's pages on the exam and eligibility, so you know exactly what you are preparing for. Then take a mixed set such as FCC Family Child Care to see which topics feel weakest. Do not worry about the score on this early attempt.

Next, work through the topic sets one at a time, spending extra time on the weak ones: Health and Safety, Child Development, Curriculum and Learning Environment, Family Engagement and Community, Nutrition and Meal Planning, Business and Professional Practices and Special Needs and Inclusive Care.

After each set, read the explanation for every miss, and for the questions you guessed right too. Write down the rule behind each one in a sentence of your own. Because the real exam includes scenario questions, practise reading a short situation and naming what the provider should do first.

Close to test day, take the FCC Family Child Care MCQ set in a single sitting on a computer, to get used to the on-screen format. Confirm your appointment details with Pearson VUE.

Sources & last verified

1. Council for Professional Recognition — number of questions (official source). “The CDA Exam has 65 multiple-choice questions – 60 questions and 5 scenario questions” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
2. Council for Professional Recognition — exam fee, eligibility (official source). “pay the online assessment fee of $525.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
3. Council for Professional Recognition — validity, renewal (official source). “A CDA credential is valid for 3 years from the award date.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
4. Council for Professional Recognition — delivery (official source). “The exam is a 65-question, computer-based exam that is taken at a local Pearson VUE testing site.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.