Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Education Exam Prep

Education EN ↓ 70 episodes

Education Exam Prep is a free, daily podcast by OpenExamPrep covering the most in-demand teacher licensure and education certification exams — including Praxis Core, Praxis Subject Assessments (Math, ELA, Social Studies, Science, SLP, ESOL), ParaPro, CDA (Child Development Associate), CBEST, CSET, edTPA, FTCE, GACE, ILTS, MTEL, MTLE, MoGEA, AEPA, CEOE, CPACE, CTEL, FELE, RID/CASLI Interpreter Certifications, EIPA, and CELTA. Each 5-minute episode breaks down one exam topic with concrete classroom-style examples, scoring rubric insights, common exam traps, and memory tricks to help you pass on...

Author

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Episodes

ParaPro Exam Prep 2, Scoring, Passing Scores, and Retakes 11.07.2026 3:39

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The ParaPro exam uses a scaled score from 420 to 480, and ther...

ParaPro Exam Prep 1, What Is the ParaPro Assessment 10.07.2026 2:57

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The ParaPro Assessment consists of 90 multiple-choice question...

CDA Exam Prep 68, Family Child Care Specifics — Mixed-Age, Business, Home-as-Classroom 04.07.2026 4:09

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to frame mixed-age groups as a learning asset on the CDA e...

CDA Exam Prep 67, Preschool Setting Specifics — Project Work and Kindergarten Readiness 03.07.2026 3:41

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How the CDA exam defines kindergarten readiness holistically,...

CDA Exam Prep 66, Infant-Toddler Setting Specifics — Primary Caregiving and SIDS Prevention 02.07.2026 3:39

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The primary caregiving model involves one designated caregiver...

CDA Exam Prep 65, Verification Visit Walkthrough — Observation, Portfolio, Reflective Dialogue 01.07.2026 3:31

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The Verification Visit consists of three key parts: a two-hour...

CDA Exam Prep 64, CDA Exam Test-Taking Strategy — Scenarios, Time, Scaled Scoring 30.06.2026 3:10

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The CDA exam consists of 65 scenario-based multiple-choice que...

CDA Exam Prep 63, The 6 Reflective Statements of Competence — Structure and Length 29.06.2026 3:07

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The required word count for each of the six Reflective Stateme...

CDA Exam Prep 62, The Resource Collection — All 17 Items Walked Through 28.06.2026 3:34

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The purpose of the CDA Resource Collection as an assessment to...

CDA Exam Prep 61, The CDA Professional Philosophy Statement — What Reviewers Look For 27.06.2026 2:53

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That your philosophy statement must be a 1-2 page, first-perso...

CDA Exam Prep 60, Ongoing Professional Development — Career Lattice and Advocacy 26.06.2026 3:22

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The crucial difference between a career ladder and a career la...

CDA Exam Prep 59, Mandated Reporting — Recognizing Abuse, Procedures, Immunity 25.06.2026 2:55

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That all ECE professionals are mandated reporters, a key conce...

CDA Exam Prep 58, NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct — Core Values and Sections 24.06.2026 3:33

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The core values that form the foundation of the NAEYC Code of...

CDA Exam Prep 57, Confidentiality and FERPA Basics 23.06.2026 3:27

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That confidentiality is a key part of CDA Competency Standard...

CDA Exam Prep 56, Using Assessment Data — Individualizing and Referrals 22.06.2026 3:03

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to use assessment data to individualize daily plans and se...

CDA Exam Prep 55, Authentic Assessment Tools — Teaching Strategies GOLD, ASQ 21.06.2026 3:16

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - What authentic assessment means in the context of the CDA and...

CDA Exam Prep 54, Observation and Assessment Methods — Anecdotal Records and Running Records 20.06.2026 3:34

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between a subjective interpretation an...

CDA Exam Prep 53, Curriculum Planning — Emergent vs Thematic 19.06.2026 3:20

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The core difference between a child-led emergent curriculum an...

CDA Exam Prep 52, Family Questionnaires for Portfolio — Distribution and Confidentiality 18.06.2026 2:42

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The CDA requirement is to distribute the official Council ques...

CDA Exam Prep 51, Supporting Families in Stress — Homelessness, Divorce, Deployment 17.06.2026 4:13

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To connect a child's behavioral changes to potential family st...

CDA Exam Prep 50, Communication Systems — Daily Reports, Conferences, Apps 16.06.2026 2:55

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The five essential components of a CDA-compliant daily report...

CDA Exam Prep 49, Cultural Responsiveness — Funds of Knowledge 15.06.2026 3:41

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That Funds of Knowledge theory posits families possess abundan...

CDA Exam Prep 48, Family Engagement vs Involvement — Partnership Model 14.06.2026 3:18

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between passive family involvement and...

CDA Exam Prep 47, Emotional Regulation — Co-Regulation and Mindfulness 13.06.2026 3:18

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Co-regulation is the process where an adult lends their calm n...

CDA Exam Prep 46, Managing Challenging Behaviors — ABC and Pyramid Model 12.06.2026 3:29

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to identify the two primary functions of any challenging b...