Professional Development
Certification
The EI Specialist Certification Program is designed to assure the quality of personnel providing EI supports and services to families. It is administered by the Massachusetts DPH.
This section contains a variety of information, materials, and resources related to the Certification Program. Support and information about certification are also available at the program level or by consulting the Certification Office.
Contact: Susan Breen, Assistant Certification Coordinator
617-624-5419
Susan.Breen@state.ma.us
What is certification for Early Intervention Specialists?
Certification is a process of assuring professional quality to families and the field.
Who needs to be certified?
Any professional who works 20 or more hours in an early intervention program as a staff member, a consultant or a fee for service employee is required to become certified within three years of his/her date of hire.
How do I become certified?
There are two ways to become a Certified Early Intervention Specialist:
- Submit a portfolio that documents your ability to master the Early Intervention Specialist
competencies. Currently, there are nine competency areas that require documentation. The Early Intervention Specialist competencies are designed to be cross-disciplinary
and to match the role expectations of a service coordinator across all aspects of early intervention. For
more information about the certification process, including portfolio development, see the
Certification for Early Intervention Specialists page. Each portfolio is
reviewed by a portfolio review panel comprising an Early Intervention administrator, a parent or family
member of a child with a disability, and an Early Intervention Specialist. The panel is responsible for
reviewing your portfolio and making a recommendation. The recommendation will be one of the following: (1)
the applicant is certified, (2) the applicant needs to submit additional information, or (3) the applicant
needs a Professional Development Plan.
-OR-
- Complete a Department of Public Health Approved higher education program. You can receive Provisional Certification with Advanced Standing upon graduating from a DPH-approved higher education program. After you complete 1440 hours of experience (including your practicum and internship hours), you can apply for and receive standard Early Intervention Specialist certification. The approved early intervention programs are administered by Emerson College, Lesley University, Northeastern University, and MGH Institute of Health Professions.