Options to Earning the Department of Health/Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Certification

Option 1
For professionals who already possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in an unrelated field, with no additional educational/therapeutic certification, and with no work experience in early intervention.

Option 2
For professionals who already possess a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood or early childhood special education, or related field, and who have additional certification (see list below) and a minimum of 1 year work experience in early intervention.

Option 3
For professionals who already possess a Master’s degree in early childhood or early childhood special education or related field, and who have a minimum of 1 year work experience in early intervention.

Option 1

You can meet the competencies for the ITDS certificate by completing the following four courses at FAU (all courses are offered completely on-line via distance learning):

EEX 5015 Survey and Assessment in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education
This course is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
EEX 5017 Atypical Development in Early Childhood ESE
This course is offered in the Spring and Summer semesters.
EEX 5755 Families and Community Resources in Early Childhood ESE
This course is offered in the Spring and Summer semesters.
EEX 6707 Early Intervention Services
This course is offered in the Fall semester.

These courses can be taken as a non-degree seeking student (you will need to apply to FAU as a “non-degree seeking student”) or they may be integrated into a Master’s Degree program in the Department of Special Education (you will need to apply to FAU as a “degree seeking student / graduate student”).

Information about applying as a degree or non-degree seeking student can be found at www.fau.edu/graduate/apply.php.

Information regarding tuition and fees can be found at http://www.fau.edu/controllers-office/student-services/tuition-breakdown/

Upon completion of coursework, certification as an ITDS is accomplished by completing processes outlined by the DOH http://www.cms-kids.com/providers/early_steps/training/itds/itds_provider.html

Option 2

This option is appropriate for professionals who:

already possess a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood or early childhood / special education, child and family development, family life specialist, communication sciences, psychology or social work (or equivalent degree based on transcript review); and
have one of the following certifications listed below, and:
- Department of Education Pre-kindergarten Disabilities Endorsement, or
- Certification in SKI*HI, VIISA, INSITE certification or completion of university certificate in hearing specialist or vision specialist in early intervention, or
- Early Intervention Credential or equivalent certificate from another state;
have one year work experience in early intervention documentation of your experience must be on this form. Professionals eligible under Option 2 have two routes for obtaining the ITDS certification (2-A or 2-B).

Option 2-A:

You can meet the competencies for the ITDS certificate by Completing the following four distance learning courses at FAU (please see the FAU course information and enrollment alternatives described in Option 1), or

Option 2-B:

You can also meet the requirements for the ITDS certificate by completing the following requirements:

Completion of the Early Steps Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist six on-line modules. These modules can be found at http://www.cms-kids.com/providers/early_steps/training/itds/itds.html
Provide documentation of your work experience. The appropriate form can be found at: http://www.cms-kids.com/providers/documents/ESCert_Exp.pdf
Complete additional steps to begin providing services can be found at http://www.cms-kids.com/providers/early_steps/training/itds/itds_provider.html

See Requirements for Temporary Approval for an ITDS to Begin Providing Services.

If you need further information about Option 2-B, please contact the State’s Early Steps Office (EarlySteps@doh.state.fl.us).

Option 3

This option is appropriate for someone who:

already possesses a Master’s degree in early childhood or early childhood / special education, child and family development, family life specialist, communication sciences, psychology or social work (or related field), and
who has at least one year work experience in early intervention.

Professionals eligible under Option 3 have two routes for obtaining the ITDS certification (3-A or 3-B).

Option 3-A:

You can meet the competencies for the ITDS certificate by:

Completing the following four distance learning courses at FAU (please see the FAU course information and enrollment alternatives described in Option 1), or

Option 3-B:

You can also meet the requirements for the ITDS certificate by completing the following requirements:

Completion of the Early Steps Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist six on-line modules. These modules can be found at http://www.cms-Kids.com/providers/early_steps/training/itds/itds.html
Provide documentation of your work experience. The appropriate form can be found at: http://www.cms-kids.com/providers/documents/ESCert_Exp.pdf
Complete additional steps to begin providing services can be found at http://www.cms-kids.com/providers/early_steps/training/itds/itds_provider.html

See Requirements for Temporary Approval for an ITDS to Begin Providing Services.

If you need further information about Option 2-B, please contact the State’s Early Steps Office (EarlySteps@doh.state.fl.us).