Credentialing Overview

The Illinois Department of Human Services has implemented minimum qualification standards for each EI Credential to ensure the highest quality of services are provided to infants and toddlers in Illinois. Minimum qualification standards, including licensing, degree, education, and/or certification requirements, are available below.

To provide services, either independently or with an agency, the applicant must first qualify, be issued an EI Credential for the profession for which they wish to be credentialed, and complete the CBO Enrollment Application (if applicable).

Note: The EI Credential is directly linked to billing for services. Unless an individual intends to provide and bill for services in the Illinois EI System, there is no need to hold the EI Credential. If an individual does get credentialed and enrolled to provide services but does not receive authorizations or bill for more than 12 consecutive months, the provider is subject to being inactivated from the EI Provider System.

Click Here to Apply, Renew, or Make Billing Additions/Changes

EI Credentials Available in the Following Areas:

Clinical Professional Counselors with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential and enroll to bill.

Clinical Social Workers with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential and enroll to bill.

Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Dietitian credential and enroll to bill.

Behavior Analysts with current national certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board may apply for an EI Specialist: Behavior Analyst credential and enroll to bill.

Within 18 months of the Temporary credential being issued, BCBAs must document the completion of educational experiences as approved by the Department that include at least 2 semester college hours of, or the equivalent (30 clock hours or CEU credit hours) in, each of the following EI core knowledge content areas:

  • Development of Young Children, Typical (15 clock hours) and Atypical (15 clock hours)
  • Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities
  • Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Special Needs
  • Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs

Individuals who do not hold an EI Specialist Developmental Therapist credential on July 1, 2013 may apply for an EI Specialist Developmental Therapist credential and enroll to bill if they:

(1) have a bachelors degree or higher in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, Special Education, Special Education: Deaf/Hard of Hearing or Blind/Partially Sighted, Child Development, EI or Elementary Education, or from an EI approved college/university program (i.e., a program for which the Department or its designee has determined that the degree is equivalent to one of the above stated degrees); and (2) can document the completion of educational experiences as approved by the Department that include at least 2 semester college hours of, or the equivalent (30 clock hours or CEU credit hours) in, each of the following EI core knowledge content areas:

  • Development of Young Children, Typical (15 clock hours) and Atypical (15 clock hours)
  • Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities
  • Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Special Needs
  • Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs

and (3) can submit proof of training on the use of a formal assessment tool that would allow the provider to perform global evaluations and assessments may apply for an EI Specialist: Developmental Therapist credential and enroll to bill. Credential and CBO enrollment required.

Individuals with (1) a bachelors degree or higher in Orientation and Mobility or (2) a Special Education degree for Blind and Partially Seeing and (3) can document the completion of educational experiences as approved by the Department that include at least 2 semester college hours of, or the equivalent (30 clock hours or CEU credit hours) in, each of the following EI core knowledge content areas:

  • Development of Young Children, Typical (15 clock hours) and Atypical (15 clock hours)
  • Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities
  • Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Special Needs
  • Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs

and (4) can submit proof of training on the use of a formal assessment tool that would allow the provider to perform global evaluations and assessments may apply for an EI Specialist: Developmental Therapist/Vision credential and enroll to bill. They may provide Developmental and/or Vision Therapy services related to visual functioning based on their qualifications and experience. (Provider is automatically enrolled under the vision category.) Credential and CBO enrollment required.

Individuals with a Special Education degree for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and (1) can document the completion of educational experiences as approved by the Department that include at least 2 semester college hours of, or the equivalent (30 clock hours or CEU credit hours) in, each of the following EI core knowledge content areas:

  • Development of Young Children, Typical (15 clock hours) and Atypical (15 clock hours)
  • Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities
  • Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Special Needs
  • Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs

and (2) can submit proof of training on the use of a formal assessment tool that would allow the provider to perform global evaluations and assessments may apply for an EI Specialist: Developmental Therapist/Hearing credential and enroll to bill. They may also provide aural rehabilitation services based on their qualifications and experience. (Provider is automatically enrolled under aural rehabilitation category.)

Individuals with (1) a bachelors degree or higher in Orientation and Mobility or (2) a Special Education degree for Blind and Partially Seeing and (3) can document the completion of educational experiences as approved by the Department that include at least 2 semester college hours of, or the equivalent (30 clock hours or CEU credit hours) in, each of the following EI core knowledge content areas:

  • Development of Young Children, Typical (15 clock hours) and Atypical (15 clock hours)
  • Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities
  • Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Special Needs
  • Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs

and (4) can submit proof of training on the use of a formal assessment tool that would allow the provider to perform global evaluations and assessments may apply for an EI Specialist: Developmental Therapist/Orientation & Mobility credential and enroll to bill. They may provide Developmental and/or Vision Therapy services related to visual functioning based on their qualifications and experience. (Provider is automatically enrolled under the vision category.)

Marriage and Family Therapists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential and enroll to bill.

Registered Nurses with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Registered Nurse credential and enroll to bill. (Provider is automatically enrolled under nutrition category.)

Occupational Therapists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Occupational Therapist credential and enroll to bill.

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Associate: Licensed Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant credential. Associate services are billed under the enrolled supervisor’s name.

Professional Counselors with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Professional Counselor credential and enroll to bill.

Individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent who are the parent or guardian of a child with special needs and are employed by an entity such as an agency or hospital that provides early intervention services as a Parent Liaison may apply for an EI Parent Liaison credential and enroll to bill. Completion of Parent Liaison Training is required within 90 days after being issued a temporary credential for full credential status and continued enrollment. The role of a Parent Liaison is to use his/her knowledge and personal experiences to bring sensitivity, emotional support and a peer perspective to families as they learn about the Early Intervention Program. They also develop and coordinate parent to parent relationships. Services are based upon the individual needs of the child/family as determined by the child’s multidisciplinary team and identified in the Individualized Family Service Plan.

Physical Therapists with a current license in the state where they provide Part C EI service to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Physical Therapist credential and enroll to bill.

Physical Therapist Assistants with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Associate: Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant credential. Associate services are billed under the enrolled supervisor’s name.

Clinical Psychologists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Clinical Psychologist credential and enroll to bill.

Graduate students in clinical psychology or clinical counseling who submit a letter from the graduate school verifying that they are providing psychological or clinical counseling services in a supervised internship setting in order to complete a comprehensive, culminating training experience prior to granting of a graduate degree in psychology may apply for an EI Associate: Psychology/Counseling Intern credential. The letter must identify the Illinois EI Credentialed Provider that will be providing the supervision. Associate services are billed under the enrolled supervisor’s name.

Individuals who do not hold an EI Service Coordination credential on January 1, 2003 and with a bachelors degree or higher in human services, behavioral science, social science or health related field or a current license as a Registered Nurse may apply for an EI Service Coordination Credential and enroll as an employee of a Child and Family Connections office. Additional training is required within 90 days after being issued a temporary credential for full credential status and continued enrollment.

Within 18 months of the Temporary credential being issued, Service Coordinators must document the completion of educational experiences as approved by the Department that include at least 2 semester college hours of, or the equivalent (30 clock hours or CEU credit hours) in, each of the following EI core knowledge content areas:

  • Development of Young Children, Typical (15 clock hours) and Atypical (15 clock hours)
  • Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities
  • Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Special Needs
  • Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs

Click here for more information about service coordinators.

Speech/Language Pathologists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Speech/Language Pathologist credential and enroll to bill. (Provider is automatically enrolled under aural rehabilitation and speech therapy categories.)

Individuals with a masters in speech-language pathology who are participating in a supervised professional experience and hold a temporary license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Associate: Speech/Language Pathologist in supervised professional experience credential. Associate services are billed under the enrolled supervisor’s name.

Speech/Language Pathology Assistants with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Associate: Speech/Language Therapy Assistant credential. Associate services are billed under the enrolled supervisor’s name.

Social Workers with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Social Worker credential and enroll to bill.

Graduate students in social work who submit a letter from their graduate school verifying that they are providing social work services in a supervised internship setting in order to complete a comprehensive, culminating training experience prior to granting of a graduate degree in social work may apply for an EI Associate: Social Work Intern credential. The letter must identify the Illinois EI Credentialed Provider that will be providing the supervision. Associate services are billed under the enrolled EI Credentiled supervisor’s name.

Credential is required for all of services listed above.
* = Credential is required, CBO enrollment is not required.

Early Intervention Non-Credentialed Services:

Audiologists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may enroll to bill. Audiologists are not required to obtain a credential. (Provider is automatically enrolled under assistive technology and aural rehabilitation categories.)

Durable medical equipment and supplies; providers may enroll to bill. No credential required.

Individuals who are bilingual or an interpreter for the deaf may enroll to bill as an interpreter. Upon application for enrollment, the bilingual applicant must identify the languages for which he/she is applying to interpret and/or translate and document completion of Early Intervention Systems Training as defined in Section 500.60(f) and Early Intervention approved training for bilingual interpreter/translators and oral and/or written language proficiency using approved testing procedures. By September 1, 2008, all enrolled bilingual interpreters must have documented completion of Early Intervention approved training for bilingual interpreters/translators and oral and/or written language proficiency using approved testing procedures to maintain enrollment. Interpreters for the deaf must meet the requirements set forth in 225 ILCS 442 and document completion of Early Intervention Systems Training as defined in Section 500.60(f).

Deaf adults who have been certified by Hearing and Vision Connections as a language mentor for the deaf may enroll to bill. Language mentors are not required to obtain a credential

Audiologists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may enroll to bill. Audiologists are not required to obtain a credential. (Provider is automatically enrolled under assistive technology and aural rehabilitation categories.)

Physicians with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may enroll to bill. Physicians are not required to obtain a credential.

Optometrists or Opthalmologists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may enroll to bill. Not required to obtain a credential.

Physicians with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may enroll to bill. Physicians are not required to obtain a credential.

Transportation services as defined in the Service Plan that are necessary to enable an eligible child and a member of the child’s family (if accompanying the child) to travel to and from the location where another Early Intervention service is to be provided. Transportation services include transportation by taxicab, service car or private automobile. The prior approval requirement for Medicaid eligible children, for Transportation to and from Early Intervention Services only, is satisfied by enrollment in the EI Services System and by denoting the necessity of the service in the Service Plan.

** = CBO enrollment is required (see additional requirements).