Providers have 18 months from the date temporary credentials are issued to complete the required consultation hours.

  • 240 consultation hours are required for all providers not listed below.
  • As defined in Appendix C, 120 consultation hours are required for:
    • DT–Hearing
    • DT–Vision
    • DT–O&M
    • Providers credentialed under the EI service categories of Clinical Assessment, Counseling and Other Therapeutic Services; Nursing; Nutrition; and Social Services.

Consultation Requirements

Documentation must demonstrate that the individual participated in consultation with an appropriately experienced professional within the same discipline/Early Intervention (EI) service group who has experience working with children ages birth to three with special needs and their families.

Consultation must:

  • Comply with the professional standards of the individual seeking the credential, as determined and documented by the consultant
  • Monthly Ongoing Professional Development meetings must occur monthly during the temporary credential period

Providers must use the Consultation Verification Form and the Ongoing Professional Development Documentation Form to document these requirements.

The Early Intervention Program allows providers to complete consultation with disciplines within the same EI service group, as defined in Rule 500, Appendix C.

Early Intervention Service Groups: 

  • Aural Rehabilitation / Other Related Services
    (Speech-Language Pathologists, Developmental Therapists/Hearing)
  • Clinical Assessment, Counseling and Other Therapeutic Services
    (Clinical Psychologists, Clinical Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinical Social Workers, Board Certified Behavior Analysts)
  • Developmental Therapy (DT)
    (DT, DT/Hearing, DT/Vision)
  • Nutrition
    (Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists, Registered Nurses)
  • Social Services
    (Social Workers, Professional Counselors)

Core Knowledge Requirements

  • All new unlicensed providers (except DTs) must complete the four core knowledge areas during the 18-month temporary period.
  • Developmental Therapists (DTs) must document completion of the four core knowledge areas at the time of application. Applicants may be eligible for an emergency waiver as determined by Provider Connections’ Program Manager

Credential Extensions

A credential extension may be granted due to extreme hardship or extenuating circumstances:

  • Up to 6 months for credentialed Specialist and Associate Level providers
  • Up to 90 days for credentialed Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons

All extension requests are reviewed on an individual case basis and must follow prescribed procedures.

Credential Extension Request Form

Non-Compliance

Per IDHS Bureau of Early Intervention policy, if a provider does not meet the consultation requirement within the 18-month period and no extenuating circumstances are documented:

  • The provider may only complete open authorizations for Early Intervention children
  • Assistants must discontinue services
  • The provider may reapply after 12 months

Ongoing Professional Development Plan (OPDP)

All new/renewing EI credentialed providers must agree to participate in OPDP activities by using the Ongoing Professional Development Plan Format. OPDP activities are a once a month, non-billable, meeting held either face-to-face or over the telephone with an individual specialist-level credentialed provider or group, of which at least one member is a specialist-level credentialed provider. A Credentialed Provider, now including providers with a temporary credential, must document a minimum of 75% of their Ongoing Professional Development Plan (OPDP) meetings completed.

These meetings are intended to be used for professional development through discussion of client/family concerns, needs, strengths, resources, priorities, outcomes, strategies, and service plans in order to support best practices.

  • If 75% of the Ongoing Professional Development Meetings are not submitted, the provider must submit a plan for the next year stating with whom that provider will meet to fulfill the requirement.  A 1-year Full Monitored credential is issued. One month prior to the end of the monitored status, the provider must submit documentation of completion of OPDP meetings using the Ongoing Professional Documentation Form must. If the documentation demonstrates compliance, the monitored status will be withdrawn and the credential will be issued for the remaining two years.
  •  If documentation of the required meetings are not received by Provider Connections by the expiration date, the credential will be inactivated and cannot be reactivated for 12 months from the above expiration date.