Ongoing Professional Development Plan

(OPDP)

(does not apply to SC, PL)

240 Hours (30 hrs for Audiologist) of Supervised Clinical Experience with Infants & Toddlers

Early Intervention Core Content Areas

(30 clock hrs. or 2 semester hrs. in each of 4 areas of concentration)

Credential Renewal Requirements

·         OPDP meetings are a minimum of once per month face-to-face meeting with a specialist- level credentialed peer of the same discipline or natural grouping of disciplines as found in Appendix C of the EI Rule.

·      Required ONLY for new EI credential applicants or re-applicants after 2-7-03. 

A re-applicant is considered one whose credential status has been “inactive” for more than one year.

·     4 Core Content Areas

1.  Development of Young Children: Typical & Atypical.

2.     Working w/ Families of

Young Children w/ Disabilities.

3.     Intervention Strategies for

Young Children w/ Special Needs.

4.   Assessment of Young Children w/ Special Needs.

·      After 2-7-03 EI Credentials are renewed for 3 year periods.

·         All new and renewing providers must submit agreement portion of OPDP.

·      May have been obtained at anytime during the applicant’s professional experience or within first 6 months of EI Credential period.

·   After 1-1-04, along with the degree & experience requirements, new Developmental Therapy credential applicants must document 2 semester hours or 30 clock hours of formal education in each of the 4 Core Content Areas above to be eligible to receive the credential.

·      To renew a credential issued for 3 years providers must submit:

1.  Credential Renewal App.

2.  OPDP Agreement

3.  OPDP activities log

4.   30 hours of continuing professional education birth to three related.

·         At the 3 year credential renewal, submit both new OPDP agreement to participate & record of OPDP activities for credential period.

·      If signature from previous supervisor not possible, describe the supervised experience & explain why the form cannot be completed.  If possible, include documentation from former employer Human Resource Dept. confirming employment dates & job functions.

·    All other credentialed providers must document 2 semester hours or 30 clock hours of formal education in each of the 4 Core Content Areas above upon renewal after July 1, 2007.

·      Renewal applications and their contents should be sent to Provider Connections before the credential expiration date but no earlier than one month prior to the expiration.

·         Natural groupings of disciplines include the following:

1.   Clinical Psychologist, LCPC, LMFT, LCSW & School Psychologist.

2.   DT, DT-vision, DT-hearing.

3.        Dietitian, Nutrition  

  Counselor, RN.

4.        LSW, LPC, & School

  SW.

5.        AUD, SLP, School

  SLP, DT-hearing

·      Clinical supervision must be/have been a minimum of once per week for one hour.   Does not need to be face-to-face meetings.  This may be documented by using the Supervision Verification Form found on the Provider Connections’ website.

·    The Department of Human Services Bureau of Early Intervention is working to define parameters for compliance with this requirement.  Watch the Department’s and Provider Connections’ website for information on this matter.

·      Provider Connections does not receive any continuing professional education documentation automatically. Documentation must be forwarded to Provider Connections by the credentialed provider in order for it to be maintained in the provider’s credential file.

·        Extensions of up to 6 months may be awarded due to extenuating circumstances and upon written request and justification. 

All extensions must be requested via the Extension Request Form Provider Connections’ website.

·      Extensions of up to 6 months may be awarded due to extenuating circumstances and upon written request and justification. 

If the reason for the request is inability to accrue the 240 hours, a letter from the CFC Mgr. must accompany the request.

·    The 30 hour/2 semester hour requirement is in addition to the credential renewal/maintenance requirements.

·      CBO enrollment is required to maintain early intervention credentials. 

Should a provider hold a credential for more than 1 year w/out billing for services through CBO, the credential is subject to inactivation.