NEW JERSEY

September 18, 2012 Page 1

NEW JERSEY EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM

PERSONNEL STANDARDS

FOR

NJEIS PRACTITIONERS

ENERAL REQUIRMENTS

1. As the Lead Agency for early intervention, the Department of Health (DOH) has established

personnel standards in accordance with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

and the New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS) Rules. Each individual seeking to provid

ervices to eligible children and their families in the early intervention system must meet th

propriate professional and paraprofessional requirements.

2. Each provider agency is responsible for ensuring that each staff member employed by or under

contract with the agency to provide early intervention services to eligible children and families

meets the appropriate personnel standards prior to and throughout the duration of their

employment/contract with the agency.

3. Each regional and local participating agency shall develop and implement written policies to require

per

sonnel providing early intervention services for eligible children and their families to meet

appropriate professional requirements established by the DOH.

4. All NJEIS personnel are expected to fulfill their job-related responsibilities in a manner reflecting

ofessional and ethical standards of conduct that apply to their specific profession or discipline.

5. NJEIS has adopted a policy that includes making ongoing good-faith efforts to recruit and hire

propriately and adequately trained personnel to provide early intervention services to infants and

toddlers with disabilities, including, in a geographic area of the State where there is a shortage of

such personnel, the most qualified individuals available who are making satisfactory progres

oward completing applicable course work necessary to meet the NJEIS State personnel standards.

6. In addition to the personnel standards listed below, all practitioners enrolled with NJEIS by a

provider agency and individuals seeking employment therein must pass a criminal history

background check pursuant to NJEIS Rules in order to provide early intervention services.

DEFINITIONS

1. N.J.A.C. means New Jersey Administrative Code.

2. N.J.S.A. means New Jersey Statutes Annotated.

3. Profession or discipline means a specific occupational category that:

a. Provides early intervention services to eligible children and their families;

b. Has been established or designated by the state; and

c. Has a required scope of responsibility and degree of supervision.

4. Qualified Personnel means personnel who have met State approved or recognized certification,

licensing, registration or other comparable requirements that apply to the areas in which individuals

are conducting evaluations or assessments or providing early intervention services.

5. State approved or recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable

requirements means the requirements that a state legislature either has enacted or has authorized

a state agency to promulgate through rules to establish the entry-level standards for employment in

a specific profession or discipline in the state.

September 18, 2012 Page 2

STATE PERSONNEL STANDARDS

1. Audiologist: Licensed Audiologist, State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety,

Division of Consumer Affairs, Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee

pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C. This includes temporary licensure as described below.

2. Behavior Specialist: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution in a related health,

human service, or education field; AND has completed coursework from an accredited institution in

behavioral methodology for children; AND has at least one year of documented professional

experience implementing behavioral intervention programs for individuals from birth to five years of

age who have developmental delays and disabilities.

3. Child Development Specialist: Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution in a

related health, human service, or education field; AND has at least one year of documented

professional experience with individuals from birth to five years of age who have developmental

delays and disabilities; OR at least six (6) credits in infant or early childhood development and/or

special education coursework.

4. Family Therapist: (1) Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of New Jersey Department of Law

and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Social Work Examiners pursuant to

N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; OR (2) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, State of New Jersey

Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Marriage and Family

Therapy Examiners pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.

5. Interpreter for the Deaf: (1) Associate's degree from an accredited institution indicating completion

of an accredited sign language interpreter training program; AND completion of screening

established by the NJ Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, NJ Department of Human Services;

OR (2) Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration, Registry of Interpreters for the

Deaf.

6. Nurse: Licensed Registered Nurse, State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety,

Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Nursing pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; AND preferably

has at least one year documented professional experience with individuals birth to five years of age

and their families.

7. Nutritionist: (1) Registered Dietitian, Commission on Dietetic Registration; OR (2) Board Certified

Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition, Commission on Dietetic Registration; OR (3) Certified Nutrition

Specialist, Certification Board for Nutritional Specialists, American College of Nutrition.

8. Occupational Therapist: Licensed Occupational Therapist, State of New Jersey Department of

Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Occupational Therapy Advisory Council

pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; AND preferably has at least one year of documented

professional experience with individuals from birth to five years of age who have developmental

delays and disabilities. This includes temporary licensure as described below.

9. Orientation and Mobility Specialist: Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS),

Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals.

10. Pediatricians/other Physicians: Licensed Physician (MD or DO), State of New Jersey Department

of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Medical Examiners pursuant to

N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.

11. Physical Therapist: Licensed Physical Therapist, State of New Jersey Department of Law and

Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Physical Therapy pursuant to N.J.S.A. and

N.J.A.C.; AND preferably has at least one year of documented professional experience with

individuals from birth to five years of age with developmental delays and disabilities. This includes

temporary licensure as described in number twenty (20) below.

September 18, 2012 Page 3

12. Psychologist: Licensed Psychologist, State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety,

Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychological Examiners pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.

This includes temporary licensure as described below.

13. Service Coordinator: (1) Meets the standards for any professional level early intervention

personnel position OR (2) Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution in a related

health, human service, or education field; AND at least one year of documented professional

experience working with children and families in a counseling, supporting, or case management

role. Documented professional experience is preferably with individuals birth to five years of age

and their families.

14. Social Worker: Certified or Licensed Social Worker, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of

New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Social

Work Examiners pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.

15. Special Educator: Bachelor’s degree or higher; AND certified by the New Jersey Department of

Education as a Teacher with an endorsement as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities pursuant to

N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; AND has at least one year of documented professional experience with

individuals from birth to five years of age who have developmental delays and disabilities; OR at

least six (6) credits in infant and toddler or early childhood development.

16. Special Educator/Hearing Impaired/Deafness: Bachelor’s degree or higher; AND certified by the

NJ Department of Education as a Teacher with an endorsement as a Teacher of the Deaf or Hard

of Hearing pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; AND has at least one year of documented

professional experience with individuals from birth to five years of age who have developmental

delays and disabilities; OR at least six (6) credits in infant and toddler or early childhood

development.

17. Special Educator/Visually Impaired/Blindness: Bachelor’s degree or higher; AND certified by the

NJ Department of Education as a Teacher with an endorsement as a Teacher of the Blind or

Visually Impaired pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; AND has at least one year of documented

professional experience with individuals from birth to five years of age who have developmental

delays and disabilities; OR at least six (6) credits in infant and toddler or early childhood

development.

18. Speech-Language Pathologist: Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, State of New Jersey

Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Audiology and Speech-

Language Pathology Advisory Committee pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; AND who preferably

has at least one year documented professional experience with individuals from birth to five years

of age who have developmental delays and disabilities. This includes temporary licensure as

described below.

19. Vision Specialist: Licensed ophthalmologist pursuant to N.J.S.A. or licensed optometrist pursuant

to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of

Consumer Affairs, State Board of Medical Examiners.

20. Temporary Licensure:

a. The DOH may permit the hiring of individuals who possess a temporary license issued by a

State licensing board to address the immediate needs of eligible children and their families.

b. Personnel who are subject to State licensure, registration, and/or certification standards to

provide services as professionals as listed in the NJEIS Rules and who hold only temporary or

conditional licensure, registration, and/or certification, and who otherwise satisfy the standards

put forth in NJEIS Rules, are eligible to provide early intervention services with supervision

pursuant to their licensed, registered, and/or certified scope of practice and subject to any

conditions the State licensing, registering and/or certifying entity imposes, unless and until the

earlier of either of the following occur:

September 18, 2012 Page 4

(i) The State licensing, registering, and/or certifying entity that issues the professional’s

temporary and/or conditional licensure, registration, and/or certification suspends or revokes

the temporary and/or conditional licensure, registration, and/or certification; or

(ii) The temporary and/or conditional licensure, registration, and/or certification expire.

21. Paraprofessionals/Assistants/Associates:

a. The DOH may permit the hiring of paraprofessionals, assistants, and associates who are

appropriately trained and supervised pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C., to assist in the

provision of services. Minimum NJEIS qualifications are as follows:

(i) Child Development Associate: High school diploma or GED; AND at least one year

documented experience working with individuals from birth to five years of age with

developmental delays and disabilities and their families.

(ii) Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA): Licensed Occupational Therapy

Assistant, State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer

Affairs, Occupational Therapy Advisory Council pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; AND

preferably documented experience working with individuals from birth to five years of age

with developmental delays and disabilities and their families.

(iii) Physical Therapy Assistant: Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant, State of New Jersey

Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Physical

Therapy pursuant to N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C.; AND preferably documented experience

working with individuals from birth to five years of age with developmental delays and

disabilities and their families.

(iv) Service Coordinator Associate: High school diploma or GED; AND preferably be:

 Experienced working with individuals birth to five years of age and their families; or

 A parent or sibling of a child with special needs; or

 A community member of an underserved population.

b. Supervision of paraprofessionals/assistants, and associates: The paraprofessional, assistant,

and associate’s roles, responsibilities, and level of supervision must be:

(i) Commensurate with his or her experience.

(ii) Under the close and regular supervision of a qualified and responsible professional

practitioner or provider agency, paraprofessional, assistant, and associate staff members

may perform the following functions:

 Assist in provision of services to a child and/or his or her family in natural environments;

 Provide supplementary services addressing goals described in the IFSP of the child

and/or his or her family;

 Serve as liaisons with organizations addressing issues of concern to the community; and

 Provide translation and/or interpreting services, if other certified and/or trained

translators or interpreters are not available despite reasonable efforts to secure their

services.