Early intervention professional development is more accessible and interactive than ever before.
The Early Start Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) offers interactive, facilitated learning both online and in-person to provide the foundational knowledge and basic skills early intervention personnel need to build their capacity to improve outcomes for children and families in Early Start.
The Department of Developmental Services, the California Department of Education, and the California Early Intervention Technical Assistance Network (CEITAN) at WestEd collaborate to offer a personnel development collection, under the banner of the Early Start Institute, for early intervention service coordinators, service providers, specialists, administrators, and other early intervention personnel.
Changes Are Coming to Early Start Online
This summer, Early Start Online is transitioning from the learning management system at cpeionline.net to a new system. Here’s what you need to know:
- Beginning July 1, 2025: You can no longer create new accounts or enroll in courses in Early Start Online at cpeionline.net. If you or your staff need to complete any Early Start courses in July, be sure to enroll in them now because you won’t be able to enroll in new courses until the new platform launches in August.
- If you’re currently enrolled in a course, you have until July 31, 2025, to complete it and receive a certificate of completion. Be sure to download certificates before the end of the day on July 31 if you need them right away.
- August 1 – 18, 2025: Courses will be on a “summer break” while course content and user information transitions to the new site.
- August 18, 2025: The new platform opens! All previous user and course completion data will have been transferred. All Early Start courses will be available.
- More information about the new system will be shared in early August.
For questions, email [email protected].
Early Start Training Curricula
At the heart of all Early Start training is the comprehensive, evidence-based content that the field has come to expect from Early Start personnel development. The core curriculum and learning outcomes are aligned with the ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual competencies and guided by the Core Messages. All content is developed in collaboration with the Department of Developmental Services and partners from the California Department of Education as well as professional and parent leaders. Content is reviewed and approved by the Department of Developmental Services.
Early Start Institute offerings are organized by content in three strands of concentration—Foundations, Skill Base, and Effective Practice Events and Webinars.
All of our courses are offered in a self-paced, asynchronous, open access format. See the chart below for a description of each concentration and the requirements for completion.