Working in Early Start

Early intervention services in California are provided through a network of regional centers, who engage the services of vendored service providers, and through local educational agencies (LEAs), who employ certified educators, therapists, and assistants. Qualification requirements vary. 

 The information sources below may inform your plans for professional preparation: 

• Early Start employment information is available on the Department of Developmental Services web site, including:  

• • Table of professional qualifications by discipline area (PDF). 

• Early Start knowledge and skill competencies for early intervention service providers and assistants are described in the Early Start Personnel Manual. 

• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Division for Early Childhood (DEC) position statement clarifying the role of the special instruction service and its providers in early intervention.  

• Information about vendors or vendorization in the area where you would like to work may be available from the regional center; ask if they can provide contact information for Early Start/early intervention service providers in their catchment area.  

• Information about becoming credentialed to work for an LEA early intervention program is available through the Commission on Teacher Credentialing: 

• • Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credentials 

• • Special Education Credentials 

• • • Prepared in California 

• • • Prepared outside of California 

• • • Prepared outside of the United States 

• • Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential 

• Information about becoming licensed to provide or assist with discipline-specific therapy is available through the California Department of Consumer Affairs: 

• • Board of Occupational Therapy: 

• • • OT Schools in California 

• • • OTA Schools in California 

• • • OT/OTA Application Requirements 

• • Physical Therapy Board of California: 

• • • Examination Information 

• • • Education Verification 

• • Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board: 

• • • Qualifications for Licensure Speech-Language Pathologists 

• • • Qualifications for Registration as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant 

• Information about therapy assistant programs available through California community colleges is listed below: