Training and Certification for Early Childhood Special Education Personnel: A Six-Year Follow-up Study

Abstract

A six-year follow-up survey of state, district and U.S. territory certification offices was conducted to determine current requirements for early childhood special education personnel. In addition, the status of known training programs was assessed. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico responded. Twenty respondents (20%) reported a separate early childhood special education certification/endorsement, 19 (35%) reported a special education training requirement for early childhood certification/endorsement, and 11 (20%) reported an early childhood training requirement for special education certification/endorsement. A total of 29 different states and the District of Columbia (56%) required some combination of early childhood special education coursework for certification/ endorsement in one or both of these fields. Certification offices in 26 states and the District of Columbia (50%) indicated awareness of at least one formal training program within their stated institutions of higher education.