Georgia Early Intervention Requirements for Practice

The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for developing requirements for the professions of audiology and/or speech-language pathology to work in the early intervention setting. The information is reviewed on an annual basis. Please be advised that laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.

Audiology

Education

Master's degree

Certification/Licensure

Licensed by Georgia Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.

Additional Requirements

• Must enroll as a provider in Georgia’s Fee-for-service (FFS) Medicaid/Peachcare for Kids Program
• Must enroll as a provider with at least one Georgia Medicaid Care Management Organization within 60 days of contracting with BCW. CEU requirements are based on professional licensing guidelines.

Audiologists can qualify under Special Instructors as an Early Intervention Specialist. See below for additional requirements.

Speech-Language Pathology

Education

Master’s degree

Certification/Licensure

Licensed by Georgia Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.

Training

The Early Intervention Specialist (EIS) position requires a master’s degree in child development, early childhood education, early childhood special education, special education or other closely related field. This professional will provide specialized instruction, supervise Early Intervention Assistants in performing their duties and consult with Early Interventionists based on review of special instruction program planning and implementation. The EIS must attend and complete training in the Level II Skilled Credentialed Early Interventionists (SCEIs) training modules within six months of employment and or contracting with the Babies Can’t Wait.

Additional Requirements

• Must enroll as a provider in Georgia’s Fee-for-service (FFS) Medicaid/Peachcare for Kids Program
• Must enroll as a provided with at least one Georgia Medicaid Care Management Organization within 60 days of contracting with BCW. CEU requirements are based on professional licensing guidelines.

Speech-language pathologists can qualify under Special Instructors as an Early Intervention Specialist. See below for additional requirements.

Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Education

• Associate’s degree
• Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants can qualify under Special Instructors as an Early Intervention Assistant. See below for requirements.

Special Instructors

• The Early Intervention Specialist (EIS) position requires a master's degree in child development, early childhood education, early childhood special education, special education or other closely related field. This professional will provide specialized instruction, supervise Early Intervention Assistants in performing their duties and consult with Early Interventionists based on review of special instruction program planning and implementation. The EIS must attend and complete training in the Level II Skilled Credentialed Early Interventionists (SCEIs) training modules within six months of employment and or contracting with the Babies Can’t Wait.
• The Early Interventionist (EI) must hold a bachelor’s degree in education, child development, pediatric nursing, psychology, social work or another directly related field (see preceding requirements). The EI will also be required to attend training to complete the Level II SCEIs training modules developed by the Lead Agency within six months of employment and or contracting with the Babies Can’t Wait System.  This professional will provide specialized instruction with consultation by the Early Intervention Specialist.
• The Early Intervention Assistant (EIA) must have of a Child Development Associates Degree, Technical Certificate of Credit in Early Childhood Exceptionalities, or Associates Degree in a related field. The EI Assistant must complete the Level I SCEIS training modules within six months from date of hire/contract.

Continuing Education Requirements for Special Instructors

• Level I personnel are required to have ten (10) contact hours of continuing education specific to young children (birth to eight) and their families every year; five (5) of these hours must be specific to young children with disabilities and/ or their families.  All continuing education offerings must be documented with Project SCEIs within 45 calendar days of completion.   
• Level II refers to personnel who have at least a bachelor's degree in an early intervention discipline.  Level II personnel are required to have twenty (20) contact hours of continuing education specific to young children (birth to eight) and their families every TWO years; ten (10) of these hours must be specific to young children with disabilities and/ or their families.  All continuing education offerings must be documented with Project SCEIs within 45 calendar days of completion.   

Agency Oversight

Georgia Department of Public Health, Babies Can’t Wait

Resources

For further information regarding audiologists and speech-language pathologists working in the early intervention setting, please visit these websites:

• Provider Enrollment– Georgia Medicaid Management Information System
• Georgia Early Intervention Regulations – Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-4-7.01
• Georgia Department of Public Health, Babies Can’t Wait Policy Manual [PDF]

Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.