Requirements for Service Coordinator Enrollment and Approval:

You may enroll and be approved as an Early Steps service coordinator if you meet the following requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university with an emphasis in the areas of psychology, social work, health education, interdisciplinary sociology, early childhood, child development, or special education.
   
   Or
   
   Equivalent degree based on transcript review.
   
   Or
   
   A minimum of three (3) years documented experience may substitute for an out of field degree.
   
   
2. Minimum of one year professional experience with young children and families in a teaching, case management, or counseling role, or with individuals with special needs and/or developmental delays of any age in a case management role.
3. Time spent in a practicum or internship situation (up to 400 hours) may apply toward the 1600 hours of hands on experience.
4. The Early Steps Service Coordinator Certification of Experience Form: (pdf - 47kb) must be used to document experience.
5. If a new Service Coordinator meets the educational and experience requirements above, they must complete an apprenticeship within 90 days of interim approval. Apprenticeship is completed after receiving interim approval and prior to enrolling in Medicaid TCM, (enroll in Medicaid TCM,) and having a caseload.
6. If a new Service Coordinator meets the educational requirements above, but cannot document one-year experience, they must complete an extended apprenticeship within 120 days of interim approval.
7. Practicum or internship experiences completed in a Local Early Steps within the past 18 months, that match those of the apprenticeship, can be applied to the apprenticeship requirements.

Requirements for Interim Approval to Begin Apprenticeship:

If you meet the requirements above and complete the online application, the following must be submitted before you may be assigned an interim approval and begin your apprenticeship through a Local Early Steps:

1. Documentation of Education: Diplomas with areas stated and/or transcripts are acceptable.
2. Early Steps Certification of Experience Form: (pdf - 47kb) This form must be completed and signed to document your experience and practicum or internship.
3. Current Professional Liability Insurance: A copy of the insurance policy face sheet and a letter from your employer confirming the coverage in your practice area under their policy is required if the employer is named on the face sheet as the insured.
4. Terms and Conditions of Approval: (pdf - 50kb) This form is required of all Early Steps providers.

Requirements for Temporary Approval to Begin Providing Services:

A Service Coordinator must be assigned a temporary or active approval to be assigned a caseload and begin providing services to Early Steps eligible infants and toddlers and their families. If you meet the requirements above, the following must be submitted before you may be assigned a temporary approval and begin providing services through a Local Early Steps:

1. Completion of an apprenticeship within 90 days of interim approval or an extended apprenticeship within 120 days of interim approval.
2. Enrollment in Medicaid TCM: To enroll in Medicaid TCM, the applicant/LES must send a completed application to the Early Steps Enrollment Specialist to review and be forwarded to Medicaid from Early Steps.

Requirements for Active Approval (effective for three years):

The following are required in order to be assigned an active approval:

1. Completion of Early Steps Online Orientation Modules (1-3): must complete the three Early Steps Online Orientation Modules within ninety (90) days of application date.
2. Medicaid TCM Provider Number Assigned

Requirements for Application Renewal:

Providers must renew their application every three (3) years and document thirty-six (36) hours of CEU/inservice training. All inservice hours must be related to at least one of the Early Intervention Professional Competency Areas (pdf - 75kb)

Please note that your application cannot be approved until all required documentation is received.

Dual Enrollment

An ITDS, Non-licensed Provider, or LHCP, with the exception of Therapy Assistants, may dually apply as a Service Coordinator and be approved, if requirements for both provider types are met.