Program Overview

Program Overview

The Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS) certificate program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is offered completely online over the course of one year. This program is administered in partnership with several state universities and the Department of Health (DOH). The ITDS certificate is a qualifying credential for individuals to work with infants and toddlers in early intervention programs.

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for the ITDS certificate program, applicants must already have a Bachelor's degree. They can take the courses as a non-degree seeking student or integrate them into a Master's Degree program in the Department of Special Education.

Course Requirements

The ITDS certificate program requires the completion of the following courses:

• EEX 5015 Survey and Assessment in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education (Spring) Historical, legal, educational, and theoretical rationales for the observation and assessment of young children (birth to age 8).
• EEX 5017 Atypical Development in Early Childhood ESE (Summer) Theories of typical and atypical child development, with emphasis on stages and sequences of skill acquisition and the impact of disabilities and biomedical risk factors on learning from birth to age 8.
• EEX 5755 Families and Community Resources in Early Childhood ESE (Spring; Summer) Family collaboration and support, with emphasis on family systems theory and interaction, community resources, case management, and transition for infants, toddlers, and young children with special needs.
• EEX 6707 Early Intervention Services (Fall) Prerequisite: EEX 5015, 5017, or permission of instructor. This course provides knowledge and skills to facilitate family-centered early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities or at risk of developing disabilities.

Accreditation Standards

The ITDS certificate program adheres to the following accreditation standards:

• Florida Prekindergarten/Primary Education (Age 3) Through Grade Three (3) Specialization Competencies (PK/P)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• CEC-Division for Early Childhood (DEC)
• Educator Accomplished Practices: Florida Education Standards Commission (EAP)
• NCATE Recommendations for Technology in Teacher Education (NCATE-tech)
• Subject Matter Content Standards for Florida's Teachers: ESOL
• Florida's Early Intervention Professional Competencies (ITDS Appendix A)

Furthering Your Education

Students who already hold initial teacher certification in the state of Florida can become eligible to apply for the State of Florida Pre-Kindergarten Disabilities Teaching Certificate Endorsement (Pre-K – grade 3) by completing three courses from the list above (EEX 5015, EEX 5017, EEX 5755) and one additional course (EEX 5245). Additionally, students completing the ITDS certification can integrate these courses into a Master's Degree Program in the Department of Special Education, which could count toward the ESE Master's Concentration in Early Childhood.