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National Credential

The NIAA National Intervener Credential is awarded through the credentialing arm of the National Intervener & Advocate Association(NIAA). To earn this, interveners must complete a competency-based intervener training program through higher education. This establishes common standards, competencies, and practices in a way that is both rigorous and affordable. Administrators of local and state education agencies can be assured that students who have earned the National Intervener Credential have met standards that are rigorous and recognized beyond their local school, district, and state.

To advance the field of intervener services, interveners need to be recognized as “related service providers” rather than paraprofessionals, and their training must be completed through the higher education pathway, just as other related service providers are educated.  The National Intervener & Advocate Association (NIAA) wholeheartedly supports university training as the path to credentialing.  NIAA recognizes the intervener practice cannot survive and thrive at the paraprofessional level.   The intervener practice must evolve to be recognized and supported similar to the evolution of the sign language interpreter practice.  Experience has shown that higher education training is the only way to have the intervener practice become recognized, valued, and sustained over time.  

Benefits

  • Recognizes the unique knowledge and skills that an intervener must have
  • Establishes a consistent, quality level of training needed to be considered an intervener
  • Supports a standard of excellence for interveners
  • Promotes systems change at local, state and national levels
  • Facilitates recognition of interveners that results in improved conditions such as higher pay
  • Can provide a career pathway to degree programs (i.e. teachers of the deafblind)

The Requirements for Obtaining the National Intervener Credential Include:

  • A minimum of 8 university/community college credit hours (or equivalent CEU’s) of coursework from a higher education Intervener Training Program based on the CEC Intervener Competencies 
  • In addition, a 2 – 4 credit hour practicum course under the supervision of the course instructor and the guidance of a trained Intervener Coach
  • A completed Intervener Portfolio based on the CEC Intervener Competencies which provides documentation that the intervener has acquired the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective intervener
  • Once the intervener has fulfilled the practicum requirements, the completed portfolio and other documentation is submitted to the National Intervener & Advocate Association
  • Following their review process, if all the requirements are met, the Intervener is notified that he or she is eligible to receive the National Intervener Credential
  • The intervener then submits an application along with a $100 processing fee and is awarded the credential
  • The National Intervener Credential is good for 5 years

National Intervener Credential Renewal

The National Intervener Credential is good for 5 years, after which time, it needs to be renewed.  Interveners can begin working on their professional development any time on or after their credential start date.  Upon renewal approval, an intervener will be designated as an Intervener Specialist for the Deafblind (ISDB).

Renewal Requirements:

  • Training can be done through workshops, conferences, seminars, and/or university/college courses.
  • During the five-year renewal period, a credentialed intervener must earn a total of 8 continuing education units (CEU’s), or 80 Continuing Education points (CE’s) or a combination of both.
    • 1 Continuing Education Unit or CEU = 10 hours of professional development training.
    • 1 Continuing Education point or CE = 1 hour of professional development training.
    • For university/college courses, 1 semester credit hour = 1.5 CEU’s or 15 CE points.                                                               1 quarter credit hour = 1 CEU or 10 CE points.  

  • Of the total 8 CEU’s or 80 CE’s, at least 5 of the CEU’s or 50 CE’s must be in deafblind specific professional development training. 3 CEU’s or 30 CE’s can be from other topic areas.
  • Credit may only be given for a specific topic workshop once in a five-year renewal cycle. The dates the CEUs were earned must fall within the five-year credentialing cycle. CEUs are not carried over from one renewal period to the next.
  • The accompanying Professional Development Response form must be completed for each professional development training activity.
  • A processing fee will be applied.  

Professional Development Training Options:

A credentialed intervener can do any of the following:

  • Participate in state or national workshops, conferences or trainings related to deafblindness.   

Documentation required:  Certificate of participation and a brief summary of what was learned.

  • Complete coursework from an accredited college or university.

Documentation required: University or college transcript or certificate of satisfactory completion.

  • Complete coursework in sign language and/or tactile sign language.

Documentation required: Certificate of satisfactory completion.

  • Participate in state or national workshops, seminars, or conferences on topics not related to deafblindness.

Documentation required: Certificate of participation and a brief summary of what was learned.