The Special Education: Early Childhood/Early Intervention test is designed for candidates seeking licensure or certification as early childhood Special Education educators in various educational settings, including early intervention settings and classroom settings up to grade 3.

The test is designed and developed through work with practicing special education teachers and teacher educators to reflect state and national standards, including the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards for early interventionists/early childhood special educators. Test takers have typically completed—or are about to complete—a preparation program with a focus on special education, and they typically have experience that includes supervised teaching in a school or other educational setting.

The 120 selected-response questions focus on both content and topics that are relevant to various settings where the expertise of a special education early educator would be required. The test content measures a candidate’s knowledge and skills spanning the areas of (I) Child Development and Early Learning, including theories and philosophies; (II) Curriculum, Planning, and Instruction, including interventions; (III) Assessment, including tools and methods for assessment and assessments for interventions, eligibility, and identification; (IV) Partnering and Collaboration, including advocating for and supporting families and teaming with other educational professionals; and (V) Legal and Ethical Practice and Professionalism. This test may contain some questions that will not count toward your score.