Infant Mental Health Endorsement® (IMH-E®) Requirements
Each IMH-E® category has specific work, education, in-service training and reflective supervision/consultation requirements, specific to pregnant women, young children, aged 0-36 months, and their families. In addition, IMH-E® applicants will demonstrate achievement of competencies, as defined in the desired category. This chart represents only a summary of the IMH-E® categories. Detailed information specific to each category can be downloaded from the links below.
Category 1
Infant Family Associate
CDA, Associate's degree, or two years of early childhood experience
Minimum 30 hours, average 40 hour of in-service training
Signed Code of Ethics
Optional Reflective Supervision/Consultation
3 Reference Ratings (at least 1 must meet requirements for Endorsement® at Category 2, 3, or 4)
No Written Exam
Category 2
Infant Family Specialist
Bachelor's or Master's degree and two years of post-Bachelor's work experience in the infant/toddler field
Minimum 30 hours, average 50 hour of in-service training
Signed Code of Ethics
Minimum 24 clock hours within a 12-month to 24-month time period while working with infants, toddlers, & families and/or while providing supervision to staff who are providing services to infants, young children (birth to 36 months) and their families.
Category 3
Infant Mental Health Specialist
Master's or Post-Graduate degree and two years of post-Master's work providing infant mental health services
Minimum 30 hours, average 75 hour of in-service training
Signed Code of Ethics
Minimum 50 clock hours within a 12-month to 24-month time period while working with infants, toddlers, & families
Category 4
Infant Mental Health Mentor
Master's or Post-Graduate degree and three years of postgraduate work as a leader in the IMH field
3 years post-Master's work in the infant, early childhood, and family field
Clinical only: Minimum 50 clock hours a 12-month to 24-month time period while working with infants, toddlers, & families. A minimum of 25-hours of the RSC received should be about the RSC that the applicant provides to others
Signed Code of Ethics
3 Reference Ratings (at least 1 must meet requirements for Endorsement® at Category 2, 3, or 4)
No Written Exam
3 Reference Ratings (at least 1 must be from supervisor/consultant providing reflective practice)
Written Exam
Reflective Supervision/Consultation - Minimum 50 clock hours within a 2-year time frame
3 Reference Ratings (clinical leader: at least 1 must be from supervisor/consultant providing reflective practice)
Written Exam
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Infant Family Associate applicants need to meet the Education OR the Work requirement they do not need to meet both.
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For Infant Family Associate applicants, volunteer experience may meet the work criterion if it was a) supervised experience with women during pregnancy or with infants, toddlers, & families AND b) included specialized training. Examples include CASA, Doula, Child Life Specialist.
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Only Infant Mental Health Mentor - Clinical applicants need to fulfill the requirement of being a provider of RS/C for 3+ years.
Download the Competency Guidelines®
The materials supporting the First 5 Alabama® Competency Guidelines® are copyrighted by the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH). First 5 Alabama® is able to make these materials available to our membership and collaborators through a licensing agreement with the MI-AIMH.
Please note: Copyright law does allow individuals to print out or make ONE copy of copyrighted material for personal, non-commercial purposes only. None of the copyrighted Endorsement® documents included here may be reproduced, displayed, distributed, or otherwise used in any format, including electronically, without the express written consent of MI-AIMH. Legal action will be taken against those who violate the copyright.
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