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What is FIRST YEARS and why are you offering a certificate?
As more children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are served in inclusive settings, a growing number of special educators, speech pathologists, and other professionals are being asked to serve these children and their families.  While most are experienced professionals in their respective disciplines, many have limited educational preparation to work with these populations.  FIRST YEARS is a continuing education program for professionals interested in expanding their knowledge and skills related to speech and language intervention with children who are deaf or hard-of hearing.  A certificate of completion will be awarded at the end of the program to document coursework and practicum.
Am I a good candidate for your program?
The FIRST YEARS courses and the mentorship experience were designed, in a convenient distance format, to meet the on-going educational needs of practicing professionals. To determine if distance education is a good fit for you, review our materials at Successful Online Learning
What level of expertise is this program intended for? 
The courses are intended for post-baccalaureate study by professionals who have been working for at least two years with children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. There are graduate credits associated with each course.  The Units of Study page covers the credit designation assigned to the courses. 
Is the coursework introductory -- for "beginners" only?
The FIRST YEARS certificate offers intermediate-level content.  Thus, it is designed to meet the needs of professionals who have been who have been practicing in the field, but feel a need to acquire current information and update their skills.
Can I take just one course?
No, the courses are offered exclusively as part of the FIRST YEARS certificate.
How long will it take to complete the program?
The certificate can be completed in 2 years if a course is taken each semester, including summer. 
Can parents audit these courses? 
No.  While we appreciate the desire of parents to be better informed, current demand for continuing education requires us to limit our courses to professionals.
How much will it cost? 
The current fees are listed on the admission requirements page and vary from year to year.  However, to get a ballpark idea of the total cost, multiply the per-credit-hour fee times 15 (the total credit hours for the certificate). Cost of texts will vary with each course.  Costs of transportation and housing during the mentorship experience will differ depending on where the student lives and to which mentorship site they are assigned.
Do you offer tuition stipends?
We are not currently offering tuition stipends. 
If a group of students from a facility work together, is there a group discount?
No.  Each student must pay the full tuition and fees. 
Are there deadlines for registration?
Yes. These deadline dates appear on the main web site for FIRST YEARS.
Will this course of study lead to a teaching certificate? 
No.  Teaching certification is the purview of each state's department of education/ public instruction.
Will FIRST YEARS offer a distance opportunity for professionals to become AV certified? 
No.  This is not a means of attaining Auditory Verbal Therapy Certification, although we anticipate that some professionals will want to pursue the more advanced training required for AVT certification.  For information on that process, please go to http://www.agbellacademy.org
What do you foresee as the value of this new certificate?
FIRST YEARS is designed to inform professionals of current theories and practice aimed at helping children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing acquire spoken language.  Successful completion of the program will provide professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to provide better intervention and instruction to the children and families they serve.
Bobby WorldWide Approved 508
04/15/03

Alexander Graham Bell Association | UNC-CH Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences

© FIRST YEARS, Last update: May 2008, Maintained by Lane Price Rose, WebSchool Solutions