1. (a) The minimum requirements for the clear Clinical or Rehabilitative Orientation and Mobility Services Credential include (1) through (5).

   1. (1) Bachelor's degree and either a master's or higher degree or at least one year of applicable graduate-level course work which may or may not have resulted in an advanced degree in orientation and mobility or a closely related subject as determined by the Commission;

   2. (2) Completion of one of the following:

      1. (A) a specialized and professional preparation program in Orientation and Mobility taken in California and accredited by the Committee on Accreditation; or
      2. (B) a professional preparation program in orientation and mobility services, including successful completion of a supervised field work, or the equivalent, taken outside California that is comparable to a program accredited by the Committee on Accreditation. The program must be from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and approved by the appropriate state agency where the course work was completed;
   3. (3) Meet the basic skills requirement as described in Education Code Section 44252, unless exempt by statute;

   4. (4) One of the following:

      1. (A) an individual who completes his or her professional preparation program in California as described in (a)(2)(A) must receive a recommendation from a California regionally accredited institution of higher education that has a preliminary Orientation and Mobility Services program accredited by the Committee on Accreditation, as provided in Education Code Section 44373(c); or
      2. (B) an individual who completes his or her professional preparation program outside of California as described in (a)(2)(B), may apply directly to the Commission for the preliminary Orientation and Mobility Services Credential; and
   5. (5) An individual who has completed requirements (a)(1) and (2)(B), but has not met the basic skills requirement listed in (a)(3) may apply for a one-year nonrenewable credential through a California employing agency.
2. (b) A Clear Orientation and Mobility Services Credential issued on the basis of the completion of the requirements in subsection (a) shall be issued initially for five years.
3. (c) The Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential: Orientation and Mobility authorizes the holder to provide services to students who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind individuals with age-appropriate, hands-on experiences and to allow them to learn how to navigate their natural travel settings including home, school and community, become independent travelers and assist in the development of a conceptual understanding of the environment to students from birth through age 22.

Note: Authority cited: Section 44225, Education Code. Reference: Sections 44251, 44252, 44268 and 44373, Education Code.

History

1. New section filed 5-27-2010; operative 6-26-2010 (Register 2010, No. 22).