What Do Early Intervention Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for early intervention specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what early intervention specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Early Intervention Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about early intervention specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Early Intervention Specialists teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Popular Job Titles For Early Intervention Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Behavior Interventionists
- Early Intervention Specialists
- Behavioral Interventionists
- Interventionists
- Preschool Special Education Teachers
- Early Interventionists
- Doctors of Dental Surgery
- In Home Therapy Clinicians
- Outdoor Educators
- Preschool Intervention Specialists
- Service Volunteers
- Literacy Interventionists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for early intervention specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Early Intervention Specialists
Early Intervention Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 60.8%
- Child Day Care Services: 14.8%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 7.4%
- Individual and Family Services: 7.1%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 3.9%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 2%
- Other: 4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of early intervention specialists can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 60.8% of all jobs for early intervention specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Child Day Care Services (14.8%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (7.4%), Individual and Family Services (7.1%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (3.9%) and Offices of Other Health Practitioners (2%).
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Degree Options for Early Intervention Specialists
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- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Early Intervention Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what early intervention specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work early intervention specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that early intervention specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for early intervention specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Early Intervention Specialists
Based on 11,621 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Early Intervention Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 3,099 | 27% |
| Psychology | 2,655 | 23% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 2,394 | 21% |
| Working With Children | 2,212 | 19% |
| Child Development | 1,960 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Early Intervention Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,810 | 33% |
| Teaching | 3,362 | 29% |
| Social Skills | 1,380 | 12% |
| Planning | 1,323 | 11% |
| Multilingualism | 1,300 | 11% |
Based on 11,621 job postings related to early intervention specialists, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for psychology, autism spectrum disorders, working with children, child development and preschool education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for early intervention specialists, followed by teaching, social skills, planning, multilingualism and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 3,099 | 27% |
| Psychology | 2,655 | 23% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 2,394 | 21% |
| Working With Children | 2,212 | 19% |
| Child Development | 1,960 | 17% |
| Preschool Education | 1,935 | 17% |
| Social Work | 1,741 | 15% |
| Mental Health | 1,486 | 13% |
| Early Intervention | 1,459 | 13% |
| Behavioral Health | 1,443 | 12% |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 1,440 | 12% |
| Disabilities | 1,404 | 12% |
| Treatment Planning | 1,385 | 12% |
| Data Collection | 1,146 | 10% |
| Caregiving | 1,095 | 9% |
| Behaviour Therapy | 1,061 | 9% |
| Developmental Disabilities | 1,042 | 9% |
| Sociology | 1,031 | 9% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 978 | 8% |
| Positive Behavior Support | 836 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,810 | 33% |
| Teaching | 3,362 | 29% |
| Social Skills | 1,380 | 12% |
| Planning | 1,323 | 11% |
| Multilingualism | 1,300 | 11% |
| Writing | 1,237 | 11% |
| Research | 1,025 | 9% |
| Coaching | 1,016 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,016 | 9% |
| Management | 935 | 8% |
| Leadership | 912 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 787 | 7% |
| Organizational Skills | 758 | 7% |
| Detail Oriented | 743 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 742 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 735 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 698 | 6% |
| Spanish Language | 673 | 6% |
| Mathematics | 660 | 6% |
| English Language | 648 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Early Intervention Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Interventionists | 12,304 | 39.9% |
| Early Intervention Specialists | 3,562 | 11.5% |
| Behavioral Interventionists | 3,237 | 10.5% |
| Interventionists | 2,029 | 6.6% |
| Preschool Special Education Teachers | 741 | 2.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was behavior interventionists, with 2,563 unique job postings. Early intervention specialists were second, with 935 postings, followed by behavioral interventionists, interventionists and preschool special education teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to early intervention specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Interventionists | 12,304 | 39.9% |
| Early Intervention Specialists | 3,562 | 11.5% |
| Behavioral Interventionists | 3,237 | 10.5% |
| Interventionists | 2,029 | 6.6% |
| Preschool Special Education Teachers | 741 | 2.4% |
| Early Interventionists | 1,087 | 3.5% |
| Doctors of Dental Surgery | 673 | 2.2% |
| In Home Therapy Clinicians | 789 | 2.6% |
| Outdoor Educators | 320 | 1% |
| Preschool Intervention Specialists | 310 | 1% |
| Service Volunteers | 3,425 | 11.1% |
| Literacy Interventionists | 257 | 0.8% |
| Special Needs Assistants | 436 | 1.4% |
| Restaurant General Managers | 445 | 1.4% |
| Intervention Specialists | 182 | 0.6% |
| Physical Educators | 178 | 0.6% |
| Developmental Disabilities Specialists | 125 | 0.4% |
| Preschool Educators | 167 | 0.5% |
| Developmental Interventionists | 295 | 1% |
| Occupational Therapists | 309 | 1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for early intervention specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for early intervention specialists.
How much do early intervention specialists make?
Early Intervention Specialists: How do you become one?
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