Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP) Requirements

DEFINITION

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) adopted the federal definition for Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP) (previously known as Qualified Mental Retardation Professional or QMRP) in all ICF/DD, ICF/DD-H, ICF/DD-N and DD-CNC facilities when the Federal ICF/IID regulations became effective in October 1988. The federal criteria outdates the state regulations specified in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22.

QIDP is a staff who is responsible for integrating, coordinating and monitoring each client’s active treatment and who possesses:

(a) At least one year of experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities.

(b) Is either a physician and surgeon, or a osteopathy physician and surgeon, a registered nurse, or a human services professional possessing at least a bachelor’s degree in a human services field, including but not limited to sociology, special education, rehabilitation counseling or psychology.

Survey Procedures and Interpretive Guidelines for Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities — Appendix J PDF

TRANSLATION/EDUCATION EQUIVALENCY

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet federal qualification requirements if the QIDP applicant can show that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States (U.S.). Community Living Section (CLS) staff will not grant QIDP approvals without documentation that confirms the applicant meets the U.S. education equivalency requirements.

Education received in foreign colleges or universities may be considered acceptable based on any of the following:

1. An evaluation of the education by an accredited U.S. college or university shows that the education is equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university.
2. An accredited U.S. college or university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the U.S. college or university.
3. The applicant submits an evaluation of the coursework from an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education that shows that the coursework is equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university.
4. The education completed outside the U.S. has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

A list of private organizations prepared by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is available. NACES evaluates foreign educational credits for employment and other purposes. All organizations on this list operate for a fee, based on the extent of the education to be evaluated. This link is provided for your general information and may not be all-inclusive. The Department of Developmental Services does not endorse any particular service.

QIDP APPROVALS

DDS must review and approve all QIDPs. Request for QIDP approvals must be submitted with your initial program plan. QIDP approvals are facility specific.

Any QIDP changes made after the initial program approval need to be reviewed and approved by the CLS staff. Submit to assigned analyst, a copy of the QIDP applicant’s degree, license, or qualifying document and a copy of their resume along with the DS 1852 PDF Application Form completed front and back.

You will receive a decision on the requested action via a signed copy of your DS 1852 PDF Application Form. If there are any questions you will be contacted by phone, email, or fax. This signed form will serve as your approval document.

Last modified: July 1, 2021