Annual Renewal of Endorsement Requirements
To maintain your earned Endorsement, it is required to participate in ongoing professional development, RSC, and maintain active NAIMH membership. Endorsement renewal is conducted on a 3-year fixed cycle (2024, 2027, 2030, 2033,etc.) via an attestation-audit model. During a renewal year, the Endorsement renewal window is open from October 1 with a hard deadline of December 31. When endorsement is earned mid renewal cycle a fraction of the requirements will be required. Determine your renewal requirements by noting the number of years you have been endorsed by the time of a renewal deadline. The next renewal deadline is December 31, 2027.
Reinstatement of Endorsement Lapses
If you choose to not renew your Endorsement, do not meet the renewal requirements, or miss the renewal window, you will be removed from the Endorsement Registry and no longer be able to use your I/ECMH-E® credential or identify yourself as endorsed. If your renewal lapses, your application will remain in EASy. To reinstatement your inactive endorsement you must:
- Provide documentation of 15 hours of training completed within the past 12-month period. This information must be entered into EASy.
- Attest that you are currently connected to a Reflective Supervision Consultation (RSC) provider and plan to receive an average of 12 hours of RSC per year. One entry with the provider's name must be entered into EASy. (if applicable).
- Attest to understanding that the reinstatement process includes participation in the audit during the next renewal cycle.
- Review and agree to the Ethics Statement.
- Maintain an active membership with AIMH.
- Pay reinstatement fees.( $25 )
Applying for Endorsement if Out of State Applicant
NAIMH cannot accept Endorsement applications from those who reside outside of Nebraska. Even if the Applicant works in Nebraska, if the applicant resides in another state, they must apply for Endorsement in the state in which they reside. If an applicant works in a state that has Endorsement but resides in a state that does not have Endorsement AND the applicant’s employer requires Endorsement, it may be possible for the applicant to earn Endorsement through the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health. To see if Endorsement is available where you reside, please visit The Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health. Please contact Kelly Sipotz at ksipotz@allianceaimh.org if you think you might need to apply for Endorsement through the Alliance.
Changing Endorsement Categories
Applicants may desire to earn multiple categories of Endorsement based on their professional journey and scope of work practice. It is important to connect with the AIMH’s Endorsement Coordinator to develop an Endorsement plan that supports your professional goals.
To assure fulfillment of the Endorsement requirements as specified, an endorsed professional will “add a new Endorsement application” within their EASy application. NAIMH requires that this is done a minimum of 4-6 weeks before the review deadline to assure that all of the requirements are understood, that there is adequate time for preparation for the IMHM Endorsement exam, and that the application is updated with new information pertinent to the applicant’s current status (including contact information).
Endorsement Exam Information
" All Endorsement exams are administered through the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, the international organization that oversees the implementation of the Endorsement for Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health®. All exams are administered through Questionmark, an online exam platform that allows applicants to take the exam from their own computers and the comfort of their own space. Questionmark uses a completely virtual exam proctoring system called Proctorio, that records examinee activity throughout the administration of the exam. Exam windows are available the last full week of each month (January through November) and will open from Monday 12:00 AM to Sunday 11:59 PM Eastern. Applicants can select any 2 to 4-hour time block within the designated exam window week. With the purchase of your Exam Support Package the Alliance will ensure your exam is reviewed by trained exam reviewers, maintaining anonymity throughout the reviewing process, and providing you with meaningful feedback regardless of exam outcome. The Alliance Exam Support Package is valid for one year from the date of purchase.
If an exam taker requires an accommodation for any part of the examination, a written request must be submitted to the Alliance Exam Coordinator (endorsementexam@allianceaimh.org) at the time of exam registration. The request should include specific details of the accommodation being requested along with supporting documentation (e.g. assessment/documentation from another professional). The Alliance is dedicated to addressing the needs of all members and will work collaboratively with applicants to create a reasonable accommodation plan. However, not all requests may be granted, as accommodations must align with maintaining the integrity of the exam and the confidentiality of the applicant. For applicants whose primary language is not English, an accommodation of up to an additional 60 minutes per section is available allowing a total of 2 ½ hours for Part One and 2 ½ hours for Part Two of the exam. Additionally, applicants may bring a translation dictionary (e.g., Spanish-to-English) into the examination. This standard English-as-a-SecondLanguage (ESL) accommodation requires only a written request.
If an applicant does not achieve a passing score on the multiple-choice and/or the written exam, they may retake that section, six months after the original exam date. A new exam support package must be purchased from the Alliance store before the applicant can retake the exam. If an applicant does not complete either or both parts of the exam after being scheduled. A new exam support package must be purchased from the Alliance Store before the applicant can reschedule the exam. For assistance or to discuss your individual needs, please contact your Endorsement Coordinator."
Endorsement Application Submission, Review and Approval to sit for the Exam
IMHS and IMHM applicants are expected to submit a completed application at least four weeks before exam date. Exam dates and application submission deadlines are posted within our Events Calendar. Applications must be submitted via EASy in their entirety*, by 11:59pm on the day of the deadline. IMHS and IMHM applications are reviewed by at least one professional who has earned Endorsement and has been trained to review applications.
If the application reviewer(s) believes the applicant is not yet ready to sit for the exam, the applicant will be given specific feedback related to the decision. NAIMH will provide an email to the applicant identifying strengths and gaps, as they relate to the competencies. The applicant will be invited to update their EASy application, including new reference rating forms, one year later and will be reconsidered to take the exam at that time.
Reflective Supervision/Consultation (RSC)
Peer supervision (defined as colleagues meeting together without an identified supervisor/consultant to guide the reflective process), while valuable for many RSC experienced practitioners, does not meet the criteria for Endorsement, even if one or more of the peers has earned Endorsement at IFS/ERS/ECFRS, IMHS/ECMHS, or IMHM-C/ECMHM-C. The provider of RSC is charged with holding the emotional content of the cases presented. The ability to do so is compromised when the provider is a peer of the presenter. Unnecessary complications can arise when the provider of RSC has concerns about a peer’s ability to serve a particular family due to the peer’s emotional response AND the provider and peer share office space, for example.
