The TEFA Disability Certification Form may be completed by a licensed professional who is qualified to certify a child’s disability.
A licensed professional is someone who holds an active credential issued by a state licensing or certifying authority and is legally permitted to diagnose or certify a disability within their scope of practice.
Depending on the disability category, this may include:
- Physician
- Nurse practitioner
- Physician assistant
- Licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist
- Licensed therapist, including speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, or physical therapist
- Licensed audiologist or optometrist
- Certified teacher or educational professional, when the disability category allows certification by an educator
The professional should only sign the form if the disability falls within their scope of license, certification, or role. Some disability categories require certification by a specific specialty or by more than one licensed professional.
For visual impairments, the form requires three signatures: a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist, a certified teacher of students with visual impairments, and a certified orientation and mobility specialist.
You only need to submit one form. You do not need to certify more than one disability.
If your child already has a current IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency, you do not need to submit this form.
The Disability Certification Form is used only to determine priority in the TEFA application process. It does not create an IEP and does not affect funding amounts.