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Endorsement resources

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Competencies and requirements

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Endorsement registry

Please note: Copyright law does allow individuals to print out or make ONE copy of copyrighted material for personal, non-commercial purposes only. None of the copyrighted Endorsement documents included here may be reproduced, displayed, distributed, or otherwise used in any format, including electronically, without the express written consent of MI-AIMH. Legal action will be taken against those who violate the copyright.

The Endorsement Exam

Infant Mental Health Mentor, and Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor Endorsement applicants must pass an exam prior to earning Endorsement. The exam has two parts; both are based on the Competency Guidelines. 

Applicants are encouraged to engage their provider of RSC to think together about the applicant’s professional journey, capacity for reflection, and understanding of parallel process all in relation to readiness for the exam. The paper version of the reference rating form can be used to solicit feedback related to knowledge and skill areas of the competencies. If gaps in knowledge are identified, use the resource list to identify readings that will fulfill the gaps.  If the provider of RSC expresses reservations related to the capacity to apply IECMH principles into practice, the applicant is encouraged to continue with RSC and the on-going assessment of skills in the areas of Reflection, Thinking, and Working with Others.  

The exam process

The multiple-choice, or quantitative, section is primarily focused on infant and early childhood mental health knowledge specific to work with infants, young children, and their families. Most questions will be related to direct service, but there will be some questions related to reflective supervision/consultation, policy, and research. The multiple-choice section is the same for all Specialist and Mentor applicants. Knowledge gained through course work, specialized in-service training, and self-study will be most useful in this section of the exam.

IMH-E® applicants are expected to have knowledge on pregnant people, infants, young children (up to age 3), and families.

ECMH-E® applicants are expected to have knowledge on pregnant people, infants, young children (up to age 6), and families.

The qualitative section will ask for responses to vignettes. This section is intended to measure the applicant’s capacity to apply their knowledge of IECMH principles into practice and to demonstrate a reflective, relationship-based approach.  While all of the competency areas are important, the ones under the Reflection, Thinking, and Working with Others domains are important to the qualitative section for Specialists and Mentors – Clinical.  

The Administration domain is the primary focus of the Policy exam. Policy applicants are asked to demonstrate a capacity to promote IECMH principles and practices within and across systems.

The Research & Evaluation domain is the primary focus of the Research/Faculty exam.  In the Research/Faculty exam, one scenario is more specific to teaching; the other scenario is more specific to empirical research. Research/Faculty applicants will demonstrate a commitment to IECMH principles and practices related to research or course planning and instruction. 

Exam resources

Exam Resources

Endorsement Renewal

The 2025 Endorsement renewal period is from October 1 – December 31, 2025. Once your Endorsement is renewed, the next Endorsement renewal will be held in 2027 beginning 
October 1-December 31,2027.

To complete your Endorsement® renewal

  • Login to EASy: 
  • Select “Renew Endorsement” for each Endorsement you wish to keep active. Consider archiving any old Endorsements you no longer need.
  • Select each met requirement.
  • Click “Attest.”

You’ll receive an automated email from EASy confirming that your Endorsement has been renewed. You can also confirm the successful completion of your Endorsement renewal by checking the Endorsement Registry.

Endorsement policies

During a renewal period an Endorsee will attest to having completed their specific renewal requirements and agree to understanding that their Endorsement application will be subject to an audit for which additional information regarding renewal requirements may be requested.

Renewal requirements and mid-cycle adjustment can be found here: https://orimha.myeasy.org/competency-guidelines

Attestation Process:

  • Attestation for your Endorsement renewal occurs every 3 years.
  • You are not required to add your hours of RSC or training unless you are audited. However, it is best practice to track and record them as part of your professional development, in case you are selected for an audit.

To complete your Endorsement renewal, follow these steps:

  1. Login to EASy:

  2. Select “Renew Endorsement” for each Endorsement you wish to keep active. Consider archiving any Endorsements you no longer need.
  3. Select each met requirement from the list of renewal criteria.
  4. Click “Attest” to confirm that all requirements have been met.

You will receive an automated email from EASy confirming that your Endorsement has been successfully renewed. You can also verify the successful completion of your renewal by checking the Endorsement Registry.

If an endorsee fails to maintain their membership with ORIMHA or another AIMH they are subject to being flagged as out of compliance if selected for an audit and for any Endorsement not renewed during the renewal period will be removed from the Endorsement Registry.

If removed from the Endorsement registry, a professional must:

  1. Log into EASy
  2. Select “reinstate endorsement” on each endorsement you wish to reinstate
  3. Enter 15 hours of training from the last 12 months
  4. Attest to being connected to an RSC provider (if required for your category)
  5. Submit and pay reinstatement fees for each endorsement reinstating

Reinstatement also requires a current membership with ORIMHA (or another IMH association).


ORIMHA cannot accept Endorsement® applications from those who reside outside of Oregon. Even if the Applicant works in name of Oregon, 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.


Applicants may not earn two categories or designations of Endorsement at the same time. An applicant will earn one category of Endorsement and then add an additional category of Endorsement at a later date for the exception of the Endorsed Reflective Supervisor add-on. To assure fulfillment of the Endorsement requirements as specified, an endorsed professional will “add a new Endorsement application” within their EASy application.

If an IMHS/ECMHS or IMHM/ECMHM Endorsement applicant would like an accommodation for either part of the examination, they must submit a written request to the Endorsement Coordinator at least eight weeks before the exam date. The request must detail the kind of accommodation being requested, as well as documentation of the need for an accommodation (i.e., assessment from a professional). The Endorsement Coordinator will respond to the request at least 10 days before the examination date.

ORIMHA is committed to meeting the needs of all of its members but may not be able to grant every accommodation request. ORIMHA will work closely with the applicant to develop a plan that offers a reasonable accommodation without compromising the integrity of the exam, the identity of the applicant, or the identity of the exam reviewers. In these instances, it may be necessary and appropriate to offer the exam on a different date in order to accommodate the applicant. ORIMHA is unsure of the appropriate accommodation for a special circumstance, ORIMHA may contact the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health Quality Assurance Manager.

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

Applicants must receive passing scores on both Part One and Part Two of the exam to earn ORIMHA Endorsement. A passing score on Part One (the multiple-choice section) of the exam is 80%. In order to carefully protect the exam materials, applicants will not receive specific feedback related to the questions missed on Part One. Applicants who do not receive a passing score on Part Two of the exam (response to vignettes/scenarios) will be provided with feedback based on the exam reviewers’ remarks.

Regardless of outcome, all who take the exam will be provided with feedback based on the exam reviewers’ remarks. The feedback is offered in the spirit of promoting professional development and can help guide selection of specialized in-service training opportunities and continuing reflective supervision or consultation experience.

Review of an Exam Decision

A minimum of two trained exam reviewers must agree on whether or not an exam response (qualitative section) passes or not. There is no appeal process if the applicant does not agree with this decision. As stated in the Endorsement Agreement, signed by every Endorsement applicant: “The decision of ORIMHA concerning whether or not endorsement will be granted is final and binding.”

Applicants are invited to consider the feedback offered by exam reviewers and sit for the exam again in one year’s time (see policy above, “Retakes”)

Endorsement Application Submission, Review and Approval to sit for the Exam

  • IMHS/ECMHS and IMHM/ECMHM 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/ECMHS and IMHM/ECMHM 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. ORIMHA 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.

RSC is supervision or consultation that distinctly utilizes the shared exploration of the parallel process. In addition, RSC relates to professional and personal development within one’s discipline by attending to the emotional content of the work and how reactions to the content affect the work. Finally, there is often a greater emphasis on the supervisor/consultant’s ability to listen and wait, allowing the supervisee to discover solutions, concepts and perceptions on their own without interruption from the supervisor/consultant.

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. 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.

Qualified RSC providers must meet Endorsement requirements as an Endorsed Reflective Supervisor or Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant.


ORIMHA does not issue refunds for endorsement if you need to discuss reallocation of fees please reach out to your Endorsement coordinator at Endorsement@or-imha.org.

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