Everything You Need to Know About the Diploma in Early Childhood Special Education (Intellectual Disability)

 The D.E.C.S.E. (ID) course is an RCI Certification Program for special educator for intellectual disability.

In this post, we can take a look at eligibility, duration, learning outcomes, career opportunities, exam eligibility, and fee expectations for this course.

Who Can Apply? (Eligibility Criteria)

To join the D.E.C.S.E. (ID) program, you must:

• Have completed 10+2 (or equivalent) in any stream

• Have scored a minimum of 50% marks

• Be genuinely interested in working with children with developmental delays or intellectual disabilities

📝 Note: Some institutions may offer relaxations for SC/ST or differently-abled candidates as per government norms.

Starting from the 25-26 batch those who have completed class X before 1990 are nor eligible

⏳ How Long Is the Course? (Duration)

• The course runs for 1 academic year

• It includes a total of 1200 hours

  • 480 hours of Theory

  • 720 hours of Practicals

The course is worth 40 credits in total.

What Will This Course Equip You For?

The program prepares you with knowledge, skills, and values required to work with children aged 0 to 6 years who have or are at risk of Intellectual Disability (ID) or have been diagnosed with ID

You will learn:

• Early identification and assessment of developmental delays

• Planning and implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and Family Service Plans (IFSPs)

• Creating and using teaching–learning materials (TLMs) and adaptive devices

• Strategies for inclusive education, behavioural management, and therapeutic interventions

• Working collaboratively with families, professionals, and the community

• Skills in speech, occupational, yoga, and play therapy

💡 Employability skills like communication, teamwork, interview preparation, and ethics are also part of the curriculum.

What Career Paths Can You Take? (Employability Opportunities)

After completing D.E.C.S.E. (ID), you can work as a Special Educator for Early Childhood – Intellectual Disability, in roles such as:

• Special educator in pre-primary or early intervention centers

• Home-based or community-based educator for young children with ID

• Anganwadi or Balwadi support teacher

• Inclusive preschool facilitator

• Member of early intervention teams in hospitals or therapy centers

Once registered with RCI, you are legally certified to work in disability rehabilitation settings across India.

Eligibility for Exams

To appear for the term-end examinations, you must:

• Maintain at least 80% attendance in theory classes

• Have 100% attendance in practical training

• Successfully complete and submit:

  • Lesson plans

  • IEP/IFSP reports

  • TLMs

  • Field visit documentation

  •  Exams include internal assessments (40%) and external evaluations (60%).

What About the Fees?

The fee structure can vary across institutions. Typically, you can expect:

Component	Approximate Range (INR)
Tuition Fees	₹20,000 – ₹40,000/year
Practical/Fieldwork Fees	₹5,000 – ₹10,000
Registration/Exam Fees	₹2,000 – ₹3,000
Materials & Books	₹3,000 – ₹5,000

📍 Course Fees may vary depending on the institution and comes to approximately ₹60,000 in total

List of RCI approved Courses and Institutions