Aligned with DDS and CMS person-centered, residential, and HCBS workforce expectations
Issuing

The Direct Support Professional Certificate Program prepares frontline staff to provide safe, person-centered,
rights-based, and professionally accountable support to individuals receiving services in residential and home
and community-based settings. The curriculum emphasizes the essential competencies required of Direct Support Professionals, including daily support practice, health and safety awareness, documentation, behavior support, abuse prevention, communication, ethics, and person-centered service implementation.

This certificate is designed for newly hired DSPs, incumbent staff requiring structured competency development, and organizations seeking a standardized training framework consistent with DDS-informed service expectations and CMS-aligned home and community-based service principles. The curriculum is practice-oriented and focused on the everyday responsibilities of DSPs who support individuals with activities
of daily living, community participation, personal autonomy, wellness, and safety. The program positions the DSP role as a professional discipline requiring skill, judgment, reliability, compassion, policy adherence, and a strong commitment to dignity, inclusion, and quality of life.

Direct Support Professional Certificate Program

Skill Level: Beginner
Focus Mode: Force Focus Mode with learner control