Direct Support Professional Certificate

Human Services

Certificate (D,G,W)

Make a difference one life at a time! Today, unlike in the past, most individuals with developmental disabilities live in their home communities and thrive thanks to Direct Support Professionals who help them lead self-directed lives and contribute to their communities. As a student in this program, you'll learn how to provide these individuals support in daily living tasks, community living, health and wellness awareness, vocational experiences, and social integration. While enrolled, you'll earn 12 credit hours from a combination of classroom instruction and field work; courses will include face-to-face and online instruction. The skills and knowledge you learn can be applied to residential programs, day programs, or any combination of services appropriate for the client.

Labor market studies in Delaware indicate new job openings in this field within the next five years, and employers of direct support professionals are strongly encouraging certification. If you're looking for a career that is more than just a job, a Direct Support Professional certificate will prepare you for this challenging but rewarding profession.

Program Graduate Competencies

The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.

1. Create and maintain effective and professional documents relevant to agencies working with people who have a disability.
2. Identify and communicate clients? strengths, needs, and resources to contribute to planning appropriate support services in a variety of settings.
3. Provide effective direct support services to clients with varying levels of ability by utilizing ethical and professional principles and practices.
4. Apply basic management and leadership skills in professional environments, including time management, organization, and the ability to follow directions.
5. Establish effective working relationships within the Direct Support arena.
6. Utilize feedback to assess the outcomes and opportunities created for clients and make adjustments accordingly.

Graduation Requirements

Program/Major Courses

HMS 120	Introduction to Direct Support and Community Services	3
HMS 124	Community Living Skills and Supports	3
HMS 125	Assessment and Communication	3
HMS 126	Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Direct Support Services/Programs	3

Suggested Pathway to Graduation (Course Sequence Sheet)

Semester 1

HMS 120	Introduction to Direct Support and Community Services	3
HMS 124	Community Living Skills and Supports	3

Semester 2

HMS 125	Assessment and Communication	3
HMS 126	Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Direct Support Services/Programs	3

To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 12 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on your need for developmental education courses and the elective choices you make (if electives are a part of the program). Some programs also have college-level courses that you must take if you do not score at a certain level on the College Placement Test. If this applies to your program, the courses are listed at the top of the sequence sheet before the first semester of the course list.

HSTCERDSP