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| Credentialing Home | Approved Training & Education | Accreditation |
Approved Training and Educational ProgramsIn order to receive a DSP Certified or Specialist credential, the DSP must complete an approved training program. Currently, the NADSP has approved two existing curricula that meet the education/training requirements of the NADSP national credential. Other educational programs can be approved but an application, site review and NADSP review of curriculum must be conducted before approval is granted.The first approved curriculum is the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) certified apprenticeship program for the occupational title of direct support specialist. Certified apprenticeship programs that meet the federal guidelines for Direct Support Specialist and have been reviewed by NADSP are approved curricula. The second approved curriculum is the College of Direct Support (CDS). The CDS is a multimedia, interactive web-based curriculum. The CDS curriculum is designed to be used in conjunction with employer-based training. CDS includes over 24 courses and mini-courses. Courses often include five or more lessons, and applicants for the NADSP credential must complete 75 lessons total and the corresponding course on the job training checklist. Disability-specific mini-courses count as two lessons. Employers and post-secondary programs that do not have an existing DOL- approved apprenticeship program or do not use the CDS can apply to the NADSP to have their programs reviewed and accredited so their graduates can apply for the national credential. For more information, go to the Accreditation Page or send an e-mail to: accreditation@nadsp.org. |