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Direct Support Professional

Direct Support Professional

Support individuals with disabilities or special needs and provide care to make sure these individuals can live their best lives.

Ready to have your work change the landscape?

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About

Direct Support Professionals

Direct Support Professionals support people with disabilities or special needs and provide care to make sure these individuals can live their best lives. This job can include assisting with daily activities like getting dressed, eating, or going to the doctor. Direct Support Professionals are kind and caring people who make a big difference in the lives of those they help. They work in places like group homes or with people in their own homes to make sure everyone has the help they need to be happy and healthy.

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Direct Support Professionals are shaping the future of compassionate care.

Being a Direct Support Professional, is more than just a job – it's a deeply fulfilling calling. You not only learn foundational healthcare skills but also build connections, offer emotional support, and make a real impact. This role isn't just about emotional connection to the work; it also offers many different career paths, from helping patients to working in an office or doing research. Your options are wide, and the career grows with your goals!

Ready to turn compassion into a career?

Current Opportunities

EXPLORE

FIND YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS

Get an idea of what your career path could look like for a Direct Support Professional (DSP).

PATHWAYS

Direct Care Worker (DCW)

Provide essential compassionate care and support to individuals in need, including bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and mobility assistance,fostering independence and well-being.

Entry Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, entry level training.

Peer Support Specialist

Assisting individuals in maintaining recovery and preventing relapse.

Entry Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, entry-level training.

Certified Caregiver

Support assisted living residents with daily activities, including bathing, dressing, eating, medication administration, and group activities, with a specialization in memory care services.

Entry Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, entry level training.

Behavioral Health Technician

Support individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues, providing essential assistance and monitoring behaviors as part of treatment plans under licensed professional supervision.

Entry Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, entry-level training.

Billing and Posting Clerks

Compile, compute, and record billing, accounting, statistical, and other numerical data for billing purposes. Prepare billing invoices for services rendered or for delivery or shipment of goods.

Entry Requirements

Some college, no degree.

Community Health Worker

Promote community health by encouraging healthy behaviors, advocating for health needs, facilitating communication with healthcare providers and social services, and implementing programs to enhance overall well-being.

Entry Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, entry-level training.

Medical Assistant

Support physicians with administrative tasks and perform clinical duties including vital signs, medical history, patient preparation, blood drawing, and medication administration.

Entry Requirements

Certificate

Certified Nursing Assistant

Assist with basic care under nursing staff supervision, including health monitoring, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, ambulation, and potential medication administration.

Entry Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent

Current Openings
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Core Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are things that people need to be good at their jobs. They include what you know, what you can do, and how you can do it well. KSAs are important because they help you be successful in the job you do.

  Active Listening

  Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

  Adaptability

  Advocacy

  Assessment

  Care Management

  Caregiving

  Communication

  Community Inclusion

  Companionship

  Condition Changes

  Conflict Resolution

  CPR

  Cultural Awareness and Responsiveness

  Empathy

  Establishing Trust

  Health Systems

  Health, Wellness, and Safety

  Individual Life Plan Development

  Infection Control

  Meal Planning and Preparation

  Observation and Documentation and Reporting

  Patience

  Patient Empowerment

  People Skills

  Personal Care

  Preventing, Recognizing, and Reporting Abuse

  Problem-Solving

  Professionalism

  Relationship Building

  Servant Leadership

  Social Determinants of Health

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTING PROGRAMS

DEGREES, CERTIFICATIONS, COURSES

PROGRAMS

Caregiving
Sun Valley High School - Mesa
  Mesa, AZ 85204      Certification
  View Program
DCW Level 1 Fundamentals
Omnean - Phoenix
  Phoenix, AZ 85029      Certification
  View Program
DCW Level 1 Fundamentals
Omnean - Tucson
  Tucson, AZ 85711      Certification
  View Program
DCW Level 1 Fundamentals
Omnean - Chandler
  Chandler, AZ 85225      Certification
  View Program
DCW Level 1 Fundamentals
Omnean - Yuma
  Yuma, AZ 85364      Certification
  View Program
DCW Level 1 Fundamentals
Omnean - Sierra Vista
  Sierra Vista, AZ 85635      Certification
  View Program

TALK TO A COACH

Are you interested in training?

Get in touch with a coach to learn how to begin your journey in this profession.

Contact an advisor for more information on this career!

HEALTHCARE

PARTNERS

Participating Businesses & Programs

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Here are skills related to a Direct Support Professional. Log in and add them to your profile!

  Active Listening

  Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

  Adaptability

  Advocacy

  Assessment

  Care Management

  Caregiving

  Communication

  Community Inclusion

  Companionship

  Condition Changes

  Conflict Resolution

  CPR

  Cultural Awareness and Responsiveness

  Empathy

  Establishing Trust

  Health Systems

  Health, Wellness, and Safety

  Individual Life Plan Development

  Infection Control

  Meal Planning and Preparation

  Observation and Documentation and Reporting

  Patience

  Patient Empowerment

  People Skills

  Personal Care

  Preventing, Recognizing, and Reporting Abuse

  Problem-Solving

  Professionalism

  Relationship Building

  Servant Leadership

  Social Determinants of Health

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Direct Support Professional

Support individuals with disabilities or special needs and provide care to make sure these individuals can live their best lives.

Environment

Direct Support Professionals specialize in assisting individuals with disabilities in various settings. They work in Day Programs, Group Homes, and private home settings. On the Employment side, DSPs serve as job coaches, providing training at home and in the community to help individuals excel in their daily lives and workplaces.

Also Known As

  • Attendant Care Provider
  • Community Support Specialist
  • Direct Support Professional
  • In Home Care Provider
  • Mentor
  • Professional Caregiver
  • Respite Care Provider
  • Vocational Support Specialist
  • Care Technician
  • Companion Caregiver
  • Home Attendant
  • Life Skills Coach
  • Personal Care Aide
  • Rehabilitation Specialist
  • Support Worker
  • Caregiver
  • Direct Care Worker
  • Home Care Worker
  • Live In Caregiver
  • Personal Care Assistant
  • Residential Aide
  • Supported Living Assistant
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