Direct Support Professional I

Direct Support Professional Microcredentials 

A partnership between New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the State University of New York (SUNY) has been established, supporting the academic and career success of Direct Support Professionals across New York State.

Participants will earn national certification from the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) through NADSP-accredited microcredentials. The two-tiered credential program at Nassau Community College includes Direct Support Professional I (DSP-I) and Direct Support Professional II (DSP-II).

Over the course of your studies, you have the potential to earn up to 13 credits, in addition to more than 50 different industry-recognized badges that demonstrate new proficiencies as you acquire them. If you are brand new to the field, you will be placed in an internship where you will be able to practice your skills.

Earn NADSP Certifications and SUNY Microcredentials

Successful completion of the program will give the student:

• A SUNY microcredential in the developmental disability field, with up to 13 accredited and transferable academic credits that can be applied to future certificates and degrees at a number of institutions including the Disability Studies Certificate and A.A. programs at Nassau Community College.
• A nationally-recognized certification by NADSP for DSP-I and DSP-II.
• A $750 incentive for eligible students upon successful completion of each microcredential and related certification (eligible students may receive the incentive for every level of microcredential, DSP-I and DSP-II).
• On-site academic support where you can earn while you learn. For those currently not employed as a Direct Support Professional, work-based learning opportunities will be available through internship assignments.

Direct Support Professional I

The curriculum presented in the Direct Support Professional I microcredential aligns with the national certification offered to Direct Support Professionals through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). This microcredential provides students the opportunity to apply for DSP level I certification. Fifteen competency areas have been approved by the NADSP Board of Directors. These competency areas allow direct support professionals to meet the industry demand for quality care of the populations they serve. Additionally, each competency area outlines specific observable skills that should be demonstrated by the direct support professional. For a level I certification students complete 50 educational hours and earn E-Badges in the following competency areas: ethics, crisis prevention and intervention, safety, person-centered practice, and health and wellness.

DSP-I Microcredential Learning Outcomes:

• Relate the codes of ethics defined by NADSP and OPWDD to the role of the DSP.
• Identify the support services that assist people in leading self-directed lives.
• Identify and promote the needed cognitive and behavioral skills of people served to foster lifetime health, fitness and wellness in line with individual’s personal needs.
• Determine when and how to report potential or actual abuse, neglect, exploitation, or harm to people served.
• Apply legal requirements concerning the confidentiality and privacy of client information to specific work situations.
• Integrate classroom learning with field experience in order to meet agency and individual expectations.
  

Grant funding is available for the DSP-I microcredential to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, course materials and NADSP credentialing for students and educational supports. In addition, the program offers a $750 incentive to eligible students who successfully complete a microcredential and earn NADSP certification.

Individuals eligible for the grant-funded DSP-I microcredential are those who are currently working at a participating OPWDD affiliated employer looking to meet new academic and career goals. For those currently not employed as a Direct Support Professional, work-based learning opportunities will be available through internship assignments.

Required Courses (6 credits)

• EDU 105: Introduction to Developmental Disabilities (3 credits)
• PSY 203: General Psychology (3 credits)

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Course Descriptions

EDU 105: Introduction to Developmental Disabilities

Description: This course will provide an overview of developmental disabilities and the nature and needs of disabled people throughout the life cycle. Issues to be explored include definition of developmental disability, etiology, normalization, mainstreaming, and the role of the interdisciplinary team. Legal, ethical, and cultural considerations will be emphasized as well as the impact of disabilities on the person affected, the family and the community. 
Credit Hours: 3

PSY 203: General Psychology

Description: Designed to familiarize the student with the science of human behavior and mental states; the methods employed by psychologists; the experimental findings and applications of research; and the important contributions from the behaviorist, psychoanalytic, neuroscientific, and cognitive schools of thought. This course includes the study of learning, perception, cognition, intelligence, social influences, psychological disorders, physiological changes, and developmental stages.
Credit Hours: 3

Through successfully completing the above coursework, you can earn NADSP e-badges in the following competency areas: Crisis Intervention and Prevention; Health and Wellness; Person-Centered Practices; and Safety.

Stackable to Degree Program

Academic credits received for the DSP-I and DSP-II microcredentials are accredited and can be applied to future certificates and degrees at a number of institutions. The DSP-I and DSP-II microcredentials align with requirements for the Disability Studies Certificate and/or Disability Studies A.A. degree at Nassau Community College should you choose to continue your education after obtaining the microcredential(s).

Contact

Prof. Diane Martin 
Diane.Martin@ncc.edu
516.572.7181, ext. 25009