College of Direct Support Licensing Training Crosswalk

DSP and SC Training Requirements

55 Pa. Code Chapter 6100 and Chapter 6400 Training Requirements for Direct Support Professionals (DSP) and Supports Coordinators (SC):

Under the 55 Pa. Code Chapters 6100 and 6400, DSPs and SCs must complete the following training requirements:

  • Orientation completed within 30 days after hire and prior to working alone with individuals
  • Twenty-four hours of training related to job skills and knowledge per fiscal year

NOTE: 15 hours of SC Orientation can be put towards fiscal year training requirements in which they were hired

The College of Direct Support (CDS) offers many training modules that will satisfy these training requirements.

The College of Direct Support (CDS) is an online curriculum designed for those who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The courses are presented by DirectCourse, and the CDS is administered in Pennsylvania by the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University.

55 Pa. Code Chapters 6100 and 6400 training requirements encompass ten topic areas.

Listed for each topic area are suggested CDS courses:

Topic Areas and CDS Equivalents

Person-Centered Practices​

CDS Equivalent Course: Person Centered Planning

Credit Hours: 3.9 hours

Lessons:

  • Foundations of Person-Centered Planning
  • An Overview of Person-Centered Approaches
  • The Person-Centered Planning Process
  • Bringing Person-Centered Plans to Life
Community Integration

CDS Equivalent Course: Community Inclusion

Credit Hours: 4 hours

Lessons:

  • The DSP (Direct Support Professional) Role in Community Inclusion
  • Matching Community Resources with Individual Interests’
  • Community Bridge-Building and Networking
  • Natural Supports
Individual Choice

CDS Equivalent Course: Individual Rights and Choice

Credit Hours: 3.6 hours

Lessons:

  • Overview of Individual Rights
  • Restrictions of Individual Rights
  • Overcoming A Past of Barriers, A Future of Risks, Choices, and Solutions
  • Your Role in Supporting Expression of Rights and Facilitating Choice
Assisting Individuals to Develop and Maintain Relationships​

CDS Equivalent Course: You’ve Got a Friend

Credit Hours: 3.4 hours

Lessons:

  • The Importance of Relationships
  • Barriers, Challenges, and Opportunities for Friendships
  • Strategies for Building and Maintaining Relationships
  • Supporting Family Networks
Prevention, Detection, and Reporting of Abuse, Suspected Abuse, and Alleged Abuse

CDS Equivalent Course: Maltreatment: Prevention and Response

Credit Hours: 7.6 hours

Lessons:

  • Overview of DSP Roles
  • What is Maltreatment?
  • What is Abuse?
  • What is Neglect?
  • What is Exploitation?
  • Balancing Rights with Protection
  • The Ethical Role of the DSP
  • An Overview of Risks for Maltreatment
  • Characteristics of Caregivers That Affect Risk
  • Characteristics of Situations That Increase Risk
  • Characteristics of People Supported That Affect Risk
  • Reducing Caregiver Risk of Maltreating
  • Engaging and Supporting Protective Factors in Individuals
  • The Role of Documentation and Systems in Prevention
  • Engaging and Supporting Protective Factors in Organizations and Communities
  • Responding to Potential Maltreatment
  • Where to Report Potential Maltreatment
  • How to Report Potential Maltreatment
  • Follow-Up to Potential Maltreatment Reports
Individual Rights

CDS Equivalent Course: Individual Rights and Choice

Credit Hours: 3.6 hours

Lessons:

  • Overview of Individual Rights
  • Restrictions of Individual Rights
  • Overcoming A Past of Barriers, A Future of Risks, Choices, and Solutions
  • Your Role in Supporting Expression of Rights and Facilitating Choice
  • Recognizing and Reporting Incident
Recognizing and Reporting Incidents

CDS Equivalent Course: Safety

Credit Hours: 7.6 hours

Lessons:

  • What is Risk
  • Balancing Risk with Individual Safety and Choice
  • Personal Safety
  • Individual Safety Plans
  • Safety in the Kitchen
  • Safety in the Bathroom
  • Safety in the Common Area
  • Safety in the Bedroom
  • Safely Enjoying Outdoor Spaces at Home
  • Fire Prevention
  • Fire Emergency Response
  • Fire Emergency Plans and Evacuation
  • Individualized Fire Safety Plans and Skills
  • Community Safety
  • Vehicle Safety
  • Community Transportation
  • Role of Direct Support Professional: Accident Prevention, Risk Assessment, and Risk Management
  • Following Accident and Incident Policies and Procedures
  • Reporting Incidents and Accidents
Safe and Appropriate Use of Behavioral Supports​

CDS Equivalent Course: Positive Behavior Support

Credit Hours: 8.6 hours

Lessons:

  • Understanding Behavior
  • Functions and Causes of Behavior
  • Understanding Positive Approaches
  • Preventing Challenging Behaviors
  • Behavior Support Plans
  • Rules, Regulations, Policies, and Rights
Implementation of ISP

Implementation of ISP is divided into the following subsections:

  • Introduction to Individual Support Plan (ISP) Monitoring
    Available on MyODP.
  • Person Centered Practices
    CDS Equivalent Course: Person-Centered Planning
    Credit Hours: 3.9 hours
  • Individual Rights
    CDS Equivalent Course: Individual Rights and Choice
    Credit Hours: 3.6 hours
Job Related Knowledge and Skills​​

CDS Equivalent Course: Employment Supports for People with Disabilities

Credit Hours: 2.9 hours

Lessons:

  • Introduction to Employment Supports
  • Identifying Individual Employment Preferences, Interests, Strengths, and Support Needs
  • Job Opportunities and Job Searching

Full Descriptions

Read full descriptions of each lesson in each course in the Direct Course Catalog.

Questions? Contact Us​

Mary Kay Cunningham and Raquel Mangual​

Institute on Disabilities at Temple University​
Email:
Phone: 215-204-1356