NADSP DSP-I, II & III Certification Explained

Direct support work has no single national license, but there is a national credential. The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) offers a three-level certification for DSPs: DSP-I, DSP-II and DSP-III. Each level builds on the one before it, and each is earned by collecting electronic badges ("E-Badges") through the NADSP E-Badge Academy.

This guide explains what each level requires, how the E-Badge process works, what recertification looks like, and how an agency can use the credential as a career ladder for its staff. It is not a state requirement. Your state's rules for DSP training are separate, and a NADSP credential does not replace them.

What NADSP certification is

NADSP describes its certification as national recognition for the contributions and competence of DSPs working in community human services. It is a three-tiered program (DSP-I, DSP-II and DSP-III) earned through the NADSP E-Badge Academy. NADSP also offers a separate certification for frontline supervisors, which this guide does not cover.

Three terms are worth knowing:

• E-Badge: a digital badge for one specific requirement, such as a core competency or a block of accredited education hours.
• Core competency E-Badge: a badge earned in one competency area. NADSP says most of these ask the DSP to connect their own work to the NADSP Code of Ethics, and that testimonials describe work related to the competencies.
• Accredited education: training from a curriculum that NADSP has reviewed and accredited. NADSP accredits whole training programs, not individual presenters or conference sessions.

The three levels at a glance

NADSP lists these requirements for each level:

Two details are easy to miss. First, a DSP starts with the Code of Ethics Commitment E-Badge, since NADSP describes DSP-I as the level a DSP can pursue after earning it. Second, the list NADSP publishes for DSP-III has no accredited education hours badge. The hours are counted at DSP-I (50) and DSP-II (100).

How the E-Badge process works

According to NADSP's E-Badge Academy FAQ and applicant handbook page:

• The organization enrolls the DSP. An agency buys access and names a local administrator, who invites each staff member to the E-Badge Academy portal.
• Evidence is mostly written. NADSP says certification is based on accredited education transcripts and testimonials describing the DSP's work related to the competencies and the NADSP Code of Ethics.
• Applying is quick, earning is not. NADSP says the work to meet a badge's requirements may take many hours, but applying for each badge should only take about 15 minutes.
• Privacy rules apply. No testimonial that includes individually identifiable information about a person supported will be approved.
• Experience helps. NADSP recommends that DSPs enrolling through their organization have some work experience to draw from, and encourages organizations that train pre-service DSPs to build internship opportunities.
• Cohorts are allowed. NADSP says providers can continue to use a cohort model, as with its earlier portfolio-based program.

Recertification

NADSP certification at every level requires recertification every two years. The DSP completes a renewal application form. NADSP says that by the end of the two-year term the DSP must complete at least 20 hours of training. That training does not have to be NADSP-accredited, but no more than 8 of the 20 hours can come from mandatory training requirements.

For an agency, the last rule matters. Required annual trainings can only fill part of the renewal, so staff need some learning they chose for growth, not just compliance.

Using the credential as a career ladder

Many agencies treat the three levels as steps on a ladder. Here is a simple way to set one up:

1. Start with the Code of Ethics. The first badge is a natural onboarding goal, and it keeps the credential grounded in the values of the job.
2. Map your existing training to the levels. Much of the training you already assign, such as safety, person-centered practices and crisis prevention, lines up with the DSP-I areas. Check that each course is from an NADSP-accredited curriculum before you count its hours.
3. Set a pace and protect time. Decide how many hours a month staff can spend on badges during paid time, and who reviews testimonials.
4. Tie each level to something real. That might be a raise, a title or a mentoring role. A step on a ladder only matters if staff can see where it leads.
5. Track it. Badges, accredited hours and two-year renewal dates are one more set of due dates. See our guide on how to track employee training in a care agency.

Does a credential help with retention? NADSP itself calls the evidence "anecdotal," saying employees who complete rigorous credential programs appear to stay on the job longer and provide higher-quality support. Treat it as a promising tool, not a guarantee. For other approaches, read our guide to reducing DSP turnover.

How TES helps

Training & eTracking Solutions is an NADSP Accredited Education provider whose courses count toward DSP-I and DSP-II. Our public catalog has pathways for each level, with the courses mapped to each requirement area:

• NADSP eBadge Certification: DSP-I
• NADSP eBadge Certification: DSP-II
• NADSP eBadge Certification: DSP-III

Courses a team might start with include:

• The NADSP Code of Ethics and the Direct Support Professional
• Introduction to Developmental Disabilities
• Person Centered Planning for Direct Support Professionals
• Guardianship: An Introduction
• Embracing Diversity: Cultural Competency in the Workplace

Completing a course does not by itself award a certification. NADSP issues E-Badges and certification through its own E-Badge Academy, so confirm the current requirements with NADSP before you plan a cohort.

We have trained more than 200,000 professionals since 2010, and our catalog includes 400+ courses and programs. To see how DSP roles fit together, read our guide on who direct support professionals are and why they matter, or contact us to plan credential training for your team.

This article summarizes NADSP's published certification, E-Badge Academy and accredited education pages as viewed on November 13, 2026. NADSP can change its requirements, so check nadsp.org for the current rules. It is not legal advice, and a NADSP credential does not satisfy state or federal training requirements on its own.