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NADSP certification roadmap
A one-page ladder from the Code of Ethics E-Badge through DSP-I, DSP-II, and DSP-III. TES is an NADSP Accredited Education provider. TES courses count toward the accredited education hours for DSP-I and DSP-II. NADSP issues the certification and the E-Badges. TES does not.
| Item | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Code of Ethics Commitment E-Badge, required before DSP-I | Step 0 | NADSP |
| 15 total E-Badges, including the Code of Ethics Commitment, the 50 hours of Accredited Education E-Badge, and at least one competency badge each in Crisis Prevention and Intervention, Safety, Person-Centered Practices, and Health and Wellness | DSP-I | NADSP |
| 30 total E-Badges, including DSP-I, the 100 hours of Accredited Education E-Badge, and at least one each in Evaluation and Observation, Communication, Professionalism and Ethics, and Community Inclusion and Networking | DSP-II | NADSP |
| 50 total E-Badges, including DSP-II, and at least one each in Empowerment and Advocacy, Community Living Skills and Supports, Education Training and Self-Development, and Cultural Competence | DSP-III | NADSP |
| Accredited education badges need a transcript from an NADSP Accredited Education provider. Competency badges need a written or audio testimonial of actual work. Reviewers aim to decide within 3 business days. | How badges are earned | NADSP |
| Every 2 years, at least 20 hours of training. No more than 8 of the 20 hours may be mandatory training. The application fee is $50. | Renewal | NADSP |
| NADSP does not publish a fixed timeline. People move at their own pace. | Pace | NADSP |
| Organizations buy E-Badge Academy access. See NADSP's pricing page rather than a printed dollar amount. | Pricing | NADSP |
Last checked October 28, 2026. Frontline Supervisor is a separate NADSP track.
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