Complete the application to apply for the HRSA DSP Certificate Scholarship.
What is a Direct Support Professional (DSP)?
A Direct Support Professional (DSP) assists individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. DSPs empower these individuals by helping them develop new skills, achieve personal goals, and actively participate in their communities. Through a 12-module competency-based training, the Direct Support Professional Training Program equips Consumer-Directed Workers, Direct Support Professionals, Health Support Workers and Paid Caregivers with enhanced skills.
This program focuses on improving health outcomes in underserved communities by expanding the workforce of direct service healthcare professionals, enhancing their skills, and offering on-the-job training apprenticeships.
The curriculum is designed for a range of learners, including new and aspiring Consumer-Directed Workers, Direct Support Professionals, Health Support Workers, Paid Caregivers, experienced professionals looking to deepen their healthcare knowledge, and those participating in DSP apprenticeships.
Here’s how the training can benefit you:
- Flexible, self-paced online learning.
- Opportunities for career growth by gaining skills that can help you advance in your current role or explore related fields.
- Earn micro-credential badges for each competency, boosting your job prospects or further education opportunities.
The Direct Support Professional Training offers a comprehensive and convenient path to success in long-term support services. To make the program even more accessible, we provide a $3,000 training stipend for new and existing Consumer-Directed Workers, DSPs, Health Support Workers, and Paid Caregivers upon completion of the program.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and make a meaningful impact in your community.
Apply by Friday, July 4, 2025, and take the next step toward advancing your career.
Enroll in the Direct Support Professional Training program today!
Direct Support Professional Training and Scholarship:
The Tennessee Board of Regents is offering scholarships to train new Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Consumer-Directed Workers, Health Support Workers, and Paid Caregivers and strengthen the public health workforce. These scholarships aim to meet the needs of underserved communities by covering the costs of the DSP Training Certificate for up to 250 students starting in October 2024.
About the DSP Training Program:
The DSP Training Program is an online, self-paced course designed to help you gain essential skills as a Consumer-Directed Workers, Direct Support Professionals, Health Support Workers, and Paid Caregivers. You’ll learn through videos, activities, and real-world applications—no tests, lectures, or papers. The course is broken down into 12 modules, and you’ll earn digital badges for each completed module.
Current and incoming DSP certificate students may be able to get a scholarship that covers tuition and some related costs for up to one year of their DSP certificate program. Participants of the training program may apply for a $3000 scholarship to cover expenses related to the successful completion of training. These expenses include transportation, technology, supplies, childcare, etc.
Course Structure and Certification:
- The DSP Certificate Course consists of 12 skill-based modules.
- Each module includes reading materials, videos, and activities, followed by a final assessment.
- After successfully passing each module, you’ll earn a digital badge and unlock the next course.
Once all modules are completed, you will receive a DSP Certificate and can use your training to apply for Level I, II, or III certification with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).
Time Commitment: The course is designed to be completed in 12 weeks, with an expected time commitment of about 5 hours per week.
Certificate of Completion and National Certification
As you progress, you’ll earn digital badges for each module. Upon completing the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion, which can be used to self-report for national certification through NADSP.
Scholarship Details
Current and incoming DSP students may qualify for a $3,000 scholarship to help cover costs such as transportation, technology, childcare, and supplies during the training. This scholarship covers tuition and some related expenses for up to one year of the DSP Certificate Program.
Who Can Qualify for the Scholarship?
To be eligible for the scholarship, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a high school diploma or GED.
- Be a U.S. citizen or hold a visa permitting permanent residence in the U.S. (Note: These are requirements for the scholarship, not the DSP Certificate program).
- Be employed as a Consumer-Directed Worker, Direct Support Professional, Health Support Worker, or Paid Caregiver.
Eligible Program: DSP Online Training Certificate only.
Tuition and Incentives
Participants who pass the initial screening are not guaranteed the scholarship, as final decisions are based on additional criteria and availability. However, if you qualify, you can complete the course for free and may receive up to $3,000 in financial support after successfully finishing the program.
Once approved, you’ll receive instructions on how to access the DSP Certificate Course.
Important Dates:
- Deadline to apply for the scholarship: Friday, July 4, 2025
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so don’t wait—apply today!
If you have questions during the process, please contact us.
Direct Support Professional Program: Apprenticeship Pathway
Who can be a DSP Apprentice at a Registered Apprenticeship?
Any Tennessee resident can become a DSP apprentice through a registered apprenticeship program. The DSP apprenticeship is designed for individuals who currently work in healthcare and are looking to re-skill into a different occupation or for individuals who would like to start a career in health care and have no prior experience in the field.
How do I become an apprentice?
Employers who have established a registered apprenticeship program through the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development choose their own apprentices. For a list of employers who have established or are starting apprenticeship programs contact zachary.adams@tbr.edu.
What are the benefits of being an apprentice?
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has requirements that employers who operate apprenticeships must follow. These include:
- Employers determine wage and must provide benefits to apprentices.
- Wage must increase with training and education hours and at the end of the 12-month program be a living wage as determined by TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development (adjusted by region/ area of employment)
- Apprentices must be employed full time (at least 32 hours per week)
- Employers must provide safety training (at least 50 hours)
- Minimum of 144 hours of relevant educational instruction must be provided (this can include the DSP Certificate Program)
- On-site mentor who will guide apprentices through the training and education.
- At the end of the apprenticeship experience (1 year), apprentices will have a nationally recognized credential, and will stay on as an employee of the organization.
What will the Direct Support Professional Program (DSP) do to enhance the apprenticeship experience?
- Direct Support Professional program staff can help connect you with apprenticeship sites and other employment opportunities.
- DSP staff will connect with both you and your employer over the apprenticeship period to check-in.
- You may apply for a $7500 stipend paid for by the grant.
Interested in participating?
If you have questions during the process, please contact us.
Meet the DSP team
Derravia Rich
Program Specialist
dsptraining@tbr.edu
(615) 365-1595
Yolanda Vaughn
Senior Program Coordinator
Yolanda.vaughn@tbr.edu
(615) 365-1512
Dr. Chuck Lopez
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
Chuck.lopez@tbr.edu