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How old must I be to work as a DSP?

17 years or older

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Is training available?

Yes. After you are hired there are agency-required trainings along with training modules through the Community Staff Training Program. This training is part of your employment and is provided at no cost to you.

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Do I need related job experience to be hired as a DSP?

Not necessarily; however, if you have previous experience or training working with individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities, you may earn a higher wage rate to start.

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What is the pay?

Each provider/agency is a private company with its own pay scale. The starting wage as of October 2022 was $14.00 - $20.00 per hour.

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Can I pick the type of individuals I work with?

You can express a preference to work with a specific population such as children or adults, but that might limit your hours of work. If you are more flexible to work with any population, there would be more hours and opportunities available.

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Is this an 8 AM - 5 PM type of job?

Because many clients need 24-hour assistance, many DSPs do not work only 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are opportunities for flexible shifts that would work well for a working parent who would like to work around schoolchildren’s schedules or a college student who would like to work around class schedules.

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I was in trouble when I was younger. Will this keep me from being hired?

This will depend on your particular situation. You can discuss this with your potential employer at the time of your application.