Direct Support Professional Resume Example and Template
This resume should show individualized service plan experience, medication administration training, and community integration work with people with disabilities. Agencies want proof of steady, safe support delivered with genuine respect for client independence.
Hiring agencies look first for NADSP credentialing or medication training, then documentation and behavior support experience. Specific client outcomes carry far more weight than general descriptions of being caring and patient.
A complete, realistic Direct Support Professional resume, laid out in an ATS-tested template. The candidate is illustrative: the name, employers and figures were written for this example and identify no real person, so you can copy its structure and wording freely.
Updated September 2026
Also searched as
DSP Trainee, Senior Direct Support Professional
Angela Whitfield: Direct Support Professional
Milwaukee, United States
Summary
Direct support professional with 5 years of experience supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across residential and community settings in Milwaukee. Currently supports 5 clients with individualized service plans, medication administration, and job coaching. Holds NADSP credentialing and medication administration training, with a strong record of helping clients build independent living and household budgeting skills.
Work Experience
DSP Trainee, Wisconsin Community Living Services
Jun 2019 – May 2021. residential disability services provider, Milwaukee
- Supported 3 residents in a group home with daily living tasks under senior staff supervision.
- Completed state-required direct support professional training covering safety and documentation.
- Assisted with community outings, grocery shopping practice, and household chore participation.
Direct Support Professional, Compass Community Support
Jun 2021 – Apr 2024. community-based disability support agency, Milwaukee
- Provided individualized support for 4 clients, implementing personal care and behavior support plans.
- Administered medications under MAT certification with a perfect medication error record.
- Coached one client through 6 months of job readiness training, resulting in stable part-time employment.
- Documented daily progress notes in compliance with state audit and licensing requirements.
Senior Direct Support Professional, Lakeshore Independent Living Services
May 2024 – Present. independent living support agency, Milwaukee
- Support 5 clients with individualized service plans, medication schedules, and job coaching goals.
- Assist clients with household budgeting support and independent living skill development.
- Mentor new DSP trainees on documentation standards and person-centered planning approaches.
- Coordinate community outing supervision for group activities involving up to 8 clients.
Education
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Certificate, Human Services. Aug 2018 – May 2019
Skills
Individualized service plan implementation, Personal care assistance, Medication administration (MAT-certified), Community outing supervision, Behavior intervention plans, Documentation and audit compliance, Household budgeting support, Job coaching, Person-centered planning
Languages
English, German
Certificates and Awards
- Direct Support Professional Credential, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), 2022
- Medication Administration Training (MAT), Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 2021
- CPR and First Aid Certification, American Red Cross, 2025
Why this look works
A steady, uncluttered template reflects the consistency and trust this role builds with clients over time. Clean structure makes certifications and client outcomes easy for an agency to verify quickly.
Resume tips for this job
- List your NADSP credential or medication administration training clearly, since agencies check this before hiring.
- Mention job coaching or independence outcomes if you have them, since they show impact beyond daily care tasks.
- Include the number of clients you currently support, since it shows the scale of responsibility you manage.
- Note any documentation or audit compliance experience, since accurate records are closely reviewed in this field.
Common questions
Is direct support professional the same job as a support worker?
The roles overlap significantly and the titles are often used interchangeably. Direct support professional is increasingly used as the formal, credentialed title, so use whichever term matches your actual employer and training.
What if I have not completed NADSP certification yet?
List any state-required direct support training you have completed and note that you are pursuing further credentialing if true. Many agencies hire and train new staff, so lacking a national credential is not always disqualifying.