Free direct support professional job description template
Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.
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Direct Support Professional (DSP) job description template · Fill in the [brackets]
Direct Support Professional (DSP)
About the job
[Business name] is hiring a Direct Support Professional (DSP) who supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live safely and as independently as possible, at home and in the community. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]
What you’ll do
- Support individuals with daily living skills such as cooking, hygiene and money management
- Follow each person's [individual support plan or person-centered plan]
- Help individuals take part in community activities, work and appointments
- Give or assist with medications [only if trained and permitted under state rules]
- Document daily notes, incidents and progress in [system]
- Recognize and report changes in health, behavior or safety
- Model respectful, person-centered support at all times
What you need
- High school diploma or equivalent [if required by your state program]
- Completion of [state-required DSP training] within [time frame]
- Pass a background check [and any registry checks your state requires]
- Valid driver's license and insurance [if transporting individuals]
- Patience, dependability and respect for each person's choices
Nice to have
- Experience supporting people with disabilities
- CPR and first aid certification
How to apply
[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].
[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.
✓ Unlocked. Use the buttons above the template to copy it or save it as a PDF.
Example: the template filled in for a small business
Hypothetical example for Bright Path Supports, a small community services provider.
Bright Path Supports is hiring Direct Support Professionals for weekday and weekend shifts in our two group homes. You'll help the people we support with cooking, outings, personal goals and daily routines, and keep daily notes in our app. We provide all state-required training, paid.
Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.
What a direct support professional does
A direct support professional supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live safely and as independently as possible, at home and in the community. Typical duties include:
- Support individuals with daily living skills such as cooking, hygiene and money management
- Follow each person's individual support plan or person-centered plan
- Help individuals take part in community activities, work and appointments
- Give or assist with medications only if trained and permitted under state rules
- Document daily notes, incidents and progress in system
- Recognize and report changes in health, behavior or safety
Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Requirements, training and licenses
There is no single national DSP license. Training, background checks and medication rules are usually set by your state's developmental disability and Medicaid programs, so requirements differ from state to state.
Training: State-required training, typically completed during the first weeks or months on the job.
How much does a direct support professional make?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.
Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.
Free template or written for you?
| Free template | Job Description $99 | Hiring Kit $349 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written for | Any business | Your business | Your business |
| Duties and schedule | Typical, with blanks | Yours, filled in | Yours, filled in |
| Pay | National figure | Set for your local market | Set for your local market |
| State rules | “Check your state” | Checked for your state | Checked for your state |
| Ready to post | No, you edit it | Yes | Yes, plus the job posting |
| Performance review form | — | Included free | Included |
| Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan | — | — | Included |
| Use the template | Have us write it | Get the Hiring Kit |
Free template
- Typical duties with blanks to fill in
- National pay figure
- You edit it before posting
Job Description · $99
- Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
- Checked for your state’s rules
- Ready to post
- Free matching performance review form
Hiring Kit · $349
- Everything in the $99 job description
- The job posting
- Interview guide
- 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.
Common questions
Why is the pay figure the same as home health aides?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't publish a separate pay figure for direct support professionals. Many DSPs are counted with home health and personal care aides, so we use that figure as a starting point. Pay in your area may be higher or lower, often depending on your state's Medicaid rates.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $99.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.
Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.