Direct Support Professional Training

Welcome to the official website for the Direct Support Professional Training & Testing Program serving the Los Angeles and Orange County regions. This training program is offered by the Career Education and Workforce Development Unit of the Orange County Department of Education. We provide training and testing for people working in various group homes.

DSP Training and Testing is open to Direct Support Professionals and administrators currently working in licensed community care facilities. Each individual is required to provide a vendor code and formal photo identification at the time of registration. DSP Year-1 and Year-2 certification is a requirement for employment.

DSP training covers the following: Developmental Disabilities; Communication; Wellness; Teaching Strategies; Training Strategies; Positive Behavioral Support; Daily Living; Individual Rights; Laws and Regulations; and Recreation and Leisure. Day and evening training programs are available on a monthly basis.

DSP Challenge Testing is available to Direct Support Professionals and administrators who prefer not to complete the 35-hour training program. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) requires the completion of the 35-hour training class if the Challenge Test is not passed on the first attempt.

Registration

Only direct support staff, including supervisors and administrators who provide direct care, currently employed in Community Care Facilities (CCFs) vendored by the regional center are eligible to take the Direct Support Professional Training (DSPT).

Registration for DSPT must be completed using the eDSPT online registration and certification system. DSP’s must create their own account in order to register for a class using the eDSPT online registration and certification system.

To register for a DSP Training Program or Challenge Test, please visit www.dsptrain.org.

To register go to www.dsptrain.org. Have the following information available:

· Personal email address

· Phone number

· Social Security Number

· Facility Vendor Number where employed

· Facility or Administrator email address where employed

For assistance with registration, call the eDSPT Helpline at 800-910-4604 or email at DSPThelpdesk@fcoe.org.

Results Notification

Only the DSP can access all certification notices online at www.dsptrain.org. Paper certificates and/or email notifications will no longer be issued.

DSPT Attendance Policy

Training class attendance is mandatory. Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are expected to attend all scheduled training sessions, actively participate, and successfully complete the required 70 hours of training for DSPT 1 (35-hours) and DSPT 2 (35-hours), as required under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act and applicable licensing requirements for their place of employment.

Failure to meet the attendance and participation requirements will result in the DSP being automatically dropped from the training class. The DSP will then be required to restart and complete the entire year of training in order to meet the required training standards and maintain compliance.

Service Hub Contact Information

Amanda Baird - Coordinator                                Jacky Leyva - Project Manager
(714) 708-4985                                                         (714) 668-7840
abaird@ocde.us                                                        jleyva@ocde.us   

Announcements

Regional Center Advisory meetings will be scheduled annually. Please get in touch with Jacky Leyva at (714) 668-7840, to join the advisory group.

2026-2027 Regional Advisory Meetings
Thursday, November 5, 2026 @ 10:00 am via Zoom.

The council meeting included the following catchment areas:

· North & Lanterman

· South, East & West Los Angeles

· Harbor & Orange County

Click here to access the agenda, meeting notes, and meeting recording.

2025-2026 Regional Advisory Meetings
Click here to access the agenda, meeting notes, and meeting recording.

2024-2025 Regional Advisory Meetings
Click here to access the agenda, meeting notes, and meeting recording.

​Resources

For more information about DSPT, contact the Department of Developmental Service’s website at https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/dspt/, or email ccfdsp@dds.ca.gov.

For questions regarding DSPT registration or Results Notification, contact the eDSPT Helpline at 800-910-4604 or email at DSPTHelpdesk@fcoe.org.

For DSPT implementation concerns, contact the California Department of Education (CDE) at 916-445-5568.