Glossary of Employment Support Professional Titles
This glossary is for reference only and is not intended to be an instructional tool to prepare candidates for the examination and for applying for the examination. You can use this to build your resume and to help your employer verify your employment.
During initial review of an application, the ESPCC will review to ensure eligibility. We will in our best faith effort try to understand things that are unclear and give you an opportunity to provide information on your application. Ultimately it is your responsibility as the applicant to document how your experiences align with the work experience definition and requirements.
Employment: Competitive employment is work performed in the integrated labor market in which the individual is compensated at or above minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and benefits paid for the same or similar work performed by individuals who do not have a disability. Also referred to as competitive, integrated employment (WIOA, 2014).
Employment Supports/Services: A set of services that are used to introduce, prepare, monitor, and facilitate individuals with disabilities to seek and maintain employment. These may also include supports provided to or by an employer.
Employment Support Professional (ESP): A professional who assists individuals in obtaining and maintaining integrated employment by meeting the needs of businesses in the community.
Examples of paid ESP-related work are:
- Work directly related to providing and/or supporting employment services
- Managerial or supervisory work in employment services
- Experience in school-to-work transition environments providing ESP service
Within the field, many different titles are used to describe the supports that ESPs provide. The following are general categories of job roles that employment support professionals may hold:
Job Developer/Employment Specialist or Consultant: Professional who matches employers to employees through pairing targeted business needs with an individual’s transferable skills.
Job Trainer/Job Coach: A professional who provides necessary supports during the initial employment period to assist the employee to perform their job tasks to the employer’s specifications and then facilitates the transition to natural workplace supports while reducing his or her role.
School-to-work Transition Services: Professional who supports the employment of youth in an integrated, competitive employment setting. May also assist with all areas of pre-employment transition services, coordination of services focusing on education and/or employment.
