Benefits of Certification
The Certified Employment Support Professional™ credential is an industry-standard. A CESP certification is a critical component to promote professionalism and elevate workforce development of employment support professionals.
Individuals that earn the designation of Certified Employment Support Professional™ demonstrate that they are among an elite group that is competent in best practices and possess the full range of skills needed to assist individuals with disabilities to succeed in employment. Certifications are valid nationwide and are recognized as a symbol of quality and pride.
The CESP™ program is the first in the nation to create national guidelines to validate and support the training currently provided in the field. The certification program falls under the oversight of the Employment Support Professional Certification Council (ESPCC), established by the APSE Board of Directors. The CESP™ is accredited through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Accreditation for professional or personnel certification programs provides impartial, third-party validation that the program has met recognized national and international credentialing industry standards for development, implementation, and maintenance of certification programs. The CESP’s content validity is demonstrated through a comprehensive job analysis conducted and analyzed by experts, with data gathered from stakeholders in the occupation or industry.
The Benefits of Certification
The CESP™ Certification Program was created in response to increasing demand for a system to identify trained, experienced employment specialists. CESP™ certification has many benefits for both programs and professionals.
CESP™ certification has many audiences, including people with disabilities, provider/funder agencies, business, and credential holders themselves.
The benefit of the credential to Professionals (People Earning their CESP)
- certifies your competency in the full array of skills needed to assist individuals to succeed in employment.
- opens the door for increased income opportunities.
- validates your commitment to ethical and safety standards.
Download: a 1-page resource about the benefits of certification for professionals
Link: https://apse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CESP-for-Professionals-2020.pdf
The benefit of the credential to People Receiving Supports (People with Disabilities):
- ensures job seekers and supported employees have access to qualified professionals that have shown competency in best practices.
- ensures professional staff pursues additional professional development in the maintenance of their credential.
- secures that the services received by the job seeker/supported employee are provided in a safe and ethical manner.
The benefit of the credential to Organizations (Agencies that employ CESPs or pay for employment services):
- increases the visibility of competent staff (Employment Support Professionals - ESPs).
- creates a standard that defines the roles and responsibilities of ESPs.
- improves employability and provides opportunities for salary and career advancement.
- legitimizes and enhances professionalism in the field.
Download: a 1-page resource about the benefits of certification for organizations/agencies
Link: https://apse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CESP-for-Organizations-2020.pdf
A Professional Standard: ESPCC Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct establishes the basic ethical standards for the professional behavior of ESPCC credential holders and candidates. The Code is designed to provide both appropriate ethical practice guidelines and enforceable standards of conduct for all credential holders and candidates.
First and foremost, ESPCC credential holders and candidates give priority to providing employment support services in a manner that promotes integrity and reflects positively on the profession, consistent with accepted moral, ethical, and legal standards.
CESP™ credential holders and candidates have the obligations to:
- maintain high standards of integrity and professional conduct;
- accept responsibility for their actions; continually seek to enhance their professional capabilities;
- practice with fairness and honesty; and,
- encourage others to act in a professional manner, consistent with certification standards and responsibilities.