Direct Support Professional Microcredentials | SUNY Niagara

🧭 NEXT @ SUNY Niagara 2026 | 📅 Aug 6 • 12 • 17 • 26 | campus prep: tour, ID, docs, support |

Register Now
Two people stand in a modern office hallway, smiling and looking at a tablet. The woman holds the device while the man stands beside her, both appearing engaged and happy. Sunlight streams in from large windows in the background.

Professional Standards for the Helping Professions Supervisor Microcredential

This microcredential prepares current and aspiring supervisors in the helping professions with the knowledge, skills, and leadership competencies needed to effectively lead and support teams. Students explore leadership theories, supervisory models, communication strategies, ethical decision-making, and practical techniques for managing personnel, fostering professional development, and promoting positive organizational outcomes. Emphasis is placed on the values and ethical responsibilities that guide professional practice in human services.

Designed for new supervisors, individuals preparing for supervisory roles, and experienced professionals seeking to enhance their leadership skills, this microcredential aligns with the educational requirements for the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Frontline Supervisor Certification, providing graduates with recognized preparation for advancement in the field.

  • Upon successful completion of this microcredential, students will be able to
  • Identify and describe actions for improving cultural competency at work.
  • Define the purpose and scope of supervision in the helping professions.
  • Identify and apply ethical issues in the helping professions.
  • Define the purpose of training and professional development in the helping professions.
  • Identify and apply the key components of performance management.
New Students Apply

Required Courses:

Course Description:

This course is an overview of the role of supervisor in the helping professions. Moving into a position of leadership and authority can be one of the most difficult transitions to make in the workplace. In addition to the new challenges you face and high expectations you must meet, it is imperative that you learn how to effectively communicate, motivate and delegate to achieve success. We will explore the blend between models, theories and principles related to leadership and practical techniques for successful supervision. We will also explore the values and ethics that bind us as professionals. This course is appropriate for new supervisors, those considering supervision, or experienced supervisors wanting to learn more about supervision.

DSP-II Course Description:

This course will focus on the student’s knowledge and skills needed to intervene in crisis situations within the field of Human Services. Theoretical underpinnings of crisis interventions as well as practical methods of assessing and intervening in crises will be emphasized. The need to assess potential for self-harm or harm to others will also be examined.

Course Description:

This course will focus on the student’s knowledge and skills needed in the methods of psychosocial assessment and documentation within the field of Human Services.   The proper application of ethical and legal principles in documenting and reporting within this field will be emphasized. Additionally, administrative and professional obligations will be reviewed along with an examination of issues of confidentiality and client privacy rights. Recording, saving and retrieving documentation will be examined. Online documentation as well as paper and pencil documentation will be reviewed with an examination of time management issues involved in meeting one’s documentation responsibilities. The components of a psychosocial assessment will be reviewed. How to elicit the needed information to form the psychosocial assessment will be reviewed, including the need to obtain releases for protected information.

Too often, what we learn ends when we leave the training session. How can we prepare to embrace and practice what is learned? This course offers an overview of the purpose and scope of effective training and the challenges that provide lasting positive results. Key topics include relevance, impact, coaching, consistency, and reinforcement of what was learned. 

Choose one option based on your experience in the field using the following criteria:

  1. I am currently employed in a supervisory role at my agency – no additional coursework required (0 Credits)
  • I am not currently employed in a supervisory role but have official prior supervisory work experience.

COE 140 – Project-Based Supervision – (1 credit)

The Cooperative Education course provides students with an opportunity to earn credit for work experience which is related to their career/academic objectives. The primary goal is the development of occupational academic competency. Students are hired as “learning workers”. Credit is based on required assignments and a minimum of 40 hours of work experience.

  • I am not currently employed in a supervisory role and have no prior official supervisory experience and am currently working in an agency.

COE 180 Project-Based Supervision (2 credits)

The Cooperative Education course provides students with an opportunity to earn credit for work experience which is related to their career/academic objectives. The primary goal is the development of occupational academic competency. Students are hired as “learning workers”. Credit is based on required assignments and a minimum of 80 hours of work experience.

  • I am not currently employed in a supervisory role and have no prior official supervisory experience and am not currently working in an agency.
    • COE 198 Supervision in Human Services (3 credits)

The Cooperative Education course provides students with an opportunity to earn credit for work experience which is related to their career/academic objectives. The primary goal is the development of occupational academic competency. Students are hired as “learning workers”. Credit is based on required assignments and a minimum of 120 hours of work experience.