Approved By:	ESPCC
Approval Date:	October 28, 2011
Revision Date(s):	October 26, 2018; November 21, 2019
Date Last Reviewed:	December 8, 2023

Purpose

ESPCC has developed requirements for eligibility to ensure that the application process is fair and impartial. In establishing these requirements, the ESPCC acknowledges that a combination of both work experience and demonstrated knowledge are essential for Certified Employment Support Professionals (CESP™).

ESPCC is committed to providing a fair and objective certification process. All individuals who seek certification must meet the established eligibility requirements before taking the exam.

Rationale

Eligibility requirements for test-takers include education, experience, and code of conduct prerequisites. The ESPCC developed eligibility requirements to ensure that individuals certified have an acceptable level of knowledge (as demonstrated by the education requirements) and skill (as demonstrated by the experience requirement) needed to provide employment support services to individuals with significant disabilities at an entry-level of competency.

The background of employment support professionals is often varied or nontraditional, therefore formal education is not as critical in the role as sufficient on-the-job experience and training. For that reason, a high school diploma or its equivalent is accepted as the minimum educational requirement. In addition, individuals applying to earn the credential are required to show evidence of employment support professional work experience prior to earning the certification.

The ESPCC supports appropriate, professional standards designed to serve the public, jobseekers and employees, employers, businesses, and the employment support profession. ESPCC credential holders and candidates sign the Code of Conduct agreeing to 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.

Procedures

Candidates for CESP™ certification must meet all eligibility requirements in effect at the time of their application for certification.

Eligibility requirements and documentation required as part of a complete application will be published in the candidate handbook and will be readily available to applicants.

1. Education Requirement ⎯ High school diploma, GED or equivalent
2. Experience Requirement ⎯ Each applicant must meet one of the following requirements:
   1. 1 year of employment support professional (ESP) work experience as defined below, which may include up to a maximum of 3 months of internship or practicum time
      OR
   2.  9 months of ESP work experience with training component as defined below
3. Code of Conduct ⎯ Each applicant must agree to and sign the Code of Conduct (see Policy #201).

To earn the certification applicants must meet all of the eligibility requirements and pass the examination. Membership in APSE, or any other organization, is neither a requirement nor does it award any credit toward eligibility.

Definitions:

Work Experience Definition:
A minimum of 20 hours per week of paid Employment Support Professional (ESP) related work is required. Examples of paid ESP related work are:

• Work directly related to providing and/or supporting community-based employment services.
• Employment as a direct employment services professional, provision of direct employment services as an agency/company employee, and/or managerial or supervisory work in employment services.
• Experience in school-to-work transition environments providing ESP service.
• Work completed as part of an internship, practicum, or other on-the-job training may be counted to the limits noted in the training definition.

Work related to residential services, non-employment day services, or segregated employment services will not be accepted.

Training:
Defined as either: an internship or practicum of at least 2 months in length and/or; successful completion of an intensive training course that includes at least 32 hours of ESP related course work.

The content for acceptable training courses must be directly related to the CESP content outline. Acceptable training content is related to supported and customized employment as well as training relevant to providing employment and community-based supports to people with disabilities. Examples of acceptable training content includes: specialized training to work with specific disability groups (i.e. autism or mental illness), training on small businesses development, American with Disabilities Act (ADA) training, benefits counseling, and strategies for job development.

Training related to segregated employment services or services that are not widely considered to be best practices will not be accepted.

Eligibility Review and Verification:

Only completed applications for certification will be accepted and reviewed for eligibility. Completed applications are those applications which have been submitted, including payment and all eligibility documentation. Applicants are required to provide proof of their eligibility at the time of application by submitting the required documentation.

Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible and the application fee will be withheld. During review of an application, APSE/ESPCC staff will review to confirm eligibility.

Documentation Requirements

Applicants for certification must provide the following documentation when applying:

1. High school (or equivalent) diploma or transcript. Note that a transcript or diploma from postsecondary education can be submitted in lieu of high school or equivalent.
2. Resume: An updated resume reflecting their experience as an Employment Support Professional.
3. Employer Verification: Written verification directly from current or previous employer(s) to verify you meet the work experience requirement.
   To be considered for the certification, the ESPCC has outlined that employment verification cannot come from the applicant themselves. Additional documentation may be requested. This can include, but is not limited to, verification from funding source(s) or program(s) with whom you contract.
4. Code of Conduct: Each applicant must agree to and sign the Code of Conduct included in the application.

The proof of eligibility is not required for current CESP certification holders looking to recertify by examination.

Application Audit Verification

The ESPCC, or a committee convened by the ESPCC, will review annually 3-5% of eligibility applications for audit and additional verification procedures. Applications will be randomly selected for audit and additional verification procedures each year. If any areas of non-compliance are identified during the audit certified individuals will have 45 days to submit any required information. If the required information is not provided the individual’s certification will be revoked at the end of the 45 days.

Eligibility Appeals:

Applicants who are notified that they do not meet the eligibility requirements may appeal this decision following the Reconsideration of Adverse Decisions Policy (#605), which will be publicly available.