How To Become A Direct Support Associate: What It Is and Career Path

What is a direct support associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Direct support associates provide direct care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Your duties include administering their prescribed medication, supervising their meal preparation, scheduling organization, and producing patient progress report. You will also be expected to coach patients to develop money management, income-building skills, and social skills. You must foster and maintain a supportive relationship with your clients.

Some of your other duties include assisting patients with ADL's, performing first aid, CPR, and handling emergency calls/situations as needed. It is equally important that you adhere to confidentiality guidelines as outlined by organization policy and HIPAA regulations. A direct support associate must be empathetic, patient, detail-oriented, easy to communicate with, and possess great interpersonal skills.

Other important skills are intellectual disabilities, independent living, emotional support, personal care, and daily routines. Direct support associates make an average of $10.39 per hour and $21,000 yearly.

ScoreDirect Support AssociateUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,934

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.0

Growth rate 36%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.27%

Asian 8.78%

Black or African American 10.31%

Hispanic or Latino 14.78%

Unknown 4.47%

White 60.39%

Gender

female 73.79%

male 26.21%

Age - 50

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50

Stress level

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.6

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a direct support associate

Explore direct support associate education requirements

Most common direct support associate degrees

Bachelor's

31.2 %

High School Diploma

29.2 %

Associate

20.6 %

Start to develop specific direct support associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Intellectual Disabilities	18.78%
Emotional Support	17.56%
Developmental Disabilities	15.06%
Administer Medications	3.76%
Autism	3.70%

Gain additional direct support associate certifications

Direct support associate certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific direct support associate certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for direct support associates include Medical Assistant and Medication Aide Certification (MACE).

More About Certifications

Research direct support associate duties and responsibilities

Assist patients with ADL's, while individualizing patient care, and allowing patients to be as independent as possible.
Assist individuals with ADL's such as grooming, toileting, feeding, and escorting on community outings.
Assist clients with everyday living task/skills, transportation into the community, developmental skills, ISP, medication administration.
Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.

Prepare your direct support associate resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your direct support associate resume.

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Choose from 10+ customizable direct support associate resume templates

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