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Direct support professional resume examples from 2025

Zippi

Land interviews using Zippia's AI-powered resume builder.

Updated March 26, 2025
6 min read
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How to write a direct support professional resume

Craft a resume summary statement

A resume summary is your opening statement that highlights your strongest skills and top accomplishments. It is your chance to quickly let recruiters know who you are professionally - and why they should hire you for the direct support professional role.

Step 1: Mention your current job title or the role you're pursuing.

Step 2: Include your years of experience in direct support professional-related roles. Consider adding relevant company and industry experience as relevant to the job listing.

Step 3: Highlight your greatest accomplishments. Here is your chance to make sure your biggest wins aren't buried in your resume.

Step 4: Again, keep it short. Your goal is to summarize your experience and highlight your accomplishments, not write a paragraph.

These four steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some direct support professional interviews.

Please upload your resume so Zippia’s job hunt AI can draft a summary statement for you.

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List the right project manager skills

Many resumes are filtered out by hiring software before a human eye ever sees them. A robust Skills section can let recruiters (and bots) know you have the skills to do the job. Here is how to make the most of your skills section:

  1. Look at the job listing and skills listed. You need to include the exact keywords from the job description to get your resume in front of an actual human. Do you have those skills? Fantastic! Be sure to list them.
  2. Include as many relevant hard or technical direct support professional skills as possible for each job you apply to.
  3. Be specific with the skills you have and be sure you are using the most up to date and accurate terms.
These five steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some direct support professional interviews.

Here are example skills to include in your “Area of Expertise” on a direct support professional resume:

  • Direct Support
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Autism
  • Direct Care
  • DSP
  • Mental Health
  • Intellectual Disabilities
  • Home Health
  • Compassion
  • Medical Appointments
  • Group Homes
  • Home Management
  • Community Integration
  • Foster Care
  • AMAP
  • Social Work
  • Money Management
  • ISP
  • Incident Reports
  • Urinals
  • Ongoing Support
  • Mental Illness
  • Supported Living
  • Community Involvement
  • Food Preparation
  • Community Outings
  • Administer Medications
  • ADL
  • Independent Living
  • Groceries

Zippia’s AI can customize your resume for you.

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How to structure your work experience

Your work experience should be structured:

  1. With your most recent roles first, followed by earlier roles in reverse chronological order.
  2. Job title, along with company name and location on the left.
  3. Put the corresponding dates of employment on the left side.
  4. Keep only relevant jobs on your work experience.

How to write direct support professional experience bullet points

Your resume is not a list of responsibilities or a job description. Instead, it is your chance to show your accomplishments and show why you're good at what you do.

  • Use the What, How, and Why format. Answering these questions turns a bland job description into an effective showcase of your abilities.
  • What were your responsibilities or goals?
  • How did you accomplish them?
  • Why were your results important? (How did it impact your company? Can you quantify the results in numbers? )

Here are examples from great direct support professional resumes:

Work history example #1

Direct Support Professional

Hudspeth Regional Center

  • Provided hygiene care and ensured adequate nutrition while using therapeutic communication with patients diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
  • Implemented the inter-DSP/Board communication using McBSP.
  • Engaged individuals in communication with non-paid helpers via community inclusion by providing assistance on trips scheduled outside the residence.
  • Provided I/DD Medicaid in home services.
  • Participated in American Red Cross first aid and CPR training yearly.

Work history example #2

Direct Support Staff

Bethesda Thrift Shop

  • Noted for excellence in interpersonal communications, teamwork, flexibility and reliability.
  • Assisted with personal hygiene.Assisted with medications and followed IPP/ISP plans.
  • Certified to pass medication, and perform CPR and first aid.
  • Transported clients to day programs, doctors apts, outings.
  • Passed Medication and assisted with any medical treatment plans, Accomplishments Successfully resuscitated an individual using CPR.

Work history example #3

Personal Support Worker

Res-Care Premier

  • Assisted patients with ADL's, checked vitals throughout shift, consistent charting on patients behavior or changes.
  • Med pass, cook, clean, feed residents, ADLS, take to appointments, showers, get them in bed
  • Provided emotional support, dispensed medication, provided situational counseling, and documented the behavioral progress of adults with developmental disabilities
  • Followed strict protocols for resident with life threatening seizures.
  • Provided companionship and assistance in completing daily activities to a diverse, hospice community.

Work history example #4

Personal Care Worker

Caregivers

  • Provided clients with assistance in daily living situations such as companionship, light housekeeping, and assistance with meals preparation.
  • Worked with elderly in their homes and provided companionship, medication reminders, light meal prep, accompanied to Dr.
  • Provided companionship and general care to seniors and physically disabled persons throughout the Fort Collins area.
  • Provided companionship to our clients.
  • Certified Patient care assistant (PCA)

Zippia’s AI can customize your resume for you.

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Add an education section to your resume

Here is the best way to format your education section:

  • Display your highest degree first.
  • If you graduated over 5 years ago, put this section at the bottom of your resume. If you lack relevant work experience, the education section should go to the top.
  • If you have a bachelor's or master's degree, do not list your high school education.
  • If your graduation year is more than 15-20 years ago, it's better not to include dates in this section.

Here are some examples of good education entries from direct support professional resumes:

Some College Courses in business

Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

1998 - 1998

High School Diploma

2017 - 2017

Highlight your direct support professional certifications on your resume

If you have any additional certifications, add them to the certification section.

To list, use the full name of the certification and the organization that issued it, along with the date of achievement.

If you have any of these certifications, be sure to include them on your direct support professional resume:

  1. Medical Assistant
  2. Direct Support Professional- Certified (DSP-C)
  3. Medication Aide Certification (MACE)
  4. Medical G.A.S. Installer (Med)
  5. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
  6. Professional Credit Associate (PCA)
  7. Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS)
  8. Direct Support Professional Certified Level 1 (DSP)
  9. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (NHA)
  10. OSHA Safety Certificate

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