College of Employment Services Curricula Essential Foundation for ASPE Certification

Two years ago, the Association for Persons in Supporting Employment (APSE) began working with leaders in the field of integrated employment to develop a national certification program available in every state for employment professionals. The result is the Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP) exam, which was rolled out on December 2, 2011 in New Hampshire. Many more states will begin offering CESP credentialing later this year.

The Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston (ICI), content developer for the DirectCourse/College of Employment Services (CES) online curriculum, has been monitoring the creation of the CESP exam from its inception. The competencies required for the certification process has served as the basis for course development, resulting in a dynamic, flexible course package that is an ideal foundation for employment professionals intending to achieve national certification.

CESP certification is nationally recognized, and certified employment support professionals may encounter better job opportunities, salary increases, and improved professional advancement.

New Hampshire will be hosting a CESP examination on May 2, 2012. The CESP examination will also be offered at the National APSE conference on June 26, 2012 in Arlington, VA. Several other states are considering offering examination sessions in 2012.

For more information on certification, including online registration, please visit: http://www.apse.org/certification/