Welcome

The PATHS Certificate Program is your path to a successful career as a Direct Support Professional working with people with disabilities.

The PATHS Certificate Program is a new program offered at the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University that will prepare graduates to be Direct Support Professionals. This two semester certificate program prepares graduates for employment in a career serving people with disabilities.

A Direct Support Professional (DSP) is a title for a person who works in a community setting to support people with disabilities and older people to live in their communities. The term represents a broad range of employment options that may also be titled Personal Care Attendants, Direct Care Staff, Respite Workers or Community Support Specialists. People in any of the above mentioned positions work to support people with disabilities and older people to ensure their ability to live independently in the community. A DSP may be employed by a private community provider agency for people with intellectual disabilities, a home health agency, the family of the individual receiving services, or directly by an individual with a disability.  

The first semester will offer classroom instruction that will provide participants with the required skills to be successfully employed in a community setting serving people with disabilities as well as enrichment courses to further enhance the quality and depth of the training. During the second semester, participants will be placed in an onsite paid practicum position.

Upon successful completion of the practicum, graduates will be awarded a Certificate from the Center on Disability and Development (CDD). The PATHS Certificate offers opportunities for graduates to be employed immediately as a Direct Support Professional by providers of community services. The successful completion of the practicum placement will serve as a key employment opportunity. 

The PATHS schedule follows the Texas A&M University’s fall and spring calendar and the new group will begin in August 2012.