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  2. Vocational Rehabilitation
  3. Service Providers
  4. Service Provider Qualification Requirements
  5. Qualification Requirements for Statewide Services

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Service Provider Qualification Requirements for Statewide Services

March 2026

DVR is implementing minimum qualification standards for Service Provider staff delivering services under statewide service agreements. These requirements ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery by confirming that Service Providers possess essential knowledge and skills related to disability, employment and person-centered practices.

These requirements apply to all Service Provider staff listed on a DVR service agreement who deliver the services covered in this document.

Key Expectations:

  • Effective Date: All Service Providers delivering covered services must meet the qualification requirements by July 1, 2027.
  • Existing Staff: All current Service Provider staff must meet the requirements by this date.
  • New Hires: Staff hired after July 1, 2027, will have nine months from their hire date to complete the requirements.
  • Training Considerations: There is no recency requirement for ACRE-approved training or active CESP certification. Internal or external training outside these pathways must be submitted for DVR approval as an Alternative Training Plan before it can count toward qualification.
  • Ongoing Professional Development: DVR encourages Service Providers to support continued staff learning and skill development. While a formal continuing education framework is not being implemented at this time, DVR may explore future opportunities to promote ongoing professional development.

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Service Providers must meet qualification requirements through one of the following DVR-approved pathways:

  1. ACRE-Approved Training: Completion of recognized training from an ACRE-approved provider (typically 40 hours).
  2. CESP Certification: Active Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP) credential through APSE.
  3. Alternative Training Plan: DVR-approved internal or external training aligned with core competencies and required training hours (see Alternative Training Requirements and Guidelines document).
Statewide Service Category Role / Personnel Minimum Requirement
(Also see Alternative Training Plan option below)
Customized Employment (CE) Job Developers ACRE CE Basic certificate, ACRE Professional certificate or CESP
Job Coach/Systematic Instructor ACRE CE Basic certificate, ACRE Professional certificate* or CESP
Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

All services are expected to be completed by an assigned Employment Specialist

 IPS Employment Specialist Supervisor Online IPS Supervisors course (existing requirement; no change)
IPS Employment Specialists Online IPS Supervisors course or Online Practitioners Skills course (existing requirement; no change)
Internship/Temporary Work (I/TW) Job Developers ACRE approved course or CESP certification
Job and Task Analysis and Systematic Instruction (JTA and SI) Any Service Provider staff providing these services ACRE approved course* or CESP certification
Job Preparation and Development, Hire and Retention (JP, JD, and Ret) Job Developers ACRE approved course or CESP certification
Job Coach/Systematic Instructor ACRE approved course* or CESP certification
Student Work Based Learning (SWBL) Job Developers Job Coach/Systematic Instructor
ACRE approved course or CESP certification ACRE approved course* or CESP certification
Supported Employment (SE) Job Developers ACRE approved course or CESP certification
Job Coach/Systematic Instructor ACRE approved course* or CESP certification
Vocational Evaluation (VE) All staff Vocational Evaluation credential meeting one of the four options outlined in the DVR - Voc Eval Credential Certificate (existing requirement; no change)
Work Incentive Benefits Services (WIBS) All staff Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) certification or comparable comprehensive training meeting the standards detailed in DVR - WIBS Qualifications (existing requirement; no change)

*Must include ACRE-approved training in Domains 1 and 4, minimum of 20 hours.

Service Providers who wish to use internal or external training not listed above must submit an Alternative Training Plan for DVR preapproval. The training must align with DVR core competencies and meet minimum hour requirements for each role.

Training requirements differ by service type: Customized Employment (CE) and other statewide services under Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE), as outlined below.

Customized Employment

Role / Personnel Required Hours Core Competency Domains
Job Developer 40
  • Core Values and Principles of Customized Employment
  • Discovery and Individualized Planning
  • Job Development and Employer Negotiation
  • Workplace and On-the-Job Supports and Retention
Job Coach/Systematic Instructor 20
  • Core Values and Principles of Customized Employment
  • Discovery and Individualized Planning
  • Workplace and On-the-Job Supports and Retention

CIE (Applies to I/TW; JTA and SI; JP, JD, and Ret; SWBL; SE)

Role / Personnel Required Hours Core Competency Domains
Job Developer 40
  • Core Values and Principles of CIE
  • Assessment and Career Planning
  • Job Development and Employer Engagement
  • Workplace and On-the-Job Supports and Retention
Job Coach/Systematic Instructor 20
  • Core Values and Principles of CIE
  • Assessment and Career Planning
  • Workplace and On-the-Job Supports and Retention

Details on the specific competencies within each domain are outlined in the Alternative Training Requirements and Guidelines document.

The following trainings have been reviewed by DVR and may satisfy qualification requirements for the specified service types and roles.

For questions: DVRServiceProviders@dwd.wisconsin.gov

For complete competency details and approval requirements, see the Alternative Training Requirement and Guidelines document.

For instructions on submitting training documentation for review, see the Alternative Training Plan Approval Submission and Review document.

  • ACRE: Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators
  • APSE: Association of People Supporting Employment First
  • CESP: Certified Employment Support Professional
  • CWIC: Community Work Incentives Coordinator
  • CRCC: Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification