We’re ready to support the next wave of DSP interns across California! The Direct Support Professional (DSP) Internship Program officially relaunched on May 1, 2026. Its goal is to introduce DSPs to the profession of caring for other people through paid internships and connect DSPs to potential employers.
Thank you to the community and regional centers who helped shape this program with your feedback, stories, and partnership. Big things are ahead, and we’re thrilled you are part of it!
What’s New?
Onboarding Updates
To make the onboarding process smoother than ever, the Health Screening Report now will be completed during onboarding with no cost to the provider! That means fewer steps, no out-of-pocket fees for providers, and a faster path for interns to get started.
Fresh New Flyers and Tools for Sharing!
Our DSP Internship Program intern flyers now have a QR code that links to a video. This video includes both an American Sign Language translation and a spoken version, so people can either watch or listen to the flyer’s information. These are great for sharing with the public, potential interns, and anyone curious about how the program works. You can download them anytime from our online toolkit.
Internship Benefits? Get Paid, Get Skills, Get Hired.
- Paid internship: Wages are fully covered by the program for up to three months.
- A pathway to a career: Interns get on-the-job experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities to live full and independent lives.
- Retention bonuses for new hires: If an intern is hired by the service provider, they can earn an additional $625 (before taxes) after 6 months and another $625 (before taxes) after 12 months. That’s $1,250 extra for sticking with their new job!
- A role that matters: DSPs make a daily impact, supporting other people while building their own career.
Thank you to the community and regional centers who helped shape this program with your feedback, stories, and partnership. Big things are ahead, and we’re thrilled you are part of it!
Learn more!
Check out the DSP Internship Program webpage for more details.