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DSP 2 STUDY GUIDE UNDERSTANDING THE DSP 2
CERTIFICATION EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
DSP 2 Study Guide Exam: 250 Practice Questions with Rationales
INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING THE DSP 2 CERTIFICATION EXAM
The DSP 2 (Direct Support Professional Level 2) exam aligns with the national
certification offered by the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) .
This exam evaluates advanced competencies required for professionals supporting
individuals with intellectual, developmental, physical, and behavioral disabilities . Key
topics include:
• Person-Centered Planning – Supporting individual goals, desires, and needs
• Choice and Decision-Making – Honoring and respecting individual preferences
• Health and Wellness – Nutrition, physical activity, and healthcare advocacy
• Ethical Practice – The DSP toolbox (Ethics, Observation, Communication,
Decision making, Documentation)
• Behavioral Support – Understanding functions of behavior, crisis management,
and prompting hierarchies
• Community Inclusion and Engagement – Supporting community participation
SECTION 1: PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING (Questions 1-40)
1. An Individual with good verbal skills is offered a choice between two activities.
Which strategy is most appropriate?
A. Show them one item and watch for their non-verbal response
B. Ask them which item they want
C. Name two items and ask them to point to the one they want
D. Give them the item you prefer
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Answer: B. Ask them which item they want
Rationale: For Individuals with good verbal skills, the most appropriate and respectful
strategy is to ask them directly which item they want . This honors the individual's ability
to communicate their preferences.
2. When an Individual is not able to say or point to things they want, what is an
effective choice-offering strategy?
A. Ask them which item they want
B. Show them one item and watch for their non-verbal response
C. Give them both items and let them choose later
D. Ask a family member what they prefer
Answer: B. Show them one item and watch for their non-verbal response
Rationale: For Individuals who cannot verbally express preferences, offering one item at
a time and observing non-verbal responses (reaching, smiling, pushing away) is an
effective strategy. This honors the individual's ability to communicate their choice
through behavior .
3. One way to learn about what makes Individuals happy is to:
A. Ask their family members
B. Review their medical records
C. Use the "Making My Own Choices" book and picture sticker book
D. Observe them from a distance
Answer: C. Use the "Making My Own Choices" book and picture sticker book
Rationale: The "Making My Own Choices" book and picture sticker book are tools
designed to help Individuals express their preferences and what makes them happy .
4. Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities say that making choices
is important because:
A. It makes them feel in control
B. It gives their lives meaning
C. It helps them make friends
D. It is required by law
Answer: B. It gives their lives meaning
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Rationale: Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities report that making
choices is important because it gives their lives meaning . Choice is fundamental to
self-determination.
5. It is important for DSPs to provide opportunities for Individuals to make choices
because it:
A. Helps build a cooperative relationship between DSPs and Individuals
B. Reduces the DSP's workload
C. Prevents behavioral issues
D. Is required by the agency
Answer: A. Helps build a cooperative relationship between DSPs and Individuals
Rationale: Providing choice opportunities helps build a cooperative relationship
between DSPs and Individuals . Choice promotes dignity, respect, and collaboration.
6. When an Individual pushes away an item, she is demonstrating:
A. Disinterest
B. Avoidance behavior
C. Confusion
D. Indecision
Answer: B. Avoidance behavior
Rationale: When an Individual pushes away an item, she is demonstrating avoidance
behavior. This is a non-verbal communication that she does not want that item or
activity .
7. One way to honor and respect an Individual's choice is to:
A. Give them the chosen item or activity
B. Document the choice
C. Discuss the choice with family members
D. Ask them to confirm their choice later
Answer: A. Give them the chosen item or activity
Rationale: One way to honor and respect an Individual's choice is to give them the
chosen item or activity . This validates their decision and reinforces their autonomy.
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8. An Individual choice that should be talked about during the person-centered
planning process is:
A. What job an Individual wants to have
B. What they ate for breakfast
C. What color shirt they are wearing
D. What time they went to bed
Answer: A. What job an Individual wants to have
Rationale: An Individual choice that should be discussed during the person-centered
planning process is what job an Individual wants to have. This reflects their life goals
and aspirations .
9. One way for a DSP to help with an Individual's person-centered-planning process
is to:
A. Share knowledge of an Individual's preferences from using the "Making My Own
Choices" book
B. Make decisions for the Individual
C. Skip the planning meeting
D. Let the family make all decisions
Answer: A. Share knowledge of an Individual's preferences from using the "Making
My Own Choices" book
Rationale: DSPs can help with the person-centered planning process by sharing
knowledge of an Individual's preferences gathered through tools like the "Making My
Own Choices" book .
10. What can the DSP learn about the Individual through the person-centered-
planning process?
A. The Individual's medical history
B. The Individual's life goals
C. The Individual's diagnosis
D. The Individual's medications
Answer: B. The Individual's life goals
Rationale: The person-centered planning process helps the DSP learn about the
Individual's life goals . This is the foundation for supporting their aspirations.
DSP 2 STUDY GUIDE UNDERSTANDING THE DSP 2
CERTIFICATION EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
DSP 2 Study Guide Exam: 250 Practice Questions with Rationales
INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING THE DSP 2 CERTIFICATION EXAM
The DSP 2 (Direct Support Professional Level 2) exam aligns with the national
certification offered by the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) .
This exam evaluates advanced competencies required for professionals supporting
individuals with intellectual, developmental, physical, and behavioral disabilities . Key
topics include:
• Person-Centered Planning – Supporting individual goals, desires, and needs
• Choice and Decision-Making – Honoring and respecting individual preferences
• Health and Wellness – Nutrition, physical activity, and healthcare advocacy
• Ethical Practice – The DSP toolbox (Ethics, Observation, Communication,
Decision making, Documentation)
• Behavioral Support – Understanding functions of behavior, crisis management,
and prompting hierarchies
• Community Inclusion and Engagement – Supporting community participation
SECTION 1: PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING (Questions 1-40)
1. An Individual with good verbal skills is offered a choice between two activities.
Which strategy is most appropriate?
A. Show them one item and watch for their non-verbal response
B. Ask them which item they want
C. Name two items and ask them to point to the one they want
D. Give them the item you prefer
, Page 2 of 72
Answer: B. Ask them which item they want
Rationale: For Individuals with good verbal skills, the most appropriate and respectful
strategy is to ask them directly which item they want . This honors the individual's ability
to communicate their preferences.
2. When an Individual is not able to say or point to things they want, what is an
effective choice-offering strategy?
A. Ask them which item they want
B. Show them one item and watch for their non-verbal response
C. Give them both items and let them choose later
D. Ask a family member what they prefer
Answer: B. Show them one item and watch for their non-verbal response
Rationale: For Individuals who cannot verbally express preferences, offering one item at
a time and observing non-verbal responses (reaching, smiling, pushing away) is an
effective strategy. This honors the individual's ability to communicate their choice
through behavior .
3. One way to learn about what makes Individuals happy is to:
A. Ask their family members
B. Review their medical records
C. Use the "Making My Own Choices" book and picture sticker book
D. Observe them from a distance
Answer: C. Use the "Making My Own Choices" book and picture sticker book
Rationale: The "Making My Own Choices" book and picture sticker book are tools
designed to help Individuals express their preferences and what makes them happy .
4. Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities say that making choices
is important because:
A. It makes them feel in control
B. It gives their lives meaning
C. It helps them make friends
D. It is required by law
Answer: B. It gives their lives meaning
, Page 3 of 72
Rationale: Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities report that making
choices is important because it gives their lives meaning . Choice is fundamental to
self-determination.
5. It is important for DSPs to provide opportunities for Individuals to make choices
because it:
A. Helps build a cooperative relationship between DSPs and Individuals
B. Reduces the DSP's workload
C. Prevents behavioral issues
D. Is required by the agency
Answer: A. Helps build a cooperative relationship between DSPs and Individuals
Rationale: Providing choice opportunities helps build a cooperative relationship
between DSPs and Individuals . Choice promotes dignity, respect, and collaboration.
6. When an Individual pushes away an item, she is demonstrating:
A. Disinterest
B. Avoidance behavior
C. Confusion
D. Indecision
Answer: B. Avoidance behavior
Rationale: When an Individual pushes away an item, she is demonstrating avoidance
behavior. This is a non-verbal communication that she does not want that item or
activity .
7. One way to honor and respect an Individual's choice is to:
A. Give them the chosen item or activity
B. Document the choice
C. Discuss the choice with family members
D. Ask them to confirm their choice later
Answer: A. Give them the chosen item or activity
Rationale: One way to honor and respect an Individual's choice is to give them the
chosen item or activity . This validates their decision and reinforces their autonomy.
, Page 4 of 72
8. An Individual choice that should be talked about during the person-centered
planning process is:
A. What job an Individual wants to have
B. What they ate for breakfast
C. What color shirt they are wearing
D. What time they went to bed
Answer: A. What job an Individual wants to have
Rationale: An Individual choice that should be discussed during the person-centered
planning process is what job an Individual wants to have. This reflects their life goals
and aspirations .
9. One way for a DSP to help with an Individual's person-centered-planning process
is to:
A. Share knowledge of an Individual's preferences from using the "Making My Own
Choices" book
B. Make decisions for the Individual
C. Skip the planning meeting
D. Let the family make all decisions
Answer: A. Share knowledge of an Individual's preferences from using the "Making
My Own Choices" book
Rationale: DSPs can help with the person-centered planning process by sharing
knowledge of an Individual's preferences gathered through tools like the "Making My
Own Choices" book .
10. What can the DSP learn about the Individual through the person-centered-
planning process?
A. The Individual's medical history
B. The Individual's life goals
C. The Individual's diagnosis
D. The Individual's medications
Answer: B. The Individual's life goals
Rationale: The person-centered planning process helps the DSP learn about the
Individual's life goals . This is the foundation for supporting their aspirations.
