Certification and Training

Job Duties and Role

Job Coaches and Work Support Professionals provide employment support to people with disabilities who have jobs or own a business, including teaching skills to perform duties and building natural supports on the job.

Who receives these services?

• People with disabilities who need support to maintain their employment and are connected to a state-funded program
• People with disabilities who need support to maintain their employment as part of an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)*

What state agencies use these services?

• Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Maine
• Office of Aging and Disability Services-Employment
• Office of Behavioral Health-Employment
• Department of Education-Special Services (DOE)

What training is required for these roles?

1. Maine’s Job Coach Training Course (*New as of 10/1/2026*) 
   • This course is an online, asynchronous course. Enroll any time by clicking the link above. 
   • Important note: ACRE certification fulfills part of the job coaching training requirement. If you are ACRE certified, you do not need to complete Maine’s Job Coach Training course. 
2. Strategies for Fading Supports in the Workplace Training 
   • This course has two parts: an online, asynchronous portion and an online, live session. 
   • Sessions are offered quarterly. Click the link above to find out when the next session begins. 
3. Maine’s required Direct Support Professional (DSP) Coursework 
   • This coursework requires online and in-person training. Click the link above to find out more about the training requirements. 
   • Important note: This coursework is required for waiver providers only through the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS). 

Job Duties and Role

Employment Specialists and Job Developers provide support to people with disabilities to find employment that is based on their skills, education, interests, and abilities.  

Who receives these services? 

People with disabilities who have barriers to getting a job and qualify for the service through either the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Maine (BRS), or the Department of Education (DOE). 

What state agencies use these services? 

• Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Maine (BRS) 
• Office of Aging and Disability Services-Employment (OADS) 
• Office of Behavioral Health-Employment (OBH)  
• Department of Education-Special Services (DOE) 

What training is required for these roles?  

1. ACRE Employment Specialist Training (*New as of 10/1/2026*) 
   • This course is an online, asynchronous course. 
   • Both ACRE Part 1 and ACRE Part 2 are included in this course. 
   • Enroll any time by clicking the link above. 
   • Important note: If you have already taken ACRE Part 1 and need to sign up for ACRE Part 2 only, register here. 
2. Six (6) hours per year of ongoing continuing employment-related education. 
   • This ongoing professional development can be courses of your choosing that are related to employment for people with disabilities. View our training calendar to see upcoming offerings.  

Job Duties and Role

A Career Planning Specialist works with people with disabilities to explore and learn about work, while developing a written Career Plan. The Career Plan can be used by vocational rehabilitation (VR) for job development assistance.

Who receives these services? 

• People with intellectual disabilities and autism 
• Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) clients who require the service may be able to access Career Planning as part of an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) 

What state agencies use these services? 

• Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Maine (BRS)  
• Division of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and late Deafened (DDHHLD) 
• Office of Aging and Disability Services-Employment (OADS) 

What training is required for these roles?  

1. Certified as a Work-Support Professional or credentialed as an ACRE Employment Specialist 
2. Twelve (12) hours of Career Planning Training through Office of Aging and Disability Services 
   • This course is offered in a 4-part series of in-person and live, online training days.  
   • This training is typically offered twice per year. View our training calendar to see the next upcoming offering.
3. Six (6) hours per year of ongoing continuing employment-related education. 
   • This ongoing professional development can be courses of your choosing that are related to employment for people with disabilities. View our training calendar to see upcoming offerings.