$46,100
Avg Cost of DSP Turnover
45%
First-Year Turnover Rate
$262,300
Savings Per 1% Reduction
75%
Onboarding Time Reduction
Platform Capabilities
Data-driven, personalized onboarding solution
Evaluate knowledge and critical thinking to tailor learning paths and eliminate one-size-fits-all orientation programs.
Reduce Seat Time
Competency-based pathways mean experienced staff skip what they know and focus on gaps — cutting onboarding time by up to 75%.
Standardize Blended Learning
Baseline all clinical knowledge with digital simulations, interactive scenarios, and interactive assessments.
Track Benchmarks
Data and reports help supervisors and administrators continuously improve education effectiveness across sites.
Increase Retention
Lower first-year turnover with a structured onboarding solution that supports current proficiencies and shows a career path.
Structured Onboarding
Structured onboarding reduces time-to-competency
Our onboarding platform auto-assigns required training based on role, state, and waiver program. New hires get a personalized learning path from day one — no manual configuration required.
- Auto-assign training by role, state, and waiver program
- Progress tracking with real-time supervisor visibility
- Competency verification and knowledge checks before first shift
- Integrated with your HR and payroll workflow
- Mobile-first delivery for field-based DSPs
Before & After
The Onboarding Transformation
Without Waiver Academy
- 4–6 week onboarding with manual binders and classroom sessions
- No consistent process across sites or supervisors
- No knowledge baseline — every hire treated the same
- Compliance gaps discovered during audits, not before
- High first-year turnover from poor onboarding experience
With Waiver Academy
- 3–5 day personalized digital onboarding based on knowledge baseline
- Standardized across all sites with role-based auto-assignment
- Competency assessed upfront — skip what they already know
- Real-time compliance tracking before the first shift
- Better first-year experience = stronger retention
Field Guide
The First 90 Days: A Compliance-Safe Onboarding Timeline
What must happen — and when — for a new direct care hire. Miss a pre-service step and a surveyor can cite every shift that staff member worked. Use this as your baseline checklist.
- Criminal background check & state abuse registry clearance
- Professional license / certification verification
- TB screening and required health documentation
- OIG exclusion list check (required for Medicaid providers)
- Offer letter, job description, and role expectations signed
- Agency orientation: mission, org chart, chain of command
- HIPAA privacy & security training (required before any PHI access)
- Individual rights, dignity, and abuse/neglect reporting obligations
- Emergency procedures, evacuation routes, and incident reporting basics
- Policy handbook acknowledgment with electronic signature
- Shadow shifts with an experienced mentor (minimum 2–3 recommended)
- Person-centered plan review for every individual on caseload
- Medication administration training, if role-applicable (state-certified)
- Documentation and EVV system hands-on practice
- First supervisor check-in — surface questions early
- Initial competency verification: observed skills checklist signed by supervisor
- All state-mandated pre-service training hours completed and documented
- CPR/First Aid certification confirmed current
- 30-day feedback conversation — the #1 predictor of first-year retention
- Full independent shift readiness sign-off
- Post-training knowledge assessment to confirm retention
- Individual development plan drafted with career-path discussion
- 90-day performance review and formal end of introductory period
Note: pre-service requirements vary by state and waiver program — some states require 40+ hours of training before unsupervised contact. The platform pre-loads your state's specific sequence automatically.
Compliance-First Onboarding
Stay compliant from day one
Every new hire's compliance clock starts the moment they're enrolled. Our platform tracks required training, deadlines, and verifications so no staff member ever goes to the floor uncertified.
- State-specific training requirements pre-loaded by role
- Automatic escalation alerts for incomplete pre-shift requirements
- Background check and credential verification workflows
- Digital signature tracking for policy acknowledgments
- Audit-ready records for every hire in your organization
"We used to spend 4 weeks onboarding new DSPs. With The Waiver Academy, we're down to 5 days — and our compliance scores actually improved."
HR Director
Group Home Provider, Pennsylvania