Client rights
Orientation; provider-defined program (10A NCAC 27D)
Restrictive interventions
DMH/DD/SUS-approved curriculum + annual refresher (27E .0108)
IRIS incidents
Level II/III within 72 hours; Level I internal (27G .0600)
Medication administration
RN/pharmacist-trained; no fixed hours (27G .0209)
CPR & First Aid
Current, hands-on external; seizure + Heimlich (27G .0202)
Abuse reporting
To the county DSS (G.S. 108A, Article 6)
Client rights and confidentiality must be part of employee orientation. NC does not set a single statewide fixed hour count — the provider designs the program to meet 10A NCAC 27D (client rights) and NC's confidentiality rules, layered on top of federal HIPAA. Staff learn when and how a right may be restricted and the client's right to be informed and to complain.
Staff who may use seclusion, physical restraint, or isolation time-out must complete a DMH/DD/SUS-approved, competency-based curriculum (written test and observation) before working with a person whose plan authorizes them, with refresher training at minimum annually (10A NCAC 27E .0108). Least-restrictive alternatives always come first. The NCI curriculum has not been approved since December 31, 2018. A self-paced course covers the knowledge; the hands-on skills and competency demonstration happen in the approved in-person program.
North Carolina classifies incidents as Level I, II, or III. Level II and Level III incidents are entered in the state IRIS system within 72 hours; Level I incidents are logged on the provider's internal form only and are not entered in IRIS (10A NCAC 27G .0600 series). Every DSP should know how to recognize and immediately respond to an incident.
New to North Carolina's system? See our guide to becoming an NC Innovations provider.
DSPlife™ TrainingHub is built for NC, APD, DODD, ODP, HHSC, and DBHDS providers. Its North Carolina library ships with courses your DSPs can complete on their own schedule — from client rights and IRIS incident response to person-centered ISP implementation — logs completion and competency, tracks renewals with automatic alerts, and generates audit-ready reports. See the full compliance overview.
For most topics, no. Many NC DSP requirements are competency- and provider-responsibility-based rather than a fixed number of clock hours. The provider designs the training program to meet 10A NCAC Chapter 27 (client rights, restrictive interventions, incidents) and CCP 8-P; where NC does not publish an hour count, none should be assumed.
No. The NC Interventions (NCI) curriculum has not been an approved restrictive-intervention curriculum since December 31, 2018. Staff who may use seclusion, physical restraint, or isolation time-out must be trained and competency-validated in a DMH/DD/SUS-approved curriculum (written test and observation), with at least annual refresher (10A NCAC 27E .0108).
Level II and Level III incidents are reported through the state IRIS system within 72 hours. Level I incidents stay on the provider’s internal form and are not entered in IRIS (10A NCAC 27G .0600 series).
Suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult is reported to the county Department of Social Services where the person lives, under G.S. Chapter 108A, Article 6. That statutory DSS report is separate from the IRIS incident report — both obligations can apply.
General information, not legal advice. DSPlife™ TrainingHub is not affiliated with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Confirm current requirements at ncdhhs.gov and the NC Administrative Code.
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