STEP 1: MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants review the CPSS eligibility criteria, including lived experience, education requirements, and any required documentation, to ensure they are eligible to apply:
- Be 18 years or older.
- Have lived experiences and are in recovery from a serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance use disorder (SUD). Applicants with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders must be in recovery from BOTH to qualify for certification. View the definition for serious mental illness and substance disorder .
- Must be in recovery for at least EIGHTEEN (18) months from all SMI and/or SUD before training and certification.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
STEP 2: REVIEW TRACK A (FREE)
Applicants review the certification information for Track A. This ensures that applicants understand the requirements for the Track A certification process. View Track A details.
STEP 3: PREPARE TO APPLY
Applicants must gather the following documents to apply for enrollment in Track A to begin the Foundations of Peer Support Training (Part I & Part II).
- Ethics Training: Certificate for at least 3 hours of required Ethics Training.
- Additional Training: Certificates for 17 hours (training related to mental health, substance use, or other related areas. A college transcript can be used if the course is related).
- Proof of Education: Copy of a high school diploma, or its equivalent (Official college transcript can be used).
Please note that these are required to apply and not part of the Track A Foundation Course.
STEP 4: APPLY
Applicants must apply ONLINE
- Create an account on the PSS Website.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Complete the application form.
- Track A - Select "I'm applying to enroll in the Foundations Course."
- Upload all required documents (20 hours of additional training, including 3 hours of required ethics training, proof of education (official college transcript for courses in mental health, substance use, human services, etc.).
- Request two reference letters while completing the application form by adding their emails (reference letters are confidential and cannot be changed after the program receives them).
STEP 5: REVIEW APPLICATION
Application review completed by the NCCPSS Program staff.
- If approved, Track A applicants are enrolled in the Foundations of Peer Support Course.
- If not approved, the staff will send the applicant a letter to that effect. View the Denied Application Policy.
- If the application is incomplete, the Program staff will contact you for any missing information or to update your application.
STEP 6: COMPLETE FOUNDATION OF PEER SUPPORT COURSE (60 HOURS)
Foundations of Peer Support Course (60 HOURS TOTAL)
- Applicant will complete Foundations of Peer Support (Part I) ONLINE (20 hours).
- Applicant will receive an email with details on how to access the course.
- Applicants have 60 days to complete part I.
- Applicant will complete Foundations of Peer Support (Part II) IN-PERSON (40 hours).
- Applicant will receive an email with details on how to register for the course.
- View the upcoming training.
- Contact the Certified Trainer to enroll (must provide date of birth, and show certificate of Foundations of Peer Support (Part I).
- Applicants have 90 days to complete part II.
- Applicant will receive an email with details on how to register for the course.
STEP 7: CERTIFICATION
The applicant is certified upon completion of Foundations of Peer Support (Part II) and the course evaluation.
SPECIAL NOTE: CERTIFICATION EXAM
- Applicants of Track A must pass the Certification Exam BEFORE recertification in two years.
- Pass the certification Examination ($50).
The second attempt can occur no sooner than 14 days after the first attempt, and the third attempt may occur no sooner than 30 days after the second attempt.
- Applicants who do not pass the certification examination after three attempts will forfeit their certification status and will be required to restart the certification process in its entirety.
- Once certification is forfeited, the applicant’s name will be removed from the Credential Verification system.
HELPFUL REMINDERS
RECIPROCITY: The NCCPSS Program does not accept certification from other states. Thus, the Program does not have reciprocity with other states regarding certification. CPSS from other states MUST meet the certification requirements to process their NC certification.
APPLICATION PROCESSING TIME: Please note that due to the high influx of applications, the processing time depends on whether the application is complete. Incomplete applications will delay the process. To check the status of your certification/recertification, you can visit the Credential Verification page and search for your name to verify.
APPLICATION EXPIRATION: Applicants unable to complete their certification within six (6) months of beginning the certification process will have to resubmit their application (provide all documents needed for certification) as a new certification.
DESIGNATION/SPECIALIZATION: Applicants interested in the Military designation may review the information under the requirements for the required documentation. Other designations (such as COAPS) require applicants to be a CPSS before completing training for that designation.