New Information 07/2024
In July 2023, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published the National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification. This guiding document highlights areas for improvement in the North Carolina Certified Peer Support Program, particularly in our training and certification process. Accordingly, the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS) is implementing several structural changes to enhance the curriculum and training standards.
One of these structural changes is the adoption of a single curriculum. To that end, the Program will no longer review and approve new peer support training courses. Currently approved courses will be allowed to run until their approval time. We are committed to ensuring that peer support certification remains accessible statewide, making it available to all interested in becoming certified.
Overview
The NCCPSS Program Approved Courses are curricula reviewed and approved by the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS) for peer support training in NC. An Approved Course consists of at least 50 hours (a minimum of 40 hours of face-to-face instruction and 10 hours of pre-work or homework) of curriculum reviewed and approved by the Program. The Program is transitioning all Approved Courses to 50 hours. The Program accepts only training certificates from Approved Courses towards the required training hours for certification. Completing an Approved Course equips Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS) with the basic knowledge and skills to provide peer support services in NC. Persons interested in becoming a CPSS must meet the eligibility requirements (18 years or older, have lived experiences in significant mental health or substance use disorder, have been in recovery for at least one year, and have a high school diploma or equivalent) first before completing the training. Below is the list of domains that constitute the content of an Approved Course:
- Commitment to Personal Recovery
- Relationship Building
- Peer Support Interaction
- Systems Competencies
- Ethics and Boundaries
- Substance Use Disorders
- Trauma-Informed Practice
- Support of Service members and Families
- Cultural Competencies and Awareness
Completing an Approved Course does not mean an individual is certified; the individual has to apply for certification by mail or online.
The table below shows all of the currently approved NC Certified Peer Support courses and their developers. To learn more about each, click on the course title.
| Course (click for description, approved trainers, contact info) | Developer | |
|---|---|---|
| A Path to Recovery Peer Support Training | Camino Health Center | Healthcare |
| Extending your Portfolio: Certified Peer Support Training | Tabitha | Evans |
| Jordan Peer Recovery (JPR) Peer Support Training | Jordan Peer Recovery | (JPR) |
| NC - H.O.P.E. Peer Support Specialist Certification Training Program | V.O.I.C.E. | Therapeutic Solutions of Raleigh |
| OnTrack Wellness and Recovery Peer Support Specialist Certification Course | Annie R. | Hasan |
| Peer Academy Course by Promise Resource Network | Promise Resource Network | Allen-Caraco and Lyn Legere |
| Recovery Can Happen Peer Support Specialist Certification Training Program | Terri | Spears |
| Recovery-Focused PSS Training (Recovery Communities of North Carolina) | Recovery Communities of North Carolina | (RCNC) |
| RHA Peer Support Specialist Training for Deaf and Hard of Hearing | RHA | Health Services |
| Second Chance Peer Support Training | Michael | Lee |
| Take Your Heart to Work Course | Mary Virginia “Gin” | Monroe |