Peer Specialist Core

Recovery Support Peer Specialist is a person who has lived experience of recovery with substance use challenges who is trained to support people with substance use challenges.

Recovery Support Peer Specialists recognize that there are multiple pathways of recovery, and support the people they serve to discover what pathway works best for them. They do not act as a sponsor or a guide, and they do not push people to embrace abstinence or the recovery pathway they chose.

Peer Specialists work in many different environments, with jobs that focus on direct service, program management, advocacy, and more. For example, RSPS roles typically include types of work such as:

  • Recovery and wellness support, which includes providing information on and support with planning for recovery;
  • Mentoring, which includes serving as a role model and providing assistance in finding needed community resources and services; and
  • Advocacy, which includes providing support in stressful or urgent situations, and helping to ensure that the recipient’s rights are respected.
Eligibility

Individuals interested in becoming certified as a Recovery Support Peer Specialist must meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years of age;
  • Have lived experience with substance use recovery
  • Have a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
  • Be willing to appropriately share your own recovery story with recipients
  • Be able to demonstrate current self-directed recovery
  • Pass criminal history and registry checks
Objectives
  • Develop a success plan
  • Complete didactic training
  • Complete supervised field experience hours
  • Receive a RSPS credential
  • Gain and retain employment
  • Complete continuing education
  • Get re-certified
Est. Time—
Course Syllabus
Not Enrolled
  • Peer Specialist Core