Peer-to-Career Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about training, scholarships, certification, and participating in Peer-to-Career.
RSPS Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started & Qualifications
Have you completed the prerequisite CORE training already?
-
- Yes
- Submit Scholarship application
- Submit RSPS program application
- No
- Submit Scholarship application
- Submit CORE program application
- Submit RSPS program application
- Yes
No. The Texas Certification Board requires applicants to have a GED or high school diploma for certification, and you will need to obtain it before submitting your application for certification.
Reach out to your Peer-to-Career Specialist for additional information.
No. RecoveryPeople does not currently offer MHPS training.
No. RecoveryPeople does not offer MHPS training and is not the company that will provide your training.
RecoveryPeople does not currently accept any payment for training or services, but does offer in-house scholarships.
See the scholarship information below for details.
RecoveryPeople does not currently accept payment vouchers for training costs or services, only in-house scholarships.
See the scholarship information below for details.
Yes. Your certificate of completion is only good for 2 years from the date it was issued. If that date has passed before submitting your full application to TCB, it must be retaken.
Yes. CORE training is a prerequisite for RSPS training and must be completed before taking the RSPS training.
No. CORE training is a prerequisite for RSPS training and must be completed before taking the RSPS training.
No. As long as your CORE certificate of completion is still valid (within two years and meets current TCB requirements), you do not need to retake CORE.
If TCB releases a new required CORE curriculum before you submit your application, you may be required to complete the updated CORE training, even if your certificate has not yet reached the two-year expiration.
TCB determines whether previous training will continue to be accepted.
In-Training Questions
No. Driving during training is not allowed.
No. Participants are expected to remain on camera throughout the training unless the instructor provides accommodation or permission.
Reach out to your Peer-to-Career Specialist for more information.
If TCB releases a new required CORE curriculum before you submit your application, you may be required to complete the updated CORE training, even if your certificate has not yet reached the two-year expiration.
TCB determines whether previous training will continue to be accepted.
No. Training requires your full attention. Participants should not be working, driving, shopping, or completing other activities during class.
Post Training (Next Steps)
No. You have received your program certificate of completion, not your RSPS certification.
You need to submit your application to TCB using Certemy in order to get certified.
Don’t know where to start?
- Reach out to your Peer-to-Career Specialist for support on submitting your RSPS application, or
- Create your Certemy account here:
https://tcbap.certemy.com/entry/self-enrollments/RSPS/3aba2a2d-eca8-4f41-980c-31e23cc228a8
No. You need to receive your initial certification from TCB first.
No. Your field experience hours only start after you receive your initial RSPS certification from TCB.
Yes. Having an open or unresolved charge/case will affect your background check approval from TCB. It will cause your application to be rejected until a resolution is reached.
Pay the application fee only after all required documents have been uploaded and your application is ready to submit.
Results of a Texas Department of Public Safety NCIC and TCIC Background Check or IdentoGO FBI History Check within 30 days of application.
Background check instructions:
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.tcbap.org/resource/resmgr/certifications_/peer_grandfathering/background_check_directions_.pdf
RecoveryPeople provides career support, resources, and guidance to help participants prepare for employment, but cannot guarantee job placement.
Scholarship Information
No. Even if you did not select to have both covered in your scholarship application, your application can be edited by your Peer-to-Career Specialist.
No, but the Texas Workforce Commission does offer assistance to qualified applicants.
Steps:
- Confirm Eligibility: You must be a Texas resident, 21 years of age or older, and lack a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
- Find a Local Provider: Use the Literacy Providers Directory to find an AEL provider nearest to you.
- Contact the Program: Call your local provider or the state’s AEL hotline at 800-441-7323 to complete the intake process, discuss your testing readiness, and request the voucher.
No; RecoveryPeople’s scholarship currently does not cover the cost of MHPS training or certification.
Yes, unless you have qualified for a RecoveryPeople scholarship.
If you have qualified for a scholarship, you will receive a payment voucher when your application is ready to be submitted.
Reach out to your Peer-to-Career Specialist for more information.
No. RecoveryPeople’s scholarship will only help with training and certification costs through the Peer-to-Career program.
Accessibility: Technical Equipment
Yes. RecoveryPeople will allow accommodations for you to use your smartphone or tablet, but asks that you keep the smartphone or tablet in a stationary position so it does not distract others.
RecoveryPeople will not provide a laptop or wifi to join virtual training. However, many local libraries allow laptop and hotspot checkout with a library card.
Resources for low-cost to no-cost laptop and wifi access also exist:
- PCs for People: https://www.pcsforpeople.org/eligibility/
- Human-I-T: https://www.human-i-t.org/
PSS Frequently Asked Questions
Qualifications
You must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be able to pass a background check that follows the guidelines set for Peer Specialists by the Texas Administrative Code.
- Be willing and able to follow the ethics guidelines expected of Peer Specialist Supervisors set by the Texas Administrative Code.
- Refer to the Texas Certification Board’s PSS Prerequisite Chart for qualifications:
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.tcbap.org/resource/resmgr/certifications_/pss/pss_prerequisite_chart.pdf
Two years of experience if you have a degree of higher education and are supervised by a PSS who is either a QCC (Qualified Credentialed Counselor) or LPHA (Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts), or is supervised by a QCC or LPHA.
Four years of experience if you have a high school diploma or GED but do not have a degree of higher education, and are supervised by a PSS who is either a QCC, LPHA, or is supervised by a QCC or LPHA.
Refer to the PSS Prerequisite Chart for clinical licenses that meet the definition of a QCC or LPHA.
Yes, you can still take the training. However, TCB will not accept your PSS application until you pass the 2- or 4-year experience threshold.
If you choose to take it ahead of time, please be aware that the certificate of completion is only valid for 2 years. If TCB updates the PSS training curriculum during that period of waiting, you would have to retake the course.
RecoveryPeople will not provide scholarship funding for multiple PSS trainings.
No. You can apply directly to the Texas Certification Board and upload a copy of your license to qualify.
Yes. Please refer to the PSS Prerequisites Chart for qualifications that meet the QMHP-CS category (Qualified Mental Health Professional-Community Service).
This requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum number of hours in a list of disciplines shown on the prerequisites chart.
As a QMHP-CS, you would still need to be under the supervision of a QCC or LPHA.
Applying for the Program and In-Training
Complete:
- The PSS Training Application.
- The Peer-to-Career Scholarship Application.
A Peer-to-Career Specialist will review your applications and contact you.
Please do not submit multiple applications.
You must be present and participating actively in the training with your camera on for the majority of the sessions.
Please use a computer for your training.
Driving is not allowed while in training.
Please clear your schedule fully so that you can be present and avoid distractions.
No. You must be present for the entire training.
If you have a conflict with your schedule, your Peer-to-Career Specialist can work with you to place you in another training session at a later date.
Once Accepted into the Program
Yes, you will be required to sign the contract.
You can choose not to participate in the surveys; however, you would not receive milestone incentives.
You would still receive the training, background check fee, and initial certification fee covered by the scholarship program.
Once your application has been approved, your Peer-to-Career Specialist will enroll you in our Learning Management System so that you can access all training materials.
You will need to create an account with RecoveryPeople.
This will be part of your onboarding process and will be guided by your Peer-to-Career Specialist.
Post-Training Steps
Your certificate of completion is valid for two years.
TCB will only accept a background check completed within the 30-day period before you submit your application.
If you have concerns about passing your background check, please consult with your Peer-to-Career Specialist and refer to the Texas Administrative Code background check guidance.
Yes. You will pay for the background check.
If you have applied for the scholarship, you will send a copy of your payment receipt to your Peer-to-Career Specialist, who will submit it for reimbursement.
Please contact your Peer-to-Career Specialist, who can assist you with meeting this requirement.
No. Regardless of when you became employed, you are not eligible for the employment incentive until after you have received your Peer Specialist Supervisor Certification from the Texas Certification Board.
Once you have received your certification, please submit a check-in form for the certification first, then another check-in form for employment.
These cannot be combined on one check-in form.
The same form is used for each check-in.
Please indicate which survey you are submitting on the form by choosing the appropriate option under “Which Check-in Survey are you completing?”.
Still have questions?
We're here to help. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, reach out to the Peer-to-Career team for assistance.