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North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist Program

An Initiative of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services

What is the North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist Program?

Peer Support Specialists are people living in recovery with mental illness and / or substance abuse and who provide support to others whom can benefit from their lived experiences. The NC Certified Peer Support Specialist Program (NCCPSS) provides acknowledgment that the peer has met a set of requirements necessary to provide support to individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues.  The NCCPSS program develops a qualified workforce that has the support, access, credibility, competency, respect and the valued role within the mental health and substance abuse service delivery system to positively impact the lives of individuals experiencing mental health and addiction challenges.

Requirements of a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist

Individuals may quality to become Certified Peer Support Specialist in North Carolina by meeting the following application criteria:

• Be a current or former consumer of mental health and/or substance abuse services;

• Have a minimum of 1 year of demonstrated recovery time between diagnosis and application as Peer Support Specialist;

• Have attended and successfully completed a Division of MH/DD/SAS approved 40 hour Peer Support Specialist training curriculum and have a valid certificate from that training;

• Have completed an additional 20 hours of training and have valid certificates verifying attendance and participation.  These trainings should compliment the type of service/program the individual will be working.  (Training, such as but not limited to, Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), Person Centered Thinking, Personal Assistance in Community Existence (PACE), Crisis Prevention); and

• Have submitted two (2) Personal Reference Forms completed by two (2) individuals, according to state requirements.

Please refer to the North Carolina Peer Support Specialist Program website for more information.