Training
Training for Certified Peer Specialists is essential to ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to provide effective, person-centered support. Comprehensive training equips them to foster recovery, build trust, and advocate for individuals facing mental health or substance use challenges.
By learning best practices and ethical standards, Peer Specialists can confidently support members of the community on their journey toward improved health, wellness, and community connection.
Certified Peer Specialists work with people receiving mental health services across a range of outpatient and inpatient settings, including mental health clinics, crisis centers, and in the community.
Peer Specialists work in teams with other mental health providers, such as psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers, helping people achieve their well-being goals, and creating a fulfilling life in the community.
Certified Peer Specialists use their lived experience to build a relationship with other individuals engaged in their own journey of recovery. These relationships are characterized by mutual trust and respect, sharing of experiences and information about the recovery process.
Certified Peer Specialists are credentialed to work as support for individuals during their mental health and substance use recovery. Peer specialists offer a unique perspective into peer support services because of their lived experience.
The prerequisite for CPS training is storytelling training (link to UR Storytellers below on page).
The Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disability Services offers CPS training in collaboration with Mental Health Partnerships.
DBHIDS sponsors the cost of training and testing for approved applicants.
Learn More About Certified Peer Specialist Training
About the Pennsylvania Certification Board
The Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) is a private, nonprofit organization that provides voluntary credentialing for professionals in behavioral, physical, and community health fields.
PCB establishes and enforces certification standards and administers testing for various roles, including addiction counselors, prevention specialists, clinical supervisors, and recovery and peer specialists. PCB is committed to promoting public protection through its rigorous certification process.
PCB approved sites offering CPS training:
This 12-hour course provides a comprehensive foundation for supervising in a peer support environment. The training emphasizes understanding of Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) roles and recovery values while incorporating key frameworks from national organizations and established models.
Approved for continuing education units, the course uses interactive virtual methods to engage participants and build practical skills. Facilitators ensure an immersive learning experience that prepares supervisors to effectively support peer specialists in their vital roles.
WRAP is recognized behavioral health experts as an effective way to help individuals lessen distressing feelings and behaviors.
To become a MHFA certified instructor, candidates must complete a multi-day training that covers the MHFA course and provides detailed guidance on teaching the curriculum.
The training includes a written exam and assesses each candidate’s ability to effectively deliver the course to diverse audiences.
Certified Recovery Specialist training is a peer-support program designed to meet the requirements set by the Pennsylvania Certification Board.
Participants in this training learn about recovery management, education and advocacy, professional ethics and responsibility, confidentiality, and the field of addiction.
The Storytelling Training equips individuals with the skills to share their personal challenges in a way that inspires hope and supports others on their recovery journey. Sharing stories challenges stigma and highlights the shared experiences that unite people.
Using a population health approach, this training empowers community members to use their experiences to connect with and support those facing similar struggles. By fostering self-disclosure, it helps reduce stigma, combat isolation, build stronger connections, and link individuals to valuable community resources and DBHIDS services.
Find CHW training opportunities in these links:
The Community Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS) program pairs an individual with autism with a Community Autism Peer Specialist to achieve wellness and community integration.
Adults diagnosed with autism will complete 75 hours of training. Most of this training time is in-person in a classroom setting.
Upon successful completion of the program, individuals can apply for a position as a CAPS.
Learn more about CAPS Training
Registration is now open for Community Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS) training. Learn more
The Copeland Center’s trainings are created and co-facilitated by experts by experience who live the values of hope, self-determination, self-advocacy, and building support.
