Continuing Education
Once they have earned their full one year certification, Idaho Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSSs) are required to earn 10 hours of continuing education annually with at least 1 hour in ethics to renew their certification. They can attend webinars, workshops, classroom-based education or training, or workplace training to obtain continuing education hours. When applying for certification renewal, CPSSs will need to submit copies of their certificates of attendance, and ensure the certificates document the date and title of the training, who provided the training and a signature from the entity, and how many hours they participated in. CPSSs should ensure continuing education aligns with the following suggested topics, keep track of certificates of completion, and submit certificates when applying for certification renewal.
Approved Continuing Education Topics
• Motivation and empowerment
• Stages of recovery and the role peer support plays within it
• The state behavioral health system and the role peers play within it
• Advocacy for recovery programs and for the peers they serve
• The practice of recovery values: authenticity, self-determination, diversity, and inclusion
• How to share recovery experience effectively and use it to help others
• Ethics (boundaries, confidentiality, HIPAA, etc.)
• Awareness of risk factors in peers and how to access appropriate services
• Interpersonal and professional communication skills
• Stages of change
• Certified peer support specialist roles and responsibilities
• Relationship building
• Boundaries and self-care
• Effecting change
• Trauma informed care
• Work place dynamics and processes
• Empowering others
• Family and relationship dynamics
• The effects of trauma and use of a trauma informed approach
• Wellness and natural supports
• Maintaining one’s wellness
• Cultural sensitivity and diversity
• Recovery-oriented care and helping peers set recovery goals
• Local, state and national recovery and peer support resources
Continuing Education Opportunities
PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST TAKE CONTINUING EDUCATION THAT PROVIDES A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION. PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION BEFORE VIEWING WEBINARS ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES. WE TRY TO KEEP THIS PAGE UPDATED HOWEVER ORGANIZATIONS MAY CHANGE THEIR PROCESS.
We recommend you subscribe to the newsletters from the following websites to be notified about their continuing education opportunities.
• CE4less
• Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network
• Peer Recovery Center of Excellence Skill Development Series
• Peer Recovery Center of Excellence Communities of Practice
• Relias
CPSSs working at an agency should receive access to the Relias website
• Copeland Center for Wellness & Recovery
You must become a Copeland Center member for $35 to access webinars
• National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.)
You must become an annual N.A.P.S. member for $35 to receive certificates of completion