What is a Certified Peer Support Professional?
In Indiana, a Certified Peer Support Professional (CPSP) is an individual who utilizes their lived experience combined with formal training to instill hope, inspire change, and support other individuals through similar experiences, using personal connection, person centered care, and their shared understanding to navigate their life in recovery.
Why Peers
Peers provide a low barrier access point to support, treatment, connection and resource navigation. Peers are often the first behavioral health access point for individuals in jails, hospitals and the community. Through Recovery Community Organizations, Recovery Community Centers, Outreach Teams, Crisis Teams and embedded workforce recovery groups peers act as a bridge to other community services.
Certified Peer Support Professional FAQs
- 1) Is the Certified Peer Support Professional certification different from my current Certified Addiction Peer Recovery Coach I or II credential?
Yes, these are two different credentials. The Certified Peer Support Professional (CPSP) certification is issued and monitored by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) while the CAPRC I and CAPRC II credential is issued and monitored by ICAADA.
- 2) Is the CPSP state certification reimbursed through Medicaid?
Yes. CPSP peer support services are reimbursed through Medicaid in Indiana.
- 3) What are the personal requirements to apply to be a Certified Peer Support Professional?
- 18 years of age or older.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalency.
- Individual living in recovery with a mental health and/or substance use condition.
(and/or) - Family member to another person living with a mental health and/or substance use condition.
- Must live or work in Indiana at least 51% of the time.
- 4) What are the training requirements for a Certified Peer Support Professional certification?
The CPSP curriculum requires 48 hours of training and a proctored examination, both of which occur at specific statewide Ivy Tech locations.
- 5) What are the continuing education requirements for maintaining the Certified Peer Support Professional certification?
CPSP certifications will renew every two years. Each two-year renewal cycle requires 40 CEU’s (20 CEU’s per year) to remain active. All CPSPs are required to complete an annual DMHA approved Ethics training which can be used towards CEUs.
- 6) Will I receive a certificate in the mail to give to my employer?
CPSP Certificates will be available to print in your Certemy Wallet following the passing of the CPSP examination or at any time for an active CPSP Account.
- 7) Who do I contact if I have other questions and/or my employer has concerns I can’t answer about my certification?
All concerns regarding certification should be directed to DMHA at peersupport@fssa.in.gov.
- 8) Will I need a new document to track CEU’s for my continuing education for recertification?
All CEUs will be uploaded and tracked in your Certemy account.