Certified Peer Support Specialist A Complete Guide
You're at a turning point. Maybe you're already working in behavioral health, recovery support, or social services - passionate, committed, but hitting a ceiling. No clear path. No formal recognition. No structured way to turn your lived experience into a funded, respected, and sustainable career. The system rewards credentials. Without one, you’re overlooked. Passed over. Stuck relying on goodwill instead of wages, passion instead of paychecks. But you know - deep down - that your story has power. That your empathy, resilience, and insight can change lives. You just need the right framework to translate pain into purpose, and experience into authority. Certified Peer Support Specialist A Complete Guide is that framework. It’s not just another training. It’s the exact roadmap thousands have used to go from uncertified supporter to credentialed specialist - with documented outcomes, job-ready skills, and a certificate recognised by health systems, employers, and government agencies across the US and internationally. Take Maria, a recovery mentor in Colorado. After 18 months of volunteering and part-time peer work, she completed this course and earned her certification. Within six weeks, she was hired full-time at a county mental health clinic at $24/hour - with benefits, supervision, and a clear advancement path. his wasn’t just knowledge, she wrote, it was transformation. I finally felt like a professional. This isn’t about theory. It’s about tenure. It’s about getting your experience formally valued. About walking into any behavioural health team and being seen not as an add-on, but as an essential contributor - because you carry the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service, a globally trusted credential in peer support practice. Here’s how this course is structured to help you get there.Course Format & Delivery Details This is a self-paced, on-demand learning experience designed for working adults, career-changers, and frontline supporters with real responsibilities and tight schedules. You gain immediate online access upon enrollment, with no fixed dates, no mandatory live sessions, and no time commitment pressure - just actionable, step-by-step learning you can complete anywhere, anytime. Most learners finish the core curriculum in 6–8 weeks, dedicating just 3–5 hours per week. Many report applying key skills on the job within the first 72 hours of starting the program, especially in boundary setting, documentation, and ethical decision-making. You receive lifetime access to all course materials. That means no expiry, no paywalls, and every future update is included at no additional cost. Whether new certification standards emerge or best practices evolve, your training evolves with them. The platform is mobile-friendly and accessible 24/7 from any device - smartphone, tablet, or laptop - so you can learn during commutes, between shifts, or during quiet moments at home. Global learners from 38 countries have successfully completed the program using only their phones. Instructor Support & Guidance
Throughout your journey, you’re not alone. Certified instructors - all active peer support supervisors or certified trainers - provide written feedback on key assignments, answer questions through the secure messaging portal, and guide your progression. This is not automated support. It’s real human insight, tailored to your goals. Certificate of Completion from The Art of Service
Upon fulfilling all requirements, you earn a Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service - an internationally recognised credential used by hospitals, non-profits, correctional programs, and state-funded recovery agencies. This certificate verifies your mastery of peer support competencies, ethical standards, and recovery-oriented practices. It’s designed to align with most US state certification bodies and global peer support frameworks. No Hidden Fees. No Surprises.
Pricing is straightforward and inclusive. One payment covers everything: curriculum, assessments, instructor support, and your certificate. No recurring fees, no administrative charges, no late penalties. What you see is exactly what you get. Wide Payment Options
We accept all major payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal - processed securely with bank-level encryption. 100% Satisfied or Refunded Guarantee
We eliminate your risk with a 30-day, no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. If you find the course doesn't deliver clarity, value, or confidence, simply request a refund. We honour it immediately - because we’re certain you’ll stay. “Will This Work for Me?” - Addressing Your Biggest Concern
You might be thinking: I'm not formally trained. I'm still in recovery. I don’t have a degree. I’m not tech-savvy. Or maybe you’re already a professional but lack peer-specific credentials. Rest assured: this course is built for people exactly like you. This works even if you’ve never held a certification, are new to behavioural health, or are returning to work after a long break. We’ve had success with former justice-involved individuals, parents supporting youth with mental health challenges, frontline outreach workers, and nurses transitioning into recovery roles - all earning their credential and launching new careers. After enrollment, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Your access details and login information will be sent separately once your course materials are prepared and ready - ensuring a smooth, error-free start. We’ve engineered every element for safety, clarity, and confidence. This isn’t speculation. It’s a proven path - risk-reversed, student-validated, and career-transforming.
Module 1: Foundations of Peer Support - Defining peer support: Core principles and distinctions from clinical care
- Historical evolution of the peer support movement
- The role of lived experience in recovery ecosystems
- Understanding recovery-oriented language and narrative tools
- Mapping the peer support landscape: US, Canada, UK, and global models
- Introduction to trauma-informed care and its relevance to peer practice
- Exploring intersectionality in peer relationships
- Understanding self-disclosure: When, how, and why to share your story
- Peer support versus mentoring, coaching, and advocacy
- The importance of humility, boundaries, and role clarity
Module 2: Core Competencies & Certification Pathways - Overview of national and state-level peer certification requirements
- Mapping your current experience to certification eligibility
- Core domains required by most certification boards
- Understanding the International Association of Peer Supporters (IAPS) framework
- Role of certification in employment, funding, and professional recognition
- Breaking down recertification, supervision, and continuing education
- Understanding the scope of practice for Certified Peer Support Specialists
- Navigating dual relationships and conflicts of interest
- Key differences between peer roles in mental health, SUD, and criminal justice
- Preparing for the certification exam: Structure and strategy
Module 3: Ethics, Confidentiality & Professional Standards - Code of ethics for peer supporters: Core principles and real-world application
- Maintaining confidentiality without formal clinical training
- Understanding HIPAA in peer contexts
- Duty to report: When and how to escalate concerns
- Balancing empathy and boundaries in intense situations
- Managing power dynamics in peer relationships
- Responding to crises while staying within role
- Handling gifts, favours, and social media requests
- Recognising and preventing burnout and compassion fatigue
- Developing a personal ethics decision-making framework
Module 4: The Peer Support Relationship Lifecycle - Building trust: First contact and initial engagement
- Conducting strength-based intake assessments
- Establishing mutual goals and recovery agreements
- Active listening and motivational interviewing techniques
- Supporting autonomy while encouraging progress
- Mid-point relationship check-ins and progress reviews
- Managing resistance, relapse, and setbacks with dignity
- Planning for natural conclusion and closure
- Documenting interactions: Language that protects and validates
- Avoiding dependency and fostering independence
Module 5: Recovery Frameworks & Models - Stages of Change model (Transtheoretical Model) applied to peer practice
- WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan facilitation basics
- Highest Point of Self-Management framework
- Strengths-based approach: Identifying and amplifying resilience
- Person-centered planning tools and templates
- Understanding recovery capital and social determinants
- Applying harm reduction principles in daily interactions
- Integrating cultural humility into recovery support
- Supporting neurodiverse individuals in recovery
- Adapting models for youth, older adults, and marginalised populations
Module 6: Communication & Boundary Management - Setting healthy boundaries from day one
- Using I-statements and non-violent communication
- Managing emotional conversations without over-identifying
- Communicating with clinical teams: Bridging the gap
- Handling confrontations and angry disclosures
- Using silence as a tool for reflection and safety
- Differentiating empathy from enmeshment
- Managing self-regulation during high-stress interactions
- Establishing communication norms (call times, response windows)
- Creating personal boundary plans with accountability tools
Module 7: Documentation & Record Keeping - Understanding documentation requirements in peer roles
- Writing progress notes that are concise, ethical, and useful
- Avoiding clinical language and diagnostic assumptions
- Using SOAPIE format for peer documentation
- Recording strengths, goals, and milestones
- Managing electronic health records (EHR) access
- Keeping personal journals versus official records
- Time-saving documentation templates and shortcuts
- Handling audits and supervision reviews
- Protecting your documentation from misuse
Module 8: Trauma-Informed Peer Practice - Understanding neurobiology of trauma and its impact on behaviour
- The six principles of trauma-informed care
- Avoiding retraumatisation in peer interactions
- Recognising trauma triggers and response patterns
- Creating safety through language, space, and consistency
- Supporting individuals with complex PTSD and dissociation
- Understanding vicarious trauma and organisational trauma
- Self-assessment: Your own trauma history and peer role
- Collaborating with trauma therapists and SUD specialists
- Building resilience through somatic and grounding practices
Module 9: Peer Support in Mental Health Contexts - Understanding common diagnoses: Anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia
- Supporting individuals during psychiatric hospitalisation
- Navigating medication adherence discussions
- Responding to suicidal ideation without crisis intervention
- Supporting recovery after trauma, abuse, or loss
- Facilitating peer groups in clinical settings
- Working with individuals experiencing psychosis
- Advocating for person-centred care in institutional environments
- Supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and SUD
- Understanding recovery milestones beyond symptom reduction
Module 10: Peer Support in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery - Stages of SUD recovery: From use to sustained wellness
- Supporting individuals in detox, MAT, and residential programs
- Understanding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) without judgment
- Navigating 12-step, SMART, and alternative recovery pathways
- Facilitating recovery check-ins and accountability
- Helping rebuild social networks post-addiction
- Addressing shame, stigma, and self-blame
- Supporting relapse as part of recovery, not failure
- Working in harm reduction programs and syringe exchanges
- Connecting individuals to recovery housing and employment
Module 11: Peer Support in Justice-Involved Populations - Understanding the correctional system and re-entry challenges
- Supporting individuals pre-release and post-incarceration
- Navigating parole, probation, and supervision requirements
- Addressing criminal thinking and accountability without judgment
- Building trust with justice-involved individuals
- Supporting restitution, employment, and housing recovery
- Working in halfway houses, work release, and supervision programs
- Facilitating recovery groups inside correctional facilities
- Understanding legal restrictions on peer interactions
- Advocating for second-chance employment and housing
Module 12: Group Facilitation & Peer-Led Programming - Designing peer-led groups: Structure and purpose
- Creating safe, inclusive group environments
- Developing agendas and facilitation scripts
- Managing group dynamics and conflict
- Encouraging participation without pressure
- Using experiential and discussion-based learning
- Facilitating grief, gratitude, and recovery milestones
- Measuring group effectiveness and feedback loops
- Best practices for virtual peer group hosting
- Co-facilitation: Roles, responsibilities, and communication
Module 13: Employment & Career Advancement for Peer Specialists - Mapping the peer job market: Where employers hire
- Understanding full-time, part-time, and contract roles
- Writing a peer-specific resume and cover letter
- Highlighting lived experience professionally
- Common interview questions and how to answer them
- Negotiating salary and benefits as a credentialed peer
- Working in hospitals, CMHCs, non-profits, and private practice
- Becoming a peer supervisor or training others
- Starting a peer support business or consultancy
- Building a professional brand and online presence
Module 14: Supervision, Mentorship & Professional Growth - Understanding peer supervision requirements
- Building a supervisory relationship that supports growth
- Preparing for supervision sessions with agendas
- Using supervision for skill refinement and ethical review
- Transitioning from mentee to mentor
- Documenting supervision hours for certification
- Seeking feedback without defensiveness
- Joining peer support professional associations
- Attending conferences and continuing education events
- Developing a long-term career vision
Module 15: Advanced Peer Practice & Specialised Applications - Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Defining peer support: Core principles and distinctions from clinical care
- Historical evolution of the peer support movement
- The role of lived experience in recovery ecosystems
- Understanding recovery-oriented language and narrative tools
- Mapping the peer support landscape: US, Canada, UK, and global models
- Introduction to trauma-informed care and its relevance to peer practice
- Exploring intersectionality in peer relationships
- Understanding self-disclosure: When, how, and why to share your story
- Peer support versus mentoring, coaching, and advocacy
- The importance of humility, boundaries, and role clarity
Module 2: Core Competencies & Certification Pathways - Overview of national and state-level peer certification requirements
- Mapping your current experience to certification eligibility
- Core domains required by most certification boards
- Understanding the International Association of Peer Supporters (IAPS) framework
- Role of certification in employment, funding, and professional recognition
- Breaking down recertification, supervision, and continuing education
- Understanding the scope of practice for Certified Peer Support Specialists
- Navigating dual relationships and conflicts of interest
- Key differences between peer roles in mental health, SUD, and criminal justice
- Preparing for the certification exam: Structure and strategy
Module 3: Ethics, Confidentiality & Professional Standards - Code of ethics for peer supporters: Core principles and real-world application
- Maintaining confidentiality without formal clinical training
- Understanding HIPAA in peer contexts
- Duty to report: When and how to escalate concerns
- Balancing empathy and boundaries in intense situations
- Managing power dynamics in peer relationships
- Responding to crises while staying within role
- Handling gifts, favours, and social media requests
- Recognising and preventing burnout and compassion fatigue
- Developing a personal ethics decision-making framework
Module 4: The Peer Support Relationship Lifecycle - Building trust: First contact and initial engagement
- Conducting strength-based intake assessments
- Establishing mutual goals and recovery agreements
- Active listening and motivational interviewing techniques
- Supporting autonomy while encouraging progress
- Mid-point relationship check-ins and progress reviews
- Managing resistance, relapse, and setbacks with dignity
- Planning for natural conclusion and closure
- Documenting interactions: Language that protects and validates
- Avoiding dependency and fostering independence
Module 5: Recovery Frameworks & Models - Stages of Change model (Transtheoretical Model) applied to peer practice
- WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan facilitation basics
- Highest Point of Self-Management framework
- Strengths-based approach: Identifying and amplifying resilience
- Person-centered planning tools and templates
- Understanding recovery capital and social determinants
- Applying harm reduction principles in daily interactions
- Integrating cultural humility into recovery support
- Supporting neurodiverse individuals in recovery
- Adapting models for youth, older adults, and marginalised populations
Module 6: Communication & Boundary Management - Setting healthy boundaries from day one
- Using I-statements and non-violent communication
- Managing emotional conversations without over-identifying
- Communicating with clinical teams: Bridging the gap
- Handling confrontations and angry disclosures
- Using silence as a tool for reflection and safety
- Differentiating empathy from enmeshment
- Managing self-regulation during high-stress interactions
- Establishing communication norms (call times, response windows)
- Creating personal boundary plans with accountability tools
Module 7: Documentation & Record Keeping - Understanding documentation requirements in peer roles
- Writing progress notes that are concise, ethical, and useful
- Avoiding clinical language and diagnostic assumptions
- Using SOAPIE format for peer documentation
- Recording strengths, goals, and milestones
- Managing electronic health records (EHR) access
- Keeping personal journals versus official records
- Time-saving documentation templates and shortcuts
- Handling audits and supervision reviews
- Protecting your documentation from misuse
Module 8: Trauma-Informed Peer Practice - Understanding neurobiology of trauma and its impact on behaviour
- The six principles of trauma-informed care
- Avoiding retraumatisation in peer interactions
- Recognising trauma triggers and response patterns
- Creating safety through language, space, and consistency
- Supporting individuals with complex PTSD and dissociation
- Understanding vicarious trauma and organisational trauma
- Self-assessment: Your own trauma history and peer role
- Collaborating with trauma therapists and SUD specialists
- Building resilience through somatic and grounding practices
Module 9: Peer Support in Mental Health Contexts - Understanding common diagnoses: Anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia
- Supporting individuals during psychiatric hospitalisation
- Navigating medication adherence discussions
- Responding to suicidal ideation without crisis intervention
- Supporting recovery after trauma, abuse, or loss
- Facilitating peer groups in clinical settings
- Working with individuals experiencing psychosis
- Advocating for person-centred care in institutional environments
- Supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and SUD
- Understanding recovery milestones beyond symptom reduction
Module 10: Peer Support in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery - Stages of SUD recovery: From use to sustained wellness
- Supporting individuals in detox, MAT, and residential programs
- Understanding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) without judgment
- Navigating 12-step, SMART, and alternative recovery pathways
- Facilitating recovery check-ins and accountability
- Helping rebuild social networks post-addiction
- Addressing shame, stigma, and self-blame
- Supporting relapse as part of recovery, not failure
- Working in harm reduction programs and syringe exchanges
- Connecting individuals to recovery housing and employment
Module 11: Peer Support in Justice-Involved Populations - Understanding the correctional system and re-entry challenges
- Supporting individuals pre-release and post-incarceration
- Navigating parole, probation, and supervision requirements
- Addressing criminal thinking and accountability without judgment
- Building trust with justice-involved individuals
- Supporting restitution, employment, and housing recovery
- Working in halfway houses, work release, and supervision programs
- Facilitating recovery groups inside correctional facilities
- Understanding legal restrictions on peer interactions
- Advocating for second-chance employment and housing
Module 12: Group Facilitation & Peer-Led Programming - Designing peer-led groups: Structure and purpose
- Creating safe, inclusive group environments
- Developing agendas and facilitation scripts
- Managing group dynamics and conflict
- Encouraging participation without pressure
- Using experiential and discussion-based learning
- Facilitating grief, gratitude, and recovery milestones
- Measuring group effectiveness and feedback loops
- Best practices for virtual peer group hosting
- Co-facilitation: Roles, responsibilities, and communication
Module 13: Employment & Career Advancement for Peer Specialists - Mapping the peer job market: Where employers hire
- Understanding full-time, part-time, and contract roles
- Writing a peer-specific resume and cover letter
- Highlighting lived experience professionally
- Common interview questions and how to answer them
- Negotiating salary and benefits as a credentialed peer
- Working in hospitals, CMHCs, non-profits, and private practice
- Becoming a peer supervisor or training others
- Starting a peer support business or consultancy
- Building a professional brand and online presence
Module 14: Supervision, Mentorship & Professional Growth - Understanding peer supervision requirements
- Building a supervisory relationship that supports growth
- Preparing for supervision sessions with agendas
- Using supervision for skill refinement and ethical review
- Transitioning from mentee to mentor
- Documenting supervision hours for certification
- Seeking feedback without defensiveness
- Joining peer support professional associations
- Attending conferences and continuing education events
- Developing a long-term career vision
Module 15: Advanced Peer Practice & Specialised Applications - Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Code of ethics for peer supporters: Core principles and real-world application
- Maintaining confidentiality without formal clinical training
- Understanding HIPAA in peer contexts
- Duty to report: When and how to escalate concerns
- Balancing empathy and boundaries in intense situations
- Managing power dynamics in peer relationships
- Responding to crises while staying within role
- Handling gifts, favours, and social media requests
- Recognising and preventing burnout and compassion fatigue
- Developing a personal ethics decision-making framework
Module 4: The Peer Support Relationship Lifecycle - Building trust: First contact and initial engagement
- Conducting strength-based intake assessments
- Establishing mutual goals and recovery agreements
- Active listening and motivational interviewing techniques
- Supporting autonomy while encouraging progress
- Mid-point relationship check-ins and progress reviews
- Managing resistance, relapse, and setbacks with dignity
- Planning for natural conclusion and closure
- Documenting interactions: Language that protects and validates
- Avoiding dependency and fostering independence
Module 5: Recovery Frameworks & Models - Stages of Change model (Transtheoretical Model) applied to peer practice
- WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan facilitation basics
- Highest Point of Self-Management framework
- Strengths-based approach: Identifying and amplifying resilience
- Person-centered planning tools and templates
- Understanding recovery capital and social determinants
- Applying harm reduction principles in daily interactions
- Integrating cultural humility into recovery support
- Supporting neurodiverse individuals in recovery
- Adapting models for youth, older adults, and marginalised populations
Module 6: Communication & Boundary Management - Setting healthy boundaries from day one
- Using I-statements and non-violent communication
- Managing emotional conversations without over-identifying
- Communicating with clinical teams: Bridging the gap
- Handling confrontations and angry disclosures
- Using silence as a tool for reflection and safety
- Differentiating empathy from enmeshment
- Managing self-regulation during high-stress interactions
- Establishing communication norms (call times, response windows)
- Creating personal boundary plans with accountability tools
Module 7: Documentation & Record Keeping - Understanding documentation requirements in peer roles
- Writing progress notes that are concise, ethical, and useful
- Avoiding clinical language and diagnostic assumptions
- Using SOAPIE format for peer documentation
- Recording strengths, goals, and milestones
- Managing electronic health records (EHR) access
- Keeping personal journals versus official records
- Time-saving documentation templates and shortcuts
- Handling audits and supervision reviews
- Protecting your documentation from misuse
Module 8: Trauma-Informed Peer Practice - Understanding neurobiology of trauma and its impact on behaviour
- The six principles of trauma-informed care
- Avoiding retraumatisation in peer interactions
- Recognising trauma triggers and response patterns
- Creating safety through language, space, and consistency
- Supporting individuals with complex PTSD and dissociation
- Understanding vicarious trauma and organisational trauma
- Self-assessment: Your own trauma history and peer role
- Collaborating with trauma therapists and SUD specialists
- Building resilience through somatic and grounding practices
Module 9: Peer Support in Mental Health Contexts - Understanding common diagnoses: Anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia
- Supporting individuals during psychiatric hospitalisation
- Navigating medication adherence discussions
- Responding to suicidal ideation without crisis intervention
- Supporting recovery after trauma, abuse, or loss
- Facilitating peer groups in clinical settings
- Working with individuals experiencing psychosis
- Advocating for person-centred care in institutional environments
- Supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and SUD
- Understanding recovery milestones beyond symptom reduction
Module 10: Peer Support in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery - Stages of SUD recovery: From use to sustained wellness
- Supporting individuals in detox, MAT, and residential programs
- Understanding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) without judgment
- Navigating 12-step, SMART, and alternative recovery pathways
- Facilitating recovery check-ins and accountability
- Helping rebuild social networks post-addiction
- Addressing shame, stigma, and self-blame
- Supporting relapse as part of recovery, not failure
- Working in harm reduction programs and syringe exchanges
- Connecting individuals to recovery housing and employment
Module 11: Peer Support in Justice-Involved Populations - Understanding the correctional system and re-entry challenges
- Supporting individuals pre-release and post-incarceration
- Navigating parole, probation, and supervision requirements
- Addressing criminal thinking and accountability without judgment
- Building trust with justice-involved individuals
- Supporting restitution, employment, and housing recovery
- Working in halfway houses, work release, and supervision programs
- Facilitating recovery groups inside correctional facilities
- Understanding legal restrictions on peer interactions
- Advocating for second-chance employment and housing
Module 12: Group Facilitation & Peer-Led Programming - Designing peer-led groups: Structure and purpose
- Creating safe, inclusive group environments
- Developing agendas and facilitation scripts
- Managing group dynamics and conflict
- Encouraging participation without pressure
- Using experiential and discussion-based learning
- Facilitating grief, gratitude, and recovery milestones
- Measuring group effectiveness and feedback loops
- Best practices for virtual peer group hosting
- Co-facilitation: Roles, responsibilities, and communication
Module 13: Employment & Career Advancement for Peer Specialists - Mapping the peer job market: Where employers hire
- Understanding full-time, part-time, and contract roles
- Writing a peer-specific resume and cover letter
- Highlighting lived experience professionally
- Common interview questions and how to answer them
- Negotiating salary and benefits as a credentialed peer
- Working in hospitals, CMHCs, non-profits, and private practice
- Becoming a peer supervisor or training others
- Starting a peer support business or consultancy
- Building a professional brand and online presence
Module 14: Supervision, Mentorship & Professional Growth - Understanding peer supervision requirements
- Building a supervisory relationship that supports growth
- Preparing for supervision sessions with agendas
- Using supervision for skill refinement and ethical review
- Transitioning from mentee to mentor
- Documenting supervision hours for certification
- Seeking feedback without defensiveness
- Joining peer support professional associations
- Attending conferences and continuing education events
- Developing a long-term career vision
Module 15: Advanced Peer Practice & Specialised Applications - Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Stages of Change model (Transtheoretical Model) applied to peer practice
- WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan facilitation basics
- Highest Point of Self-Management framework
- Strengths-based approach: Identifying and amplifying resilience
- Person-centered planning tools and templates
- Understanding recovery capital and social determinants
- Applying harm reduction principles in daily interactions
- Integrating cultural humility into recovery support
- Supporting neurodiverse individuals in recovery
- Adapting models for youth, older adults, and marginalised populations
Module 6: Communication & Boundary Management - Setting healthy boundaries from day one
- Using I-statements and non-violent communication
- Managing emotional conversations without over-identifying
- Communicating with clinical teams: Bridging the gap
- Handling confrontations and angry disclosures
- Using silence as a tool for reflection and safety
- Differentiating empathy from enmeshment
- Managing self-regulation during high-stress interactions
- Establishing communication norms (call times, response windows)
- Creating personal boundary plans with accountability tools
Module 7: Documentation & Record Keeping - Understanding documentation requirements in peer roles
- Writing progress notes that are concise, ethical, and useful
- Avoiding clinical language and diagnostic assumptions
- Using SOAPIE format for peer documentation
- Recording strengths, goals, and milestones
- Managing electronic health records (EHR) access
- Keeping personal journals versus official records
- Time-saving documentation templates and shortcuts
- Handling audits and supervision reviews
- Protecting your documentation from misuse
Module 8: Trauma-Informed Peer Practice - Understanding neurobiology of trauma and its impact on behaviour
- The six principles of trauma-informed care
- Avoiding retraumatisation in peer interactions
- Recognising trauma triggers and response patterns
- Creating safety through language, space, and consistency
- Supporting individuals with complex PTSD and dissociation
- Understanding vicarious trauma and organisational trauma
- Self-assessment: Your own trauma history and peer role
- Collaborating with trauma therapists and SUD specialists
- Building resilience through somatic and grounding practices
Module 9: Peer Support in Mental Health Contexts - Understanding common diagnoses: Anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia
- Supporting individuals during psychiatric hospitalisation
- Navigating medication adherence discussions
- Responding to suicidal ideation without crisis intervention
- Supporting recovery after trauma, abuse, or loss
- Facilitating peer groups in clinical settings
- Working with individuals experiencing psychosis
- Advocating for person-centred care in institutional environments
- Supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and SUD
- Understanding recovery milestones beyond symptom reduction
Module 10: Peer Support in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery - Stages of SUD recovery: From use to sustained wellness
- Supporting individuals in detox, MAT, and residential programs
- Understanding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) without judgment
- Navigating 12-step, SMART, and alternative recovery pathways
- Facilitating recovery check-ins and accountability
- Helping rebuild social networks post-addiction
- Addressing shame, stigma, and self-blame
- Supporting relapse as part of recovery, not failure
- Working in harm reduction programs and syringe exchanges
- Connecting individuals to recovery housing and employment
Module 11: Peer Support in Justice-Involved Populations - Understanding the correctional system and re-entry challenges
- Supporting individuals pre-release and post-incarceration
- Navigating parole, probation, and supervision requirements
- Addressing criminal thinking and accountability without judgment
- Building trust with justice-involved individuals
- Supporting restitution, employment, and housing recovery
- Working in halfway houses, work release, and supervision programs
- Facilitating recovery groups inside correctional facilities
- Understanding legal restrictions on peer interactions
- Advocating for second-chance employment and housing
Module 12: Group Facilitation & Peer-Led Programming - Designing peer-led groups: Structure and purpose
- Creating safe, inclusive group environments
- Developing agendas and facilitation scripts
- Managing group dynamics and conflict
- Encouraging participation without pressure
- Using experiential and discussion-based learning
- Facilitating grief, gratitude, and recovery milestones
- Measuring group effectiveness and feedback loops
- Best practices for virtual peer group hosting
- Co-facilitation: Roles, responsibilities, and communication
Module 13: Employment & Career Advancement for Peer Specialists - Mapping the peer job market: Where employers hire
- Understanding full-time, part-time, and contract roles
- Writing a peer-specific resume and cover letter
- Highlighting lived experience professionally
- Common interview questions and how to answer them
- Negotiating salary and benefits as a credentialed peer
- Working in hospitals, CMHCs, non-profits, and private practice
- Becoming a peer supervisor or training others
- Starting a peer support business or consultancy
- Building a professional brand and online presence
Module 14: Supervision, Mentorship & Professional Growth - Understanding peer supervision requirements
- Building a supervisory relationship that supports growth
- Preparing for supervision sessions with agendas
- Using supervision for skill refinement and ethical review
- Transitioning from mentee to mentor
- Documenting supervision hours for certification
- Seeking feedback without defensiveness
- Joining peer support professional associations
- Attending conferences and continuing education events
- Developing a long-term career vision
Module 15: Advanced Peer Practice & Specialised Applications - Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Understanding documentation requirements in peer roles
- Writing progress notes that are concise, ethical, and useful
- Avoiding clinical language and diagnostic assumptions
- Using SOAPIE format for peer documentation
- Recording strengths, goals, and milestones
- Managing electronic health records (EHR) access
- Keeping personal journals versus official records
- Time-saving documentation templates and shortcuts
- Handling audits and supervision reviews
- Protecting your documentation from misuse
Module 8: Trauma-Informed Peer Practice - Understanding neurobiology of trauma and its impact on behaviour
- The six principles of trauma-informed care
- Avoiding retraumatisation in peer interactions
- Recognising trauma triggers and response patterns
- Creating safety through language, space, and consistency
- Supporting individuals with complex PTSD and dissociation
- Understanding vicarious trauma and organisational trauma
- Self-assessment: Your own trauma history and peer role
- Collaborating with trauma therapists and SUD specialists
- Building resilience through somatic and grounding practices
Module 9: Peer Support in Mental Health Contexts - Understanding common diagnoses: Anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia
- Supporting individuals during psychiatric hospitalisation
- Navigating medication adherence discussions
- Responding to suicidal ideation without crisis intervention
- Supporting recovery after trauma, abuse, or loss
- Facilitating peer groups in clinical settings
- Working with individuals experiencing psychosis
- Advocating for person-centred care in institutional environments
- Supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and SUD
- Understanding recovery milestones beyond symptom reduction
Module 10: Peer Support in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery - Stages of SUD recovery: From use to sustained wellness
- Supporting individuals in detox, MAT, and residential programs
- Understanding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) without judgment
- Navigating 12-step, SMART, and alternative recovery pathways
- Facilitating recovery check-ins and accountability
- Helping rebuild social networks post-addiction
- Addressing shame, stigma, and self-blame
- Supporting relapse as part of recovery, not failure
- Working in harm reduction programs and syringe exchanges
- Connecting individuals to recovery housing and employment
Module 11: Peer Support in Justice-Involved Populations - Understanding the correctional system and re-entry challenges
- Supporting individuals pre-release and post-incarceration
- Navigating parole, probation, and supervision requirements
- Addressing criminal thinking and accountability without judgment
- Building trust with justice-involved individuals
- Supporting restitution, employment, and housing recovery
- Working in halfway houses, work release, and supervision programs
- Facilitating recovery groups inside correctional facilities
- Understanding legal restrictions on peer interactions
- Advocating for second-chance employment and housing
Module 12: Group Facilitation & Peer-Led Programming - Designing peer-led groups: Structure and purpose
- Creating safe, inclusive group environments
- Developing agendas and facilitation scripts
- Managing group dynamics and conflict
- Encouraging participation without pressure
- Using experiential and discussion-based learning
- Facilitating grief, gratitude, and recovery milestones
- Measuring group effectiveness and feedback loops
- Best practices for virtual peer group hosting
- Co-facilitation: Roles, responsibilities, and communication
Module 13: Employment & Career Advancement for Peer Specialists - Mapping the peer job market: Where employers hire
- Understanding full-time, part-time, and contract roles
- Writing a peer-specific resume and cover letter
- Highlighting lived experience professionally
- Common interview questions and how to answer them
- Negotiating salary and benefits as a credentialed peer
- Working in hospitals, CMHCs, non-profits, and private practice
- Becoming a peer supervisor or training others
- Starting a peer support business or consultancy
- Building a professional brand and online presence
Module 14: Supervision, Mentorship & Professional Growth - Understanding peer supervision requirements
- Building a supervisory relationship that supports growth
- Preparing for supervision sessions with agendas
- Using supervision for skill refinement and ethical review
- Transitioning from mentee to mentor
- Documenting supervision hours for certification
- Seeking feedback without defensiveness
- Joining peer support professional associations
- Attending conferences and continuing education events
- Developing a long-term career vision
Module 15: Advanced Peer Practice & Specialised Applications - Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Understanding common diagnoses: Anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia
- Supporting individuals during psychiatric hospitalisation
- Navigating medication adherence discussions
- Responding to suicidal ideation without crisis intervention
- Supporting recovery after trauma, abuse, or loss
- Facilitating peer groups in clinical settings
- Working with individuals experiencing psychosis
- Advocating for person-centred care in institutional environments
- Supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and SUD
- Understanding recovery milestones beyond symptom reduction
Module 10: Peer Support in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery - Stages of SUD recovery: From use to sustained wellness
- Supporting individuals in detox, MAT, and residential programs
- Understanding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) without judgment
- Navigating 12-step, SMART, and alternative recovery pathways
- Facilitating recovery check-ins and accountability
- Helping rebuild social networks post-addiction
- Addressing shame, stigma, and self-blame
- Supporting relapse as part of recovery, not failure
- Working in harm reduction programs and syringe exchanges
- Connecting individuals to recovery housing and employment
Module 11: Peer Support in Justice-Involved Populations - Understanding the correctional system and re-entry challenges
- Supporting individuals pre-release and post-incarceration
- Navigating parole, probation, and supervision requirements
- Addressing criminal thinking and accountability without judgment
- Building trust with justice-involved individuals
- Supporting restitution, employment, and housing recovery
- Working in halfway houses, work release, and supervision programs
- Facilitating recovery groups inside correctional facilities
- Understanding legal restrictions on peer interactions
- Advocating for second-chance employment and housing
Module 12: Group Facilitation & Peer-Led Programming - Designing peer-led groups: Structure and purpose
- Creating safe, inclusive group environments
- Developing agendas and facilitation scripts
- Managing group dynamics and conflict
- Encouraging participation without pressure
- Using experiential and discussion-based learning
- Facilitating grief, gratitude, and recovery milestones
- Measuring group effectiveness and feedback loops
- Best practices for virtual peer group hosting
- Co-facilitation: Roles, responsibilities, and communication
Module 13: Employment & Career Advancement for Peer Specialists - Mapping the peer job market: Where employers hire
- Understanding full-time, part-time, and contract roles
- Writing a peer-specific resume and cover letter
- Highlighting lived experience professionally
- Common interview questions and how to answer them
- Negotiating salary and benefits as a credentialed peer
- Working in hospitals, CMHCs, non-profits, and private practice
- Becoming a peer supervisor or training others
- Starting a peer support business or consultancy
- Building a professional brand and online presence
Module 14: Supervision, Mentorship & Professional Growth - Understanding peer supervision requirements
- Building a supervisory relationship that supports growth
- Preparing for supervision sessions with agendas
- Using supervision for skill refinement and ethical review
- Transitioning from mentee to mentor
- Documenting supervision hours for certification
- Seeking feedback without defensiveness
- Joining peer support professional associations
- Attending conferences and continuing education events
- Developing a long-term career vision
Module 15: Advanced Peer Practice & Specialised Applications - Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Understanding the correctional system and re-entry challenges
- Supporting individuals pre-release and post-incarceration
- Navigating parole, probation, and supervision requirements
- Addressing criminal thinking and accountability without judgment
- Building trust with justice-involved individuals
- Supporting restitution, employment, and housing recovery
- Working in halfway houses, work release, and supervision programs
- Facilitating recovery groups inside correctional facilities
- Understanding legal restrictions on peer interactions
- Advocating for second-chance employment and housing
Module 12: Group Facilitation & Peer-Led Programming - Designing peer-led groups: Structure and purpose
- Creating safe, inclusive group environments
- Developing agendas and facilitation scripts
- Managing group dynamics and conflict
- Encouraging participation without pressure
- Using experiential and discussion-based learning
- Facilitating grief, gratitude, and recovery milestones
- Measuring group effectiveness and feedback loops
- Best practices for virtual peer group hosting
- Co-facilitation: Roles, responsibilities, and communication
Module 13: Employment & Career Advancement for Peer Specialists - Mapping the peer job market: Where employers hire
- Understanding full-time, part-time, and contract roles
- Writing a peer-specific resume and cover letter
- Highlighting lived experience professionally
- Common interview questions and how to answer them
- Negotiating salary and benefits as a credentialed peer
- Working in hospitals, CMHCs, non-profits, and private practice
- Becoming a peer supervisor or training others
- Starting a peer support business or consultancy
- Building a professional brand and online presence
Module 14: Supervision, Mentorship & Professional Growth - Understanding peer supervision requirements
- Building a supervisory relationship that supports growth
- Preparing for supervision sessions with agendas
- Using supervision for skill refinement and ethical review
- Transitioning from mentee to mentor
- Documenting supervision hours for certification
- Seeking feedback without defensiveness
- Joining peer support professional associations
- Attending conferences and continuing education events
- Developing a long-term career vision
Module 15: Advanced Peer Practice & Specialised Applications - Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Mapping the peer job market: Where employers hire
- Understanding full-time, part-time, and contract roles
- Writing a peer-specific resume and cover letter
- Highlighting lived experience professionally
- Common interview questions and how to answer them
- Negotiating salary and benefits as a credentialed peer
- Working in hospitals, CMHCs, non-profits, and private practice
- Becoming a peer supervisor or training others
- Starting a peer support business or consultancy
- Building a professional brand and online presence
Module 14: Supervision, Mentorship & Professional Growth - Understanding peer supervision requirements
- Building a supervisory relationship that supports growth
- Preparing for supervision sessions with agendas
- Using supervision for skill refinement and ethical review
- Transitioning from mentee to mentor
- Documenting supervision hours for certification
- Seeking feedback without defensiveness
- Joining peer support professional associations
- Attending conferences and continuing education events
- Developing a long-term career vision
Module 15: Advanced Peer Practice & Specialised Applications - Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Supporting individuals with chronic homelessness
- Working with youth and families in crisis
- Peer support in hospital emergency departments
- Providing support during natural disasters and mass trauma
- Responding to overdose and crisis with peer presence
- Supporting caregivers and family members
- Peer advocacy in policy and system change
- Engaging men in recovery and emotional expression
- Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in affirming ways
- Working with veterans and military families
Module 16: Integration, Implementation & Real-World Practice - Translating course learning into daily practice
- Building a peer support toolkit: Guides, templates, scripts
- Creating a personal mission and values statement
- Setting up your workspace for confidentiality and comfort
- Developing routines for self-care and sustainability
- Using progress tracking tools with peers
- Hosting wellness check-ins and goal reviews
- Collecting feedback from peers and supervisors
- Adapting to feedback and improving your practice
- Measuring your impact through recovery stories
Module 17: Preparing for Certification & Final Assessment - Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely
Module 18: Next Steps & Long-Term Success - How to list your certification on LinkedIn and resumes
- Connecting with local and national peer networks
- Accessing job boards for peer specialists
- Continuing education opportunities
- Maintaining your certification over time
- Renewal requirements and documentation tracking
- Staying updated on policy and practice changes
- Joining state peer councils and advisory boards
- Advocating for peer inclusion in healthcare systems
- Using your voice: Writing, speaking, and leading in the field
- Reviewing all core competencies holistically
- Practice questions for certification exams
- Case scenario analysis: Applying knowledge to real situations
- Mock ethics decision-making exercises
- Final written assignment: Peer support plan for a complex case
- Submission and evaluation process
- Grading rubric and feedback timeline
- Retake policy and academic support
- Timeline for receiving your Certificate of Completion
- Verification and sharing your credential securely