Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS)

This classification is viewed as the title for the Peer Recovery workforce, primarily involved in providing recovery support services to Candidates living with and history of behavioral health disorders. This credential is governed by the Maryland Behavioral-health Professional Certification Board, as a consortium member of IC&RC with reciprocal properties on the international level.

The CPRS credential is designed for individuals with personal, lived experience in their own recovery from addiction, mental illness, co-occurring disorders and family/allies of behavioral health. The CPRS certification validates the person in long-term recovery has obtained formal training and education of the knowledge, skills and abilities in each of the four Domains and is committed to the adherence to the Ethics Code of Conduct, Principles and Service Guidelines.

• Applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
• Applicant must be a resident or work in the State of Maryland at least 51% of the time
• Applicant must self-identify as a person in long-term recovery from the effects of a behavioral health disorder (i.e. mental health and/or substance use disorder) for a period of two years or more

Academic Requirements

• Provide proof of a High School Diploma or a General Equivalency Degree (GED) sent directly to MABPCB
• College transcripts may be submitted in lieu of High School Diploma or GED

Specialized Training — 50 Hours

Complete 50 hours of documented behavioral health Peer specific CEUs provided by an MABPCB approved provider across the following domains:

• Complete 500 service hours of documented supervised paid or volunteer peer recovery support experiences in a clinical or community setting within the last two (2) years. Submit a service letter on letterhead signed by both Applicant and Supervision/HR staff.
• Experiences may be accumulated at multiple service organizations.
• Must have 30 total hours of documented supervision by a Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS).
• Peer is required to receive supervision at least twice per month.

The individual eligible to sign off on Peer supervision hours must hold a MABPCB Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS) Status. Eligible individuals must meet one of the following criteria:

• One (1) year experience supervising Peer Recovery Specialists in the behavioral health, recovery and/or crisis support field
• MABPCB CPRS for two (2) years, with documentation of a Lead Peer role or direct supervision of PRS for six (6) months, reflected in current job description, with a letter of support from current supervisor
• Administrative/Clinical with six (6) months in a supervisory position in the behavioral health field

To maintain the high standards of this certification and to assure continuing awareness of new knowledge in the field, MABPCB requires recertification every two years. Requirements:

• Hold a current and valid CPRS certificate issued by MABPCB
• Acquire 20 hours of MABPCB approved peer recovery specialist specific education, including a minimum 6-hour Ethical Consideration course within the two-year cycle
• Cannot submit the exact same training course that was submitted for prior certification renewal
• Only 5 CEU hours of webinar (non-interactive) training allowed; up to 6 in-service hours allowed as part of the 20 recertification hours
• Verify review and adherence to the MABPCB Code of Conduct & Principles and Guidelines
• Complete the Re-Certification application and pay the $125 recertification fee
• Registered Peer Supervisor course cannot be used for CPRS renewal