CPRS REQUIREMENTS

The Maryland Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential is an International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) approved certification created to identify the implementation of Peer recovery supportive services provided by Candidates in long-term recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. The CPRS certification validates the person in long-term recovery has obtain formal training and education of the knowledge, skills and abilities in each of the four Domain and is committed to the adherence to the Ethics Code of Conduct, Principles and Service Guidelines.

Emphasis should be given to ensure the Applicant has had training to properly engage in the state’s Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC). Subject matter may include substance use disorders and drug effects, mental health and medication assisted treatment, somatic health and nutritional issues in the behavioral health population such as relapse prevention, trauma, motivational enhancement and the stages of change. 

In order to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the State of Maryland, all Applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for the CPRS Examination:

General Requirements

1. The  Applicant  must  be at  least  eighteen (18)  years  of  age;
2. The  Applicant  must be  a  resident or work in  the  State  of  Maryland  at least 51%  of  the  time;
3. The  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.

Educational  Requirement

Academic Requirements

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

Specialized  Training

1. The Applicant must complete 50 hours of documented behavioral health Peer specific continuing education units (CEU’s) provided by an MABPCB approved organizational provider within the following four (4) Domains:

• Advocacy Domain  –  10 hours
• Ethical Responsibility  Domain  – 16 hours
• Mentoring/Education Domain – 10 hours
• Recovery/Wellness  Domain  – 10 hours
• Harm Reduction Domain - 4 hours

Applicants are allowed 12 in-service training hours as part of  the 50 hours of training. In-service training must be provided within an agency by an agency employee. Training provided within an agency by an outside consultant or professional is not considered as in-service and is measured by the same standards as other general training hours. In-service training must be domain relevant.   

Applicants are only eligible to take a total of 5 hours of online/webinar (non-interactive) training. 

All Applicants are required to complete a minimum of one CORE training (i.e. CCAR Recovery Coach Academy, Intentional Peer Support, WRAP Facilitator, Mosaic Peer Curriculum, Jordan Peer Training and any CORE curriculum that offers at least 30 hours of training.

All trainings for initial certification must be completed within the last 10 years.

Service Hour Requirements 

1. The  Applicant  must  complete  500 service  hours  of  documented supervised paid or volunteer  peer  recovery support  experiences  in  a  clinical  or  community setting, (inpatient, outpatient, institutions,  residential, community or  outreach)  within the  last  two (2)  years.  The application must submit a service letter on letterhead from the Organization where the service hours were completed to include: full/part-time, date of hire, position and identify the 500 hours have been successfully completed. This notification must be signed by both Applicant and the Supervision/HR staff who issued the document.
2. The Applicant experiences may be accumulated at multiple service organizations.   
3. The Applicant must have 30 total hours of documented supervision by a RPS (see Supervision Requirement), conducted where the peer recovery support services are being provided.   
4. The Peer is required to receive supervision at least twice per month.
5. The supervision hours must be specific to the following categories: 

• Advocacy                                                    5 hours
• Ethical Responsibility                                  5 hours
• Mentoring/Education                                   5 hours
• Recovery/Wellness                                     5 hours
• Harm Reduction                                          5 hours
• General Supervision including Self Care    5 hours

Supervision Requirement

The individual eligible to sign off on Peer supervision hours must hold a MABPCB Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS) Status. An individual eligible to obtain an RPS status are as follows:

1. In order to become a Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS), the individual must meet one of the following criteria and provide supporting documentation from their current employer:

• One must have one (1) year experience supervising Peer Recovery Specialist in the behavioral health, recovery and/or crisis support field, or;
• One must be a MABPCB Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) for two years, AND have documentation of a Lead Peer role or direct supervision of Peer Recovery Specialists for six (6) months within your organization AND reflective in your current organization’s job description AND a letter of support from your current supervisor or;
• Administrative/Clinical must have six (6) months in a supervisory position in the behavioral health field

The individual seeking RPS must complete the 6-hour Peer Supervision training approved by MABPCB. 

The individual must complete the RPS application and submit all subsequent documentation for approval and authorization. 

The individual must submit $100 to MABPCB upon completion of the 6-hour training session. 

The RPS is required to complete the 6-hour Supervisor Refresher course every 2 years in order to maintain the RPS status at a cost of $100 per renewal period.

It is suggested that individual or group Peer supervision be provided bi-weekly

Residency Requirements

To be certified in Maryland, one must live or work in Maryland 51% of the time. 

CPRS RECERTIFICATION

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.

To be recertified as a CPRS, an individual must:

1. Hold a current and valid CPRS certificate issued by MABPCB.

2. Acquire 20 hours of MABPCB approved peer recovery specialist specific education. Of the require hours, the CPRS must complete a minimum 6-hour Ethical Consideration course within the two-year recertification cycle and provide documentation of the required CEU's. (Ethical hours over multiple trainings will not be accepted).

3. The applicant is only required to submit up to 5 CEU hours of webinar training. Webinar training are consider non-interactive (no instructor and/or no other participants) and computer based ONLY.

4. Verify that you have reviewed, read and will uphold by practicing the MABPCB Code of Conduct & Principles and Guidelines for Certified Peer Recovery Specialists and . 

5. Complete the Re-Certification application & pay the associated fees.

6. Registered Peer Supervisor course cannot be used for CPRS renewal.