Peer Support Specialist

What you'll learn

This Peer Support Specialist microcredential is intended for individuals with lived experience in mental health and/or addiction recovery who want to help others. You will gain foundational knowledge of individual behavior and emotions through study of psychology and abnormal psychology. You will explore the human services field and understand required professional ethics and standards. You will learn strategies for education through shared experience and gain essential skills in education and support group facilitation, advocacy, self-empowerment, and case management. Grant funding is available for eligible students. This microcredential is part of a pathway to earning the NYS Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) credential, issued by the New York Certification Board (NYCB) and recognized by the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS). This microcredential is ideal for those already volunteering or working in the field now seeking certification, as well as for those interested in beginning the process and seeking to apply to positions where they can earn required experience. Note that the CRPA requires volunteer and work hours, as well as passing the peer support International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) exam. Complete CRPA requirements are available here: https://oasas.ny.gov/recovery/become-certified-recovery-peer-advocate