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 46 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

Applicants are allowed 12 in-service training hours as part of  the 46 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.

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  25 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
• 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 one year, 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  $50 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 $50 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.