Certification

Eligibility

The NCCPSS Program defines Peer Support Specialists as people living in recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorder who support others who can benefit from their experiences. The Program certifies persons with lived recovery experience in Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Substance Use Disorders (SUD), or both.

Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

The National Institute of Mental Health defines Serious mental illness (SMI) "as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. The burden of mental illnesses is particularly concentrated among those who experience disability due to SMI" (click here). Based on this definition, not all conditions experienced by individuals may be considered SMI. For example, sadness resulting from life stressors such as divorce and losing a loved one may not necessarily mean an individual has an SMI. It may lead to a mental health/substance use situation if it negatively impacts the individual's life or becomes disabling.

SMI may be grouped under the following categories:

• Mood disorders – E.g., depressive disorders, bipolar disorders
• Anxiety disorders – E.g., posttraumatic stress disorder
• Psychotic Disorders – E.g., schizophrenia, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder

Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

The National Institute of Mental Health defines Substance Use Disorder as "a treatable mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications" (click here). Examples of substances are:

• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Tobacco
• Opioids (Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Fentanyl, Morphine, Codeine, Methadone, Tramadol, Buprenorphine, Heroin)
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine

The emphasis is on the disabling aspect of mental illness and substance use disorders. The illness must significantly affect the person's thinking, emotional state, and behavior. The condition must disrupt the person's ability to work, carry out daily activities, or engage in satisfying relationships.

Recovery

SAMHSA states, "Recovery signals a dramatic shift in the expectation for positive outcomes for individuals who experience mental and substance use conditions or the co-occurring of the two" (click here). SAMHSA outlined four dimensions of recovery as follows:

• Health - Overcoming or managing one's disease(s) or symptoms and making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional well-being
• Home - Having a stable and safe place to live
• Purpose - Conducting meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income, and resources to participate in society.
• Community - Having relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope

The NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS) in the State Peer Support Service definition states, "Recovery is a process of change through which an individual improves their health and wellness, lives a self-directed life and strives to reach their full potential; to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities." The State also defines the following concepts relevant to recovery:

• Self-Determination - the right of an individual to direct their own services, to make decisions concerning their health and well-being, and to have help to make decisions from whomever they choose.
• Self-Advocacy – identifying and purposefully asking for what one needs.
• Health – learning to overcome, manage or more successfully live with the symptoms and making healthy choices that support one's physical and emotional well-being.
• Community – Developing and building upon relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.

Recovery is a process that means different things to different people. Similarly, recovery is personal, and the individual may use various tools or pathways to achieve positive outcomes. The NCCPSS Program acknowledges many pathways to recovery, including harm reduction. Below are the paths to recovery and examples recognized by the NCCPSS Program.

• Clinical Pathways - Recovery procedures are supported by the expertise of a healthcare provider, clinician, or other qualified professionals.
  • Medication Therapy
  • Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • Counseling
• Non-Clinical Pathways - Recovery procedures are peer-supported and frequently based in the community but do not include a licensed clinician.
  • Faith-Based recovery
  • Peer-Support services
• Self-Management – Recovery processes may be considered "natural recovery" because they do not involve conventional services.
  • Spontaneous Recovery

The NCCPSS Program requires all applicants for certification to meet the following Program eligibility requirements and submit a complete certification application by mail or online.

• Must be 18 years or older
• Have lived experiences and in recovery from a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder
• Must be in recovery for at least ONE year 
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent

The NCCPSS Program uses the application form to gather information to ensure that applicants meet the eligibility for certification.

Requirements

The NCCPSS Program requires all applicants to submit a complete application by mail or online to the NCCPSS Program. In addition, the applicant must submit documents for the following:

Training

• Approved Course Training Certificate  (Certification must be completed within two years of completing the training, i.e., two years starting from the date of training completion as recorded on the Approved Course training certificate)
• Additional Training (Training certificates must add up to 20 hours and must occur after the last certification or recertification date if lapsed in the past). 
  • All training must be related to human service, mental health, substance use, and/or Peer Support: such training can include (but not limited to), Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), Person-Centered Thinking, Personal Assistance in Community Existence (PACE), and Crisis Prevention. 
    • A maximum of eight (8) hours of training related to children and families will be accepted.
    • Applicants can also use college coursework if related to the work of NCCPSS and will enhance the ability to provide services to people with mental health and/or substance use disorder. The applicant must submit an official transcript for review with the application either in a sealed envelope from the College or electronically emailed to nccpssprogram@unc.edu.
  • Required Ethics Training: Effective July 1, 2024 the NCCPSS Program requires the completion of three (3) hours of Ethics Training for certification as follows:
    • New Applicants applying for certification must submit 3 hours of ethics training, which will be counted towards the 20 additional hours of training required for certification.  The new policy mandate aims to ensure that every NC CPSS understands ethics in general and the NCCPSS Code of Ethics.  The NCCPSS Program has a list of training approved for NC CPSS to meet this requirement (Link to Ethics Training Information). All applicants must submit to the Program a certificate of completion for all approved training(s) they participate in.
    • To review the updated guidelines, visit the NCCPSS Website.

Education

• Submit proof of Level of Education (Copy of High School Diploma, copy of GED Certificate or Degree, or Official College Transcript (sealed and signed by the college or emailed to nccpssprogram@unc.edu)

Code of Ethics

• Submit a signed copy of the Code of Ethics Form 

Reference Letters (Two)

• Submit two reference letters completed by a person who is at least 18 years, has known you for at least a year, and can speak to your recovery.

Application Fee

• A  non-refundable processing fee of $20.00. This can be paid by a Cashier's check, or a money order can be made to "PSS-BHS" OR pay online.

Designation (Optional)

• Military Designation - Submit a copy of a DD214 or Military ID as proof of experience in the military in addition to the other Program requirements.

Application

The NCCPSS Program encourages applicants to submit their application using the ONLINE submission portal. Due to the volume of applications submitted through the mail, the NCCPSS Program is adjusting the processing time for mail applications from 5-7 business days to 7-10 business days. If you want your application processed within 3-5 business days, submit it using the ONLINE portal. 

The NCCPSS Program has two options for submitting applications:

• Online through this site:
  
  Online Application Entry Form
   
• Mail: see the form download at the bottom of this page.

The applicant MUST have all training certificates and documents ready to apply by mail or online. Applications are accepted only by mail or online. Please DO NOT bring applications to the office! Your application will NOT be accepted in person. There is NO exception to this policy.

Online Application:

• Application Form
  • Create an account from the website
  • Complete the application form
  • Upload all required training certificates
• Reference Letters
  • Provide contact information for reference letter
• Application Fee
  • Pay the application fee online

Mailed Application Packet:

• An applicant must ensure that all required forms are completed and signed
  • Application Form
  • Signed Code of Ethics Form
  • Copies of training certificates
  • Proof of education
• Reference letters 
  • Signed across the seal at the back of the envelope
  • Letters may be submitted independently of the package
• Application Fee
  • Check or money order for $20 (May be paid online)

Please use this link for mail application documents:

The complete application packet and check or money order are mailed to:

North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist Program
School of Social Work
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
325 Pittsboro Street Campus Box #3550
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3550

Please note due to the high influx of applications, the processing time depends on your submission method (online or by mail) upon receipt of a complete application. Incomplete applications will delay the process. To check the status of your certification/recertification, please visit the Credential Verification page and search your name to verify.