Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration (BPHASA), Community Based Practices and Innovation Section has set forth the following continuing education and recertification requirements for all Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS) and Certified Peer Recovery Coaches (CPRC).
Continuing education is critical to maintaining professional knowledge and skills as a CPSS and CPRC. To maintain certification, CPSSs and CPRCs must complete a minimal of 32 CEs of approved training, workshops and/or conferences during the two-year period prior to renewal of certification. This requirement will be in effect beginning February 1, 2023, and will start on the first day of the month on the certificate provided by MDHHS.
Each CPSS/CPRC is required to complete 32 hours of continuing education.
The continuing education requirements apply to each CPSS and CPRC who has achieved certification awarded by MDHHS, Peer Services Area. The requirements apply whether the CPSS/CPRC is actively employed as a peer worker; no one is exempt.
CE hours may include, but are not limited to education in; integrated health and wellness skills, ethics, best, promising and evidence-based practices related to the responsibilities of CPSS and CPRC, engagement strategies including building community connections, multiple pathways to and of recovery.
If a training is pre-approved by MDHHS, Peer Services Area, you will be able to include it in the certification renewal.
If a training has NOT been pre-approved, peer workers will be required to send in the ‘CE Eligibility Application for Approval’ to MDHHS-PeerSupport@Michigan.gov for trainings to be approved at least four weeks before the training occurs.
If a training has NOT been pre-approved through MDHHS, Peer Services Area before the training occurs, you can submit the ‘CE Eligibility Application for Approval’ to MDHHS-PeerSupport@Michigan.gov and you will be notified if it is accepted or denied.
Certification expires every two years from the first day of the month of passing the certification exam.
Example: My certification date is November 14, 2009. My CE start date will begin November 1, 2023. My certification will renew/expire on November 1, 2025. If certification is renewed on time, my next renewal/expiration date is November 1, 2027.
For those dually certified, your certification expires from the first day of the month of passing your most recent certification exam.
Example: My PSS certification date is January 10, 2019, and my PRC certification date is August 10, 2021. My CE start date will begin on August 1, 2023. My PSS and PRC certifications will renew/expire on August 1, 2025.
For those “grand parented” in and did not take the exam, certification expires every two years of the first day of the month of the date on the certificate.
Example: My grand parented PRC certification date is January 12, 2019. My CE start date will begin on January 1, 2023. My certification will renew/expire on January 1, 2025.
The date of your certification is on the certificate awarded by MDHHS. If you are unable to locate the date, you may email MDHHS-PeerSupport@Michigan.gov to find out the date of your certification.
A peer worker who is unable to provide evidence of completion of the continuing education requirements, is in violation of certification and subject to one or more of the following possible certification actions: probation, suspension, or revocation.
If a peer worker has not completed 32-hour CE requirement, their peer certification will be considered on PROBATION. The peer worker has three months to complete remaining CE requirements to keep their certification active.
If a peer worker has not completed the 32-hour CE requirement after the three-month probationary period, their certification status will be changed to SUSPENDED. They will need to complete remaining CE requirements for their certification to qualify as a Medicaid provider.
After four years of no continuing education, certification status will be changed to REVOKED. The peer worker will have to retake the certification training and successfully pass the exam.
Once you have completed all 32 hours, you will complete the Continuing Education Record Form (linked here) and submit it along with required documentation includes copies of certificates of attendance showing name of the peer worker applying for renewal, hours of participation, date of training and if applicable the CE Eligibility Application for Approval.