Peer Recovery

Peer Recovery Specialists help a person become ready and willing to seek treatment (if needed) and enter recovery by helping the person explore their options for recovery or treatment.  Peer Recovery Specialists ask questions, offer insight, and help service recipients as they become whole, resourceful, and capable of choosing what is best for them.

Peer Recovery Specialists use a strengths-based approach helping service recipients find and utilize their values, assets, and strengths while supporting them in achieving success.  They recognize that it is normal for recovering service recipients to have gaps in their skills or development.  The role of the specialist is to help service recipients recognize and fill these gaps with the skills needed.  Peer Recovery services focus on the present and future and are based on partnership with the recipient.

The role of Peer Recovery Specialists can be viewed on a continuum of services and falls between the role of recovery support individuals/recovery sponsor and the substance abuse or mental health counselors.  The role of the Peer Recovery Specialist has emerged from the recognition of a need to reconnect substance abuse and mental health treatment to the larger continuum of recovery management.  The peer is not a sponsor or a therapist but rather a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator.

Effective January 1, 2021, education requirements for initial certification for the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Reciprocal must meet the following additional requirements:

• Education must be completed through an approved provider or the training event must be pre-approved to determine it is in alignment with the IC&RC peer recovery domain requirements.
• Education must be delivered fully in a synchronous format. 
• Education must include information of the principals and the characteristics of substance use and opioid use disorder, evidence-based approaches to their treatment, and understanding of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and the potential for rejection of MAT as part of treatment by some cultural communities.

Current approved providers of the peer recovery curriculum can be found on our Approved Peer Training page.

This policy replaces any previous policies found in current or outdated applications.  All application packets are being updated to reflect this information.  For questions, please contact mcb@mcboard.org. 

The Certified Peer Recovery Specialist credential is an entry-level state credential.  This credential demonstrates basic competency in peer recovery. 

Requirements:

• 46 hours of training
• Passing score on IC&RC Peer Recovery Exam
• Must live or work in Minnesota at least 51% of the time

Fees:

• First-time certification: $150 (includes processing fee, exam, and one year of certification)
• Annual renewal fee (one year): $75
• Biennial renewal fee (two years): $150
• Retest fee: $125

The Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Reciprocal credential is a reciprocal credential.  This credential demonstrates competency for advanced peer recovery specialists that have accrued sufficient supervised experience.

Requirements:

• 500 hours work experience
• 46 hours of training
• 25 hours of supervision
• Passing score on IC&RC Peer Recovery Exam
• Must live or work in Minnesota at least 51% of the time

Fees:

• First-time certification (included processing fee, exam, and one year of certification): $150
• Annual renewal fee (one year): $75
• Biennial renewal fee (two years): $150
• Retest fee: $125

If you possess a good standing CPRS credential and have achieved the additional requirements necessary for the CPRSR, you may complete an upgrade form to immediately upgrade your credential.

Requirements:

• CPRS credential in good standing
• 500 hours of work experience
• 25 hours of supervision

Fee:

• $30

This approval is intended for individuals who do not possess a CPRSR that wish to provide supervision to individuals with the CPRS credential. 

Requirements:

• Certified or licensed professional in behavioral health field (CPRSR, ADCR-MN, LADC, LPCC, etc.)
• 500 hours of work experience
• 46 hours of education
• Must live or work in Minnesota at least 51% of the time

Fee:

• $30 (2 years of approval)