Core, Mental Health Peer Specialist, and Recovery Support Peer Specialist Training & Certification
Recovery Resource Council now provides ongoing training and certification programs for Certified Mental Health and Recovery Support Peer Specialists in Texas. Anyone who completes The Council’s peer specialist training will be eligible to apply for the state certification.
The Council is committed to training excellence. Trainings are interactive, informative, and led by an experienced Peer Support Specialist, certified as a Trainer of Trainers. For additional information and the steps to get started, visit Texas Health and Human Services or email James Tapscott at j.tapscott@recoverycouncil.org.
2024 Training Schedule
Core Curriculum
The Peer Specialist Core Curriculum is a 3-day facilitated and interactive webinar developed as an introduction for peer specialists in substance use disorder recovery, mental health recovery, and family partner support communities.
You must register at least one week prior to the next scheduled training. There will be a short knowledge assessment at the end of the Core training. Once you complete and pass the knowledge assessment you will be able to register for the supplemental training as a Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) or Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS).
Jan 17th – 19th
April 17th – 19th
July 17th – 19th
Oct 16th – 18th
Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS)
The Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) course consists of a 6 hour pre-training webinar followed by a 5-day, 40-hour classroom style training that prepares people with lived experience in substance use disorder recovery to provide peer support services to individuals with substance use disorders.
You must complete and pass the Core training prior to registering for the RSPS course. You must register at least one week prior to the next scheduled training.
At the end of the RSPS training, you will get an email with a link to take an online knowledge assessment. Once you complete and pass the knowledge assessment you will receive instructions for downloading and printing a confirmation that you have successfully completed all the steps in the training process. You will need this document to apply for state certification.
Feb 12th – 16th
May 13th – 17th
Aug 12th – 16th
Nov 11th – 15th
Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS)
The Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) course is a 5-day, 40-hour classroom style training that prepares people with lived experience in mental health recovery to provide peer support services to individuals with mental health concerns.
You must complete and pass the Core training prior to registering for the MHPS course. You must register at least one week prior to the next scheduled training.
At the end of the MHPS training, you will get an email with a link to take an online knowledge assessment. Once you complete and pass the knowledge assessment you will receive instructions for downloading and printing a confirmation that you have successfully completed all the steps in the training process. You will need this document to apply for state certification.
March 18th – 22nd
June 10th – 14th
Sept 16th – 20th
Dec 16th – 20th
Final Steps
Once you have completed the trainings, you are well on your way to becoming a Certified Peer! Refer to the Texas Certification Board for information on how to apply, what documentation is needed, and the cost. The initial certification is valid for six months. During this time, you will need to complete 250 hours of supervision with a Peer Specialist Supervisor. Recovery Resource Council does offer Peer Supervision. For more information and pricing, contact James Tapscott at j.tapscott@recoverycouncil.org.