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Peer and Family Support Continuing Education

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Per IDAPA 16.07.19, CPSSs and CFSPs are required to earn at least ten (10) hours of continuing education annually to renew their certification with at least one (1) hour in ethics. You may attend webinars, conferences, workshops, and/or workplace training to obtain continuing education hours.

CPSSs and CFSPs must submit certificates of completion with their annual certification renewal application to verify their continuing education. Certificates of completion must document the following:

  • Your name
  • Topic/title of the continuing education course
  • The entity who provided the training with a signature
  • Number of hours completed
  • Date of completion

Your continuing education must be obtained within the current certification period and will not be approved if it was completed prior to your current certification’s start date. Please ensure that your continuing education falls under the following topics, keep track of your certificates of completion, and submit certificates of completion when applying for certification renewal each year. The link to the application for certification renewal can be found here.

Please note if you plan to submit academic coursework to be considered for continuing education credit, you must submit a copy of your transcript stating the date you successfully completed the course which must fall within your current certification period. You must also submit a syllabus for the course indicating specific topics of study. In order to be considered for continuing education, topics must fall in the training competencies germane to your certification that are listed in IDAPA 16.07.19. Continuing education topics are also listed below.

**Please note if you hold both CPSS and CFSP certification:
You must complete ten (10) UNIQUE hours of continuing education (CE) with at least one (1) hour in ethics for EACH of your certifications. This means the CE hours you submit with your application for peer support certification renewal will NOT count toward the CE hours required for your family support certification renewal. You will need to complete ten (10) ADDITIONAL CE hours with at least one (1) hour in ethics in order to renew your family support certification.


Continuing education topics for CPSSs:

  • Motivation and empowerment
  • The stages of recovery and the role peers play within it
  • The state behavioral health system and the role peers play within it
  • Advocacy for recovery programs and for the peers they serve
  • The practice of recovery values: authenticity, self-determination, diversity, and inclusion
  • How to tell your recovery story and use your story to help others
  • Ethics
  • The awareness of risk factors in participants’ behaviors and the ability to access appropriate services
  • The use of interpersonal and professional communication skills
  • Stages of change
  • Work place dynamics and processes
  • The Certified Peer Support Specialist’s roles and duties on the job
  • Relationship building
  • Family dynamics
  • The effects of trauma and use of a trauma informed approach
  • Wellness and natural supports
  • Boundaries and self-care
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Recovery plans
  • Local, state, and national resources

Continuing education topics for CFSPs:

  • Overview of mental illness and substance use disorders and their effects on the brain
  • Advocacy skills used in multiple systems (children’s behavioral health system, education and system, child welfare system, and juvenile court system)
  • Ethics
  • The awareness of risk factors in participants’ behaviors and the ability to access appropriate services
  • The use of interpersonal and professional communication skills
  • Stages of change
  • Motivation and empowerment
  • Parenting special needs children and family dynamics
  • The recovery process
  • The effects of trauma and use of a trauma-informed approach
  • Wellness and natural supports
  • Family-centered planning
  • Boundaries and self-care
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • The children’s mental health system
  • How to tell your story and use your story to help others
  • The child and family team and how to be a team player
  • Work place dynamics and process
  • The Certified Family Support Partner’s role and duties on the job
  • Relationship building
  • Recovery plans
  • Local, state, and national resources

Continuing Education Resources
**Please note you must obtain a certificate of completion for your continuing education that contains the information listed above.