The below courses are available and will meet the initial 46 hour training requirement for certification.
Online, Self-Paced: Peer Support Specialist 101
Peer support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility and mutual agreement of what is helpful. Individuals who have common life experiences with the people they are serving deliver peer support services. By sharing their experiences, peers bring hope to people in recovery and promote a sense of belonging within the community. The services often provided by peers are multi-faceted and include, but are not limited to: individual advocacy, education, development of natural supports, support of work or other meaningful activity of the individual’s choosing, crisis management support, and specific skills training. This 50-hour self-paced course is designed provide a foundation for providing peer support services.
Online, Self-Paced: Foundations in Peer and Community Health Support
This comprehensive program prepares learners for the Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS) and Community Health Workers (CHW) certifications. The course quips behavioral health professionals with the skills to support individuals on their path to recovery while also addressing broader community health needs. The PRSS component focuses on recovery-oriented, peer-led support strategies for individuals with substance use and mental health challenges. The CHW component focuses on public health principles, health education, care coordination, and resource navigation to address social determinants of health and promote wellness across diverse populations.
Undergraduate Certificate for Peer Support Specialist in Behavioral Health
The 12-credit Peer Support Specialist (PSS) Certificate participants complete four university courses and spend 120 hours in the field where knowledge is put into practice within a behavioral health agency. This certificate provides students an opportunity to experience the professional side of the field and may be utilized as a stepping-stone for further career advancement. In order to participate in this certificate option, individuals will be required to qualify as a UNR student, including applying and being accepted to UNR, providing required immunizations, activating and using UNR accounts, and submitting in-state residency documentation to qualify for in-state tuition.