Applies To:
-
Wisconsin
Peer Support Specialists
- CPS
- CPPS
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is one of the largest state agencies in Wisconsin, with an annual budget of roughly $15 billion and more than 6,700 employees. DHS is committed to protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin, making sure everyone can live their best life.
There are two types of certified peer specialists in Wisconsin.
- Certified Peer Specialist: An individual with experience in the mental health and substance use services system trained to provide support to others struggling to find a path to recovery.
- Certified Parent Peer Specialist: An individual with experience raising a child with behavioral health challenges trained to use their experience navigating services in support of other parents.
Initial Certification is awarded after successful completion of a training course and passage of an exam. Visit the Wisconsin Peer Specialist website for information on upcoming certified peer specialist and certified parent peer specialist trainings: https://www.wicps.org/
Recertification: CPS and CPPS must recertify every two years and document completion of no fewer than 20 hours of continuing education in specific topic areas. https://www.wicps.org/continuing-education/
For further information on the recertification process, contact:
Gaochi Vang Peer Specialist Program Manager
608-716-7335
[email protected]
Board Contact Info
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
1 West Wilson Street
Madison, WI 53703
General Phone: 608-266-1865
TTY users please dial 711 or 800-947-3529 before calling DHS
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/peer-services/peer-specialists.htm
Certified Peer Specialist
INITIAL: Initial Certification is awarded after successful completion of a training course and passage of an exam. Visit the Wisconsin Peer Specialist website for information on upcoming certified peer specialist and certified parent peer specialist trainings: https://www.wicps.org/trainings/
RECERTIFICATION:
20 hours of continuing education are required every two years. A minimum of 1.5 hours is required in each of the following categories:
- Cultural Humility
- Ethics and Boundaries
- Substance Use Specific
- Mental Health Specific
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Peer Specialist Specific
Credential Renewal
20 CE credit hours required for renewal.
Yes You can use Addiction Counselor CE for renewing your CPS credential.
Addiction Counselor CE offers 23 courses applicable to this credential.
Here are a few examples, or you can view all 23 courses
| Course Description | Medium |
|---|---|
|
Decision 'Making and Relationship Competence When Reporting Suspected Physical Abuse and Child Neglect:: An Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation
1.5 CE credit hour
Laws, Regulations, Legal; Ethics; Clinical Topics & Methods; Ethics; Prevention; Peer Recovery; Peer Support |
Reading-Based Online |
|
Lived Experience in New Models of Care for Substance Use Disorder: A Systematic Review of Peer Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching
1.5 CE credit hour
Peer Recovery; Peer Support |
Reading-Based Online |
|
Motivational Interviewing in Life and Health Coaching Part 4: A Guide to Effective Practice
4 CE credit hours
Peer Recovery; Peer Support |
Book |
|
Compassion Fatigue for Clinicians and Mental Health Providers
3 CE credit hours
Consulting, Workplace; Clinical Topics & Methods; Peer Recovery; Professional Readiness; Peer Support |
Recorded Webinar |
|
Motivational Interviewing in Life and Health Coaching Part 1: A Guide to Effective Practice
4.5 CE credit hours
Peer Recovery; Peer Support |
Book |
Certified Parent Peer Specialist
INITIAL: Initial Certification is awarded after successful completion of a training course and passage of an exam. Visit the Wisconsin Peer Specialist website for information on upcoming certified peer specialist and certified parent peer specialist trainings: https://www.wicps.org/trainings/
RECERTIFICATION:
20 hours of continuing education are required every two years. A minimum of 3 hours is required in each of the following categories:
- Cultural Humility
- Ethics and Boundaries
- Parent Peer Specialist Specific
- Child/Adolescent Development or Parenting
Credential Renewal
20 CE credit hours required for renewal.
Yes You can use Addiction Counselor CE for renewing your CPPS credential.
Addiction Counselor CE offers 23 courses applicable to this credential.
Here are a few examples, or you can view all 23 courses
| Course Description | Medium |
|---|---|
|
Decision 'Making and Relationship Competence When Reporting Suspected Physical Abuse and Child Neglect:: An Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation
1.5 CE credit hour
Laws, Regulations, Legal; Ethics; Clinical Topics & Methods; Ethics; Prevention; Peer Recovery; Peer Support |
Reading-Based Online |
|
Lived Experience in New Models of Care for Substance Use Disorder: A Systematic Review of Peer Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching
1.5 CE credit hour
Peer Recovery; Peer Support |
Reading-Based Online |
|
Motivational Interviewing in Life and Health Coaching Part 4: A Guide to Effective Practice
4 CE credit hours
Peer Recovery; Peer Support |
Book |
|
Compassion Fatigue for Clinicians and Mental Health Providers
3 CE credit hours
Consulting, Workplace; Clinical Topics & Methods; Peer Recovery; Professional Readiness; Peer Support |
Recorded Webinar |
|
Motivational Interviewing in Life and Health Coaching Part 1: A Guide to Effective Practice
4.5 CE credit hours
Peer Recovery; Peer Support |
Book |
| Course Description | Medium |
|---|---|
|
Delay Discounting in Established and Proposed Behavioral Addictions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
1 CE credit hour
Addictions, Substance Use; Clinical Disorders (Adult); Understanding Addiction; Gambling |
Reading-Based Online |
|
NAADAC Code of Ethics Revised 2025
2.5 CE credit hours
Ethics |
Reading-Based Online |
|
Community Mobilization Mobilizing Marginalized Communities to Prevent Substance Misuse
1.5 CE credit hour
Prevention |
Reading-Based Online |
|
The Relationship of History of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders on Risk of Dementia Among Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States
1.25 CE credit hour
Addictions, Substance Use; Clinical Disorders (Adult); Understanding Addiction; Treatment Knowledge |
Reading-Based Online |
|
Prevention Across the Lifespan: Webinar 1: Substance Use Prevention Among Young Adults
1.5 CE credit hour
Prevention |
Recorded Webinar |
|
Culturally Tailored Substance Use Interventions for Indigenous People of North America: A systematic review
3 CE credit hours
Addictions, Substance Use; Clinical Disorders (Adult); Understanding Addiction; Treatment Knowledge |
Reading-Based Online |
|
Prevention Across the Lifespan: Webinar 3: Substance Use Prevention Among Mid-Life Adults
1.5 CE credit hour
Prevention |
Recorded Webinar |
|
Improving the Quality of Counseling and Clinical Supervision in Opioid Treatment Programs: how can technology help
1 CE credit hour
Technology and Counseling; Supervision; Addictions, Substance Use; Technology; Supervision |
Reading-Based Online |
|
The Challenging Ethics of Mental Health Supervision
3 CE credit hours
Ethics; Supervision; Ethics; Supervision |
Recorded Webinar |
|
Gaming Passion Contributes to the Definition and Identification of Problematic Gaming
1.25 CE credit hour
Addictions, Substance Use; Clinical Disorders (Adult); Gambling; Understanding Addiction |
Reading-Based Online |
