National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS)

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NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals
44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 301
Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone: 703.741.7686 or 800.548.0497
Fax: 703.741.7698
E-mail: naadac@naadac.org

https://www.naadac.org/

National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS)

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Certifying Entity

The National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP), under the auspices of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, operates as an independent body for all matters involving the Association’s substance use disorders counselor certification and endorsement opportunities at the national and international level.

The Credential

Peer Recovery Support Specialists are individuals who are in recovery from substance use or co-occurring mental health disorders.  Their life experiences and recovery allow them to provide recovery support in such way that others can benefit from their experiences.

The purpose of the experiential-based National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist Credential is to standardize the knowledge and competency of peer support to individuals with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.

The NAADAC/NCC AP Peer Recovery Support Specialist Code of Ethics outlines basic values and principles of peer recovery support practice.

Eligibility and Training Requirements

  • High School diploma, GED or higher.
  • A minimum two years of recovery from lived-experience in substance use and/or co-occurring mental health disorders.
  • A minimum of 200 hours of direct practice (volunteer or paid) in a peer recovery support environment.
  • Evidence of earning 60 contact and training hours (CEs) of peer recovery-focused education and training. At least 50% of all training hours must be face-to-face.
  • Includes at least 48 hours of peer recovery-focused education/training, including education in documentation, community/family education, case management, crisis management, Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC), screening and intake, identification of indicators of substance use and/or co-occurring disorders for referral, service coordination, service planning, cultural awareness and/or humility, and basic pharmacology.
  • Includes at least six hours of ethics education and training and six hours of HIV/other pathogens education and training within the last six years.
  • Please note the following equivalencies: 1 hour of education/training = 1 CE; 1 quarter college credit = 10 CEs; and 1 semester college credit = 15 CEs.