Eligibility

1. An applicant shall meet the following criteria to be eligible to become a certified peer support specialist I: a. Self-identify as an individual who has personal lived experience and is willing to publicly identify as an individual in recovery from a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, brain injury, or any combination thereof; or a family member who has personal lived experience with an individual with a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, brain injury, or any combination thereof; b. At least eighteen years of age; c. Currently resides or is employed within the state; d. Have a high school diploma, general equivalency diploma, or can demonstrate the ability to read and write at a level proficient for training, documentation, and the type of work peer support will require; and e. Successfully complete a division-approved peer support training program. 2. An applicant shall meet the following criteria to be eligible to become a certified peer support specialist II: a. Self-identify as an individual who has personal lived experience and is willing to publicly identify as an individual in recovery from a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, traumatic brain injury, or any combination thereof; or a family member who has personal lived experience with an individual with a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, traumatic brain injury, or any combination thereof; b. At least eighteen years of age; c. Currently resides or is employed within the state; d. Have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma or can demonstrate the ability to read and write at a level proficient for training, documentation, and the type of work peer support will require; e. Successfully complete a division approved peer support training program; and f. Applicant has at least one thousand five hundred direct service hours as a peer support specialist.