On Thursday, August 14, the Apple Health (Medicaid) customer service phone lines will be down from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience. View other ways to contact Apple Health.
Certified peer support specialists work with individuals and parents of children receiving mental health or substance use disorder services. They use their own lived experiences to help their peers find hope and to support their recovery.
Are you ready to become a peer specialist? Take the online course and complete the training application.
Follow this step-by-step certification process:
For questions or additional information, contact the Peer Support Program.
Virtual and hybrid certified peer support specialist trainings and testing began in March 2025 approved applicants will be contacted by the HCA peer outreach team.
HCA hopes that you have a helpful and positive experience with the online training course. Completing the course will help you gain the knowledge and skills needed as a certified peer support specialist (CPSS).
The online course includes material not covered in the 80-hour training. The CPSS test covers information from both the 80-hour training and the online course. Please complete the online course thoroughly, take notes, and review the information.
To access the training, create an account on our peer support learning management system (LMS).
The application process has three steps. These steps can be completed in any order but they all must be completed for your application to be reviewed.
These steps are required as part of the application process for the standard CPSS training, the youth and family CPSS training, and the bridge training. Your application will not be reviewed until these steps are complete.
If you experience technical difficulties with this training, please email the Peer Support Program for assistance, who will respond within five business days.
Before being accepted for training, you must complete the online prerequisite course and the online application. Follow steps one and two under How do I become a certified peer support specialist (CPSS)? to begin this process.
To complete the educational requirements to qualify as a certified peer support specialist or certified peer support specialist trainee a CPC must complete the Gap training.
Gap certified peer support specialist training for currently certified peers is provided through our peer support learning management system (LMS) with approximately 12-18 hours of seat time.
The LMS training has embedded knowledge checks throughout and at the end of the training that participants must pass to complete. There will not be an exam following the Gap training. CPCs can take this online training at their own pace.
The oral and written tests are coordinated by the Health Care Authority (HCA) and the trainers. They will be scheduled as part of the training agenda and usually occur on the last day of your training. Your trainers will provide this information to you.
If you need to retake a test you will need to register in advance.
An approved testing organization will set up a time for your initial certified peer support specialist (CPSS) training exam and exit interview. If you find that you need to retest, please contact your original testing proctor in order to schedule a re-test.
Things to keep in mind:
In this online training, you'll learn more about documenting peer services and what is required for documenting Medicaid reimbursable peer services:
In this online training, you will learn more about the value of peer support, and you will learn how to identify the ethics and boundaries that are necessary to provide effective support:
This course is intended for certified peer support specialists but has helpful information for anyone interested in increasing their understanding of employment programs, services, and resources. For more information, visit the Pathways to Employment website.
Start your employment training using these four modules:
Individual placement and support (IPS) is a specific model of support employment. IPS is also considered an evidence-based practice. You can find more information on the IPS Works site.
This course is intended for certified peer support specialists but has helpful information for anyone interested in increasing their understanding of housing programs, services, and resources. There are a multitude of resources and information, in addition to the online modules, posted on the Pathways to Housing website.
Start your housing training using these four modules:
The Permanent Supportive Housing Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) toolkit outlines the essential components for supportive housing services and programs for people living with mental illness disorders. It discusses how to develop and integrate evidence-based programs in mental health systems. The toolkit includes eight booklets on program development.
The following TIA online courses are available in English and Spanish:
Register for TIA trainings. You will receive a welcome invitation from TIA Washington to access the courses.
This free course is intended for certified peer support specialists but includes helpful information for any interested in increasing their understanding of the forensic mental health system and supporting people who are diagnosed with a behavioral health condition and involved with the court system.
This free course is intended for certified peer support specialists but includes helpful information for any interested in an introduction to the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). This training covers what the Wellness Recovery Action Plan is, how it can be used, and the research behind this evidence-based practice.
This course is intended for certified peer support specialists but has helpful information for anyone interested in increasing their understanding of topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). You'll learn about recognizing and combatting disparities in societal systems and working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
This online training is intended for certified peer support specialists and is a required prerequisite training for the 40-hour in-person Crisis Awareness and Communication in Peer Services (CACPS) training. The training covers the role of CPCs in crisis services, stages of crisis intervention for peers, skillsets for working in crisis settings, and more!
Sign up for our peer support distribution list receive our monthly peer newsletter. Past editions are below.
Peer Support Program
Email: Peer Support Program
Fax: 360-725-1385