How to Become a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) in Utah

Lived experience is one of our most powerful resources for healing. If you have navigated the challenges of mental health or substance use conditions and found a path to recovery, your story has the power to change lives, dismantle stigma, and build a more compassionate community.

One of the most impactful ways to use your experience is by becoming a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS).

Integrating peer support specialists into our behavioral health workforce is essential to expanding access to quality care across Utah. But what exactly is a CPSS, and how do you become one in our state? Here is your complete, step-by-step guide.

What is a Certified Peer Support Specialist?

A Certified Peer Support Specialist is a trained professional who uses their own lived experience in recovery from mental health or substance use conditions to support others on their healing journey.

Unlike clinical therapists or doctors, a CPSS provides a unique, non-clinical connection rooted in deep, mutual understanding. As a CPSS, you might help individuals navigate the healthcare system, develop personal recovery plans, model coping skills, and offer the profound empathy that only comes from someone who has been there.

The 5 Steps to Becoming a CPSS in Utah

Utah certification is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Substance Use and Mental Health (OSUMH). The process is designed to be accessible and focuses heavily on your personal readiness to support others.

Step 1: Meet the Basic Prerequisites

Before applying, ensure you meet the state’s foundational requirements:

  • Age & Residency: You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Utah mailing address.
  • Lived Experience: You must identify as having lived experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges.
  • Sustained Recovery: You must have at least one year of sustained, successful recovery. You need to be in a place where your recovery is stable enough that you can focus on supporting someone else.
  • Education: A High School Diploma or GED is required.

Step 2: Prepare Your Application Materials

When you are ready to apply, you will need to gather a few specific documents to showcase your journey and readiness:

  • Your Recovery Story: You will be asked to write a brief summary of your recovery journey. Tip: Focus heavily on your successes, the tools you use to maintain your recovery, and how you currently help your community, rather than detailing your active use history.
  • Two Letters of Reference: You need one letter from a clinical professional who can speak to where you are in your recovery process, and a second letter from another professional reference who is aware of your recovery experience.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Once your materials are ready, you will submit your application online directly to the Utah Office of Substance Use and Mental Health (OSUMH). You will be asked to select your preferred training provider during this application process.

Step 4: Complete the 40-Hour Training (At No Cost!)

Once approved, you will attend a 40-hour training program. Thanks to federal and state mental health block grants, this training is completely free to the trainee.

Utah works with several fantastic contracted providers to offer these trainings (both in-person and hybrid), including:

  • Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA) (Specializes heavily in substance use recovery)
  • Utah State University (USU) (Offers hybrid/distance-learning options)
  • Jacky’s Recovery Support Services (Offers training in Spanish)
  • Various County Behavioral Health Offices (Like Davis or Wasatch Behavioral Health)

During this week-long training, you will learn the Utah Peer Support Code of Ethics, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, boundary setting, and how to effectively translate your lived experience into professional support.

Step 5: Pass the Certification Exam

Within 30 days of completing your 40-hour training, you must take and pass a written exam with a score of 70% or higher. This exam is generally provided at the end of the training week. Once you pass, you are officially a Certified Peer Support Specialist in the state of Utah!

(Note: To maintain your certification, you will need to complete 20 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) every two years).

Your Voice Matters

By becoming a CPSS, you are not just finding a job; you are joining a statewide movement to prioritize understanding and compassionate care over punitive approaches. You are showing the public that recovery is expected.

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