Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program Certification Renewal and Continuing Education (CE)
Overview
Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists (CMPSS) provide recovery-oriented, culturally appropriate services that promote engagement, socialization, self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, natural support, and are trauma aware. To maintain certification, renewal every two years is required. A certification not renewed by its expiration date is considered expired. State standards require applicants to satisfy renewal standards, including completing twenty (20) hours of continuing education, inclusive of six (6) hours of law and ethics training, prior to submitting a renewal application, and paying associated fees. Applications for renewal may be submitted no more than 90 days prior to expiration. Applications submitted after the certification has expired are subject to additional fees and may cause delays in renewal.
State Standards for Renewal of Certification
- Certification renewal is required every two (2) years to maintain certification.
- Certification must be in good standing.
- Certification is considered expired if not renewed by its expiration date and will be subject to a renewal late fee.
- Applicants must complete 20 hours of continued education prior to submitting the renewal application.
- Applicants must read and re-sign agreements to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists in California.
- Fees must be paid at the time of submitting the application. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
Application Process
- Application must be submitted online through the certification website.
- Applications may be submitted up to 90 days prior to the expiration.
- Applicant attests to having met the 20 hours of continuing education requirement, inclusive of the six 6 hours of Law and Ethics.
- Applicant shall maintain records of continued education hours for at least two years from the date of certification renewal.
- For step-by-step instruction, please visit the How To: Certificate Renewal page in the Resource Library.
Reminder: Applicants are NOT required to submit proof of continuing education hours at the time of submitting a renewal application. However, the certifying entity performs random records review. If selected, applicants will be notified, and proof of continuing education hours will be required to be submitted. Applicants must retain continuing education certificates for at least two (2) years from the date of certification renewal. Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in a disciplinary action against your certification.
Notification of Renewal
As a courtesy, CalMHSA will send a notification of certification renewal via email to eligible individuals 90 days prior to date of expiration. CalMHSA will use the email address on file. Expired, suspended, and revoked certifications are not considered in good standing and therefore not eligible for renewal.
Certification Status and Renewal Periods
- Current (Up to Expiration Date):
Certification is considered current if it is renewed on or before its renewal due date. - Lapsed (Within 1 Year After Expiration):
Certification is considered lapsed if not renewed by the renewal due date but is still within one year of expiration period. - Expired (Between 1–4 Years After Expiration):
Certification is considered expired if more than one year has passed since the renewal due date but less than four years. - Vacated (More Than 4 Years After Expiration):
Certification is considered vacated if not renewed within four years of the renewal date. To become certified again, individuals must satisfy certification requirements and reapply for a new certification.
Lapsed, Expired, and Vacated Certification
1. Lapsed Certification (Within 1 Year of Renewal Due Date)
A certification is considered lapsed if it is not renewed by the renewal due date. The certification remains in lapsed status for up to one (1) year from that date.
To bring a lapsed certification current, the applicant must:
- Complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) that meets the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist continuing education requirements.
- Reaffirm the Code of Ethics; and
- Pay the biennial renewal fee and any applicable late fee.
Important Reminders:
- All renewal requirements must be completed within one (1) year of the original renewal due date to avoid the certification moving into expired status.
- Applicants may begin the renewal process up to 90 days prior to their certification expiration date.
2. Expired Certification (1–4 Years After Renewal Due Date)
A certification not renewed within one (1) year of the renewal due date is considered expired. It may be reinstated within four (4) years of that date.
To reinstate an expired certification, the applicant must choose one of the following two options:
A. Pass the Certification Exam
- The applicant is allowed up to three (3) attempts to pass the exam.
- If the applicant does not pass after three attempts, they are no longer eligible to retake the exam during the expired period. The only remaining option for reinstatement is to complete the 80-hour refresher course.
- Complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) that meets the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist continuing education requirements;
- Reaffirm the Code of Ethics, and
- Pay the renewal fee, late fee, and exam fee.
OR
B. Complete the 80-Hour Refresher Course
- This course may be completed in place of the exam or if the exam was attempted three times unsuccessfully.
- Complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) that meets the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist continuing education requirements;
- Reaffirm the Code of Ethics, and
- Pay the renewal fee, late fee, and training fee.
Important Reminders:
- All renewal requirements must be completed within four (4) years of the original renewal due date. After that time, certification is considered vacated.
- Exam requests must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the certification expiration or renewal deadline. Requests submitted with fewer than 14 days remaining cannot be processed.
- Certificates for the 80-hour training are valid for two (2) years from the date of completion and must still be valid if used toward reinstatement.
3. Vacated Certification (More Than 4 Years After Renewal Due Date)
A certification is considered vacated if it is not renewed within four (4) years of the original renewal due date. At this point, the individual is no longer eligible for reinstatement and must begin the certification process from the beginning.
To become certified, the individual must satisfy certification requirements and reapply for a new certification including but not limited to:
- Reapply as a new applicant;
- Complete an 80-hour initial certification training course through a CalMHSA-approved training provider;*
- Pass the certification examination; and
- Pay all associated application and exam fees.
*Training fees are paid directly to the training provider. CalMHSA does not collect training fees.
Note: A new certification number will be issued, and the previously assigned number will be permanently vacated and no longer valid.
Continuing Education Hours
To maintain certification, a certified MPSS must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years from the date of the initial certification and thereafter for renewal. Six hours of law and ethics are required during each two-year cycle. Eligible continuing education courses promote professional development, aimed at enhancing the quality of care provided. Applicants are responsible for taking courses within their scope of practice.
To satisfy the renewal requirements, courses must be non-repetitive (i.e., the same CE course cannot be claimed more than one time during each certification period, even if the course was taken annually). Courses may be taken in various ways, including asynchronous, in-person, and online and through a variety of trainers.
Acceptable Training, Education, Coursework
Acceptable training, education, conferences, and coursework may include:
- Courses fundamental to the understanding or practice of peer support.
- Courses in the discipline of peer support in which significant recent developments have occurred.
- Courses in other disciplines that enhance the understanding of the practice of peer support specialists.
- Courses related to the treatment of the client population being served (e.g., theoretical frameworks of recovery and wellness; intervention techniques with individuals, families, and systems of care).
- Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification training and training in areas of specialization (CalMHSA-approved training providers).
- Courses that cover pragmatic aspects of clinical practice (e.g., legal or ethical issues, consultation, recordkeeping, supervision training).
The following are topic areas related to Law and Ethics:
- Law and ethics relevant to California; treatment of minors; state and federal confidentiality laws; record keeping; crisis support; client access to records; dual relationships; child abuse; elder and dependent adult abuse; telehealth services; insurance reimbursement; civil liability; disciplinary actions and unprofessional conduct; ethics complaints and ethical standards; standards of care; relevant family law; disclosures to clients; and the application of legal and ethical standards in different types of work settings.
Acceptable Sources
- CalMHSA-approved continuing education training providers.
- Pre-approved courses from the following CalMHSA-approved training providers:
- Important Notice: Approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist trainers (80 hours) or specialization training providers may not represent themselves as Continuing Education (CE) providers. CE provider status requires a separate and formal approval process.
- Training offered by the County Behavioral Health Departments, and its contracted network providers.
- Training courses completed through accredited schools, including vocational education.
- Training courses by professional certification and licensing boards (i.e., CAADE, CADTP, CAMFT, BBS, APA).
- Trainings from nationally recognized organizations in the field of behavioral health education and advocacy (i.e. SAMHSA).
Calculating Continued Education Hours
One (1) hour of direct educational training instruction is equal to one (1) hour of continuing education (CE), excluding breaks.
For undergraduate or graduate course work, three (3) units of coursework are equal to twelve (12) hours of continuing education units. Breaks are excluded from direct training instructional requirements and must not be counted towards the 1-hour direct educational training requirement.
For training where certificates of attendance are not available (i.e., conferences) a copy of the conference agenda with detailed information on the session shall be maintained as a record by the applicant. For courses through accredited schools, transcripts shall be maintained as a record. Breaks are excluded from direct training instructional requirements and must not be counted towards the 1-hour direct educational training requirement.
Maintenance of Records
Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists (CMPSS) are responsible for maintaining a record of continuing education hours for the purpose of certification renewal. Applicant shall maintain records of continued education hours for at least two (2) years from the date of certification renewal. The certifying entity performs random records review. If selected, applicants will be notified, and proof of continuing education hours will be required to be submitted. Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in a disciplinary action against your certification. Evidence of participation in courses must include, but not limited to, the following:
- Applicant’s legal name
- Title of course, training, and/or event
- Date(s) of participation and/or course completion
- Event sponsor and/or training provider name
- Number of direct instruction hours
Tip: If the training event title does not clearly identify the instructional content, maintain a copy of information from the training event, such as an agenda or syllabus.
In the absence of complete documentation, contact the training provider directly. The updated information should be retained as part of the record. For coursework through an accredited school, maintain a copy of the transcripts (unofficial will be accepted).
Name Change
Applicants that have a name change as part of their certification renewal application, must submit a Name Change Request. Name change requests must be submitted through the individual online certification application. If approved, the newly issued certification will reflect the “new” name.
Quality Assurance
CalMHSA conducts random review of continuing education records. Individuals who are selected in the sampling will be notified via email and must submit electronic proof of continuing education hours completed for the renewal period within 30 days of request.
Please note that failure to meet CE requirements may result in disciplinary action. See Code of Ethics and Violations Guidelines for more information.