Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification

New – Fee Waivers Available!

CalMHSA, in partnership with DHCS, is offering time-limited fee waivers to support the behavioral health workforce. Fee waivers must be used by September 15, 2025. 

Opportunities Available:

1. Core Training (80-Hour Course) and Initial Certification:

400 fee waivers are available to individuals seeking initial certification. Waivers toward certification are applied and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

How it works 

  • Training provider will submit information for individuals who are registered for the approved 80-hour training to cover the cost of training.  
  • Training must be started no later than September 15, 2025. 
  • After successfully completing training, individuals will apply for initial certification on the CalMHSA website. 
2. Training in Areas of Specialization:

1,000 fee waivers for training in one or more areas of specialization. Waivers are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. 

How it works 

  • Must be a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.  
  • Interested individuals must contact the CalMHSA-approved Specialization training provider and register for an available open session (Parent, Caregiver, and Family Member Peer, Peer Services in Crisis Care, Peer Services for Unhoused, and/or Peer Services for Justice Involved). 
  • Training must be started no later than September 15, 2025. 
  • Training provider will submit information of individuals who are registered for an approved training to cover the cost of training.  
  • After completing training, individuals are expected to return to their application to upload their training certificate(s) to be recognized for their specialized training. 
3. Certification Renewals:

1,000 fee waivers are available  

How it works:  

  • Must be a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.  
  • Must be eligible for renewal prior to September 30, 2025. 
  • Individuals with expired certifications may qualify. 
  • Individuals request the fee waiver directly through their certification application by clicking the request option on their application. 

Fee waivers are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until September 15 or until all waivers are depleted, whichever comes first.

Waivers are non-transferable.

Questions? Email us [email protected]