California Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialist Scholarships
Scholarship names are referred by county mental health and/or substance use disorder programs (also referred to as Behavioral Health Plans).
Important Dates
- Nov 30, 2022 – Last day for Counties to submit scholarship names
- Dec 31, 2022 – Last day for scholarship applicants to submit application
The California Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) has made limited funding available in the form of scholarships for Peers seeking the Certification for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists in California. The scholarships and funding are time limited.
The scholarships are available only to counties who have elected to implement the peer support benefit. Participating counties will identify individuals for scholarships within their respected county who are currently employed or working within their Mental Health or Behavioral Health plans, including their contract provider network.
Individuals seeking certification under the out-of-state reciprocity process are not eligible for participation in the scholarship program.
Scholarship Information
- Scholarship applications are currently open!
- Scholarships under the grandparenting process cover application and the cost of one exam attempt.
- Scholarships under the initial certification cover application, training, and one exam attempt costs.
- Applications for scholarships must be submitted via our website by December 31st, 2022.
- Applications for certification are approved for 12-months. This means the scholarship must be used prior to 12-month expiration or scholarship is forfeited.
- The scholarship shall contain a unique identification number. The scholarship is not transferrable.
- Scholarship applications are open as noted above or until scholarships have been depleted, whichever comes first.
- A total of 5,000 scholarships will be distributed: 2,500 for peers under the grandparenting process and 2,500 for peers seeking “initial” certification.
- When scholarships are no longer available for a given county, the applicant will be placed on a waitlist.
- No extensions will be granted for expiration of scholarships.
- Unused or expired scholarships will be returned to a “general inventory pool” for redistribution to applicants on the waitlist.
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