Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification

Training for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists

Training through an approved training provider is required for all Initial Certification applicants. Trainings by providers not on this list, or training completed prior to the provider being approved by CalMHSA, will not qualify for initial Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification. You may select and register for training below at any time. 

Certificates for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist 80-Hour Training issued by a CalMHSA-approved training provider are valid for a period of two years from the date the training is completed, and the certificate is issued.

Candidates seeking certification must submit valid training certificates when submitting a completed application for certification.

Below are the CalMHSA approved training entities for the core curriculum for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists certified in California. The curriculum will cover the 17 Core Competencies as well as the Code of Ethics. Classes are available in different training methods and modalities. Feel free to select the best fit for you. 

Training Methods include:

  • Asynchronous: Courses that are self-paced allowing an individual to learn on their own schedule, within a certain time period. Peers can use provided asynchronous learning elements like online audio and video and discussion forums at the time and place of their choosing.
  • Hybrid: Courses that combine onsite in-person activities with online work or instructions. These courses split time between in-person and virtual environments. Peers attend in-person courses at designated times plus engage in virtual learning activities, which may be either synchronous or asynchronous.
  • In-person: Courses taught onsite at scheduled course times so that students can interact with their instructor and classmates in person.
  • Online: Courses that include designated times for interactive experience, virtual break-out rooms, written assignments, and “virtual-live” or pre-recorded presentations by students.

Training Providers for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Core Competency Training

Contract DatesProvider – Click for Information!Provider LocationIn PersonOnlineHybridAsynch.Training ModalityTraining HoursTraining Length
8/8/23 – 2/28/25Cal VoicesSacramento, CAXXCohort Style and Self-directed
M – F
8:00a-5:00p
80 Hours
3/31/23 – 2/28/25California Association of Peer Supporters Academy (CAPS)StatewideXCohort StyleVaries80 Hours
11/16/23 – 11/16/25California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS)California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationXCohortVaries80 Hours
12/31/23 – 2/28/25City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CAXCohort StyleVaries Varies
8/14/23 – 2/28/25Community Action Marin (CAM)San Rafael, CA XCohort StyleM – F
8:00a- 5:00p
8 Days
8/15/23 – 2/28/25Copeland Center for Wellness and RecoveryOnsite/Hybrid/OnlineXXXCohort Style
Custom Style
Varies80 Hours
8/16/23 – 2/28/25Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc.VariesXXXCohort StyleVaries Varies
8/8/23 – 2/28/25Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)StatewideXCohort StyleVaries80 hours
2/1/24 – 1/31/25Felton InstituteStatewideXCohort StyleVaries12 weeks/ 80 hours
12/13/23 – 12/14/25Flourish LabsStatewideXXCohort StyleSelf-paced8 weeks / 82 Hours
7/1/22 – 2/28/25Futuro HealthSacramento, CAXIndividual24-hour access80 hours
5/6/24 – 5/5/26Health Education Council (HEC)Sacramento, CAXXXCohortVaries80 Hours
InterCoast CollegesSee BioXIndividualM/S
9:00a – 2:00p
80 Hours
7/1/22 – 2/28/25L.A. CADA AcademyLos Angeles, CAXCohort StyleVaries7 or 13 Days
7/1/22 – 2/28/25Loyola Marymount University Extension (LMU)Los Angeles, CAXXCohort StyleOnline: M/W or T/TH
6:30p – 9:30p
80 Hours
4/15/25 – 4/14/26 Lutheran Social Services Southern California (LSSSC)StatewideXXXCohort’
Individual
Varies80 Hours + Internship
2/1/24 – 1/31/26Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHASF)StatewideXCohort StyleVaries by Cohort4 Weeks
10/1/23 – 9/30/25 Monrovia Community Adult School (MCAS)Monrovia or Los Angeles, CAXCohort StyleVaries5 Weeks
3/22/24 – 6/30/25NAMI CaliforniaSacramento, CAXXCohort StyleM – F
4:30p-8:30p
13 Days
9/1/23 – 8/31/25NAMI San DiegoSan Diego, CAXCohort SyleM – F (4 hours)13 Days
7/1/22 – 2/28/25Pacific ClinicsStatewideXXXCohort – Live WebinarT – TH
1:00pm -4:00pm
80 Hours
3/22/24 – 6/30/25Painted BrainLos Angeles, CAXXXCohort StyleVariesVaries
5/12/22 – 10/31/25Parents AnonymousClaremont, CAXXXXCohort Style + CustomVariesVaries
7/1/22 – 2/28/25Peer Wellness Collective (formerly Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients)Oakland, CAXCohort StyleM – TH
5:00p-8:30p
4 Weeks
7/1/22 – 2/28/25RAMS



San Francisco, CAXClassroomT-TH
10am-2pm
12 weeks
7/1/22 – 2/28/25RI InternationalVarios LocationsXXXCohort StyleM – F
8:30am–4:30pm
80 Hours
7/1/22 – 2/28/25Riverside University Health System – Behavioral HealthRiverside, CAXCohort StyleM – F
8:30a-5:00p
10 Days
7/1/22 – 2/28/25San Jose City CollegeSan Jose, CAXXXHyflex (Zoom)

Classroom
Varies1 Semester
7/1/22 – 2/28/25SHARE! the Self-Help and Recovery Exchange– Los Angeles, CA
– Culver City, CA
XXXCohort StyleVariesVaries
10/19/23 – 9/14/25Southern California Counseling Center (SCCC)Statewide (Online)XCohort StyleT/TH 6:00p-9:00p
Sat 9:00a-2:00p
7 Weeks
10/1/23 – 9/30/25Sterling SolutionsStatewide (Online)XXCohort (Self-paced)Self-paced (check-in Wed 6pm)8-10 Weeks
7/1/22 – 2/28/25 Tarzana Treatment Centers– Statewide (Online)
– Los Angeles
(In-person/Hybrid)
XXXCohort Style

Individual
Varies Varies
9/12/23 – 8/05/24University of Recovery, LALos Angeles
11/29/23 – 11/30/25WestCoast Children’s ClinicStatewideXXCohort StyleVaries80-Hours
7/1/22 – 2/28/25Worker Education & Resource Center, Inc. (WERC)StatewideXIndividual24-hour access80 Hours
Provider – Click for Information!Provider LocationIn PersonOnlineHybridAsynch.Training ModalityTraining HoursTraining Length

If you are a training vendor and need to update your information, please email [email protected]