The A-PEERS Program
The Advanced Peer Employment, Education, and Recovery Services (A-PEERS) program is a behavioral health paraprofessional workforce training program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). A-PEERS provides comprehensive training and an optional registered apprenticeship pathway for individuals who want to become Certified Peer Specialists (CPS) in Wisconsin.
A Certified Peer Specialist is a trained paraprofessional who uses their lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to support others in achieving their recovery, wellness, employment, and life goals. Peer specialists play an important role in Wisconsin’s behavioral health workforce by offering support that is grounded in hope, shared experience, self-determination, and recovery-oriented practice.
A-PEERS is designed to support students through undergraduate, bachelor’s-level, stackable coursework that leads to eligibility for CPS certification and a peer support microcredential from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Helen Bader School of Social Welfare. Participants complete state-approved peer specialist training, prepare for the certification exam, complete 3 courses (9 undergraduate credits), and participate in 50 experiential hours in a peer support environment.
The program also offers an optional registered apprenticeship pathway pathway, after completing a minimum of 2 required courses. Trainees who complete the apprenticeship will be eligible for additional tuition and stipend funding while gaining additional experience in peer support practice, peer leadership, and peer supervision. This pathway helps expand career opportunities for peer specialists and strengthens Wisconsin’s behavioral health workforce. This option is a 12-month apprenticeship includes on the job training, 1-3 additional undergraduate credits, CPR certification and, 8-hour train the trainer.
A-PEERS trainees build knowledge and skills in recovery-oriented social services practice, trauma-informed care, ethics and boundaries, documentation, culturally inclusive practices, advocacy, interdisciplinary teamwork, peer leadership, and supervision. The program prepares participants for future employment, continued education, and expanded roles in the peer support field, including pathways that may lead to future co-supervision or leadership opportunities.
What does A-PEERS provide trainees?
To reduce barriers to participation and support student success, A-PEERS provides scholarships that cover most tuition costs, stipends to offset the time spent in training and field-based learning, and a full range of academic, social, and career supports. Participants receive individualized academic coaching, assistance securing field placements, and job search and career navigation support to help them move into employment and advancement in the peer workforce. Awards are distributed each semester based on course enrollment, and the stackable course design allows participants to earn transferable bachelor’s-level credits while building a sustainable career that expands access to behavioral health services across Wisconsin communities.
Who Should Apply
The A-PEERS program is designed for individuals who are interested in becoming Certified Peers Specialists (CPS) and building a career pathway in Wisconsin’s behavioral health workforce.
A strong applicant is someone who:
- Has lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery
- Is interested in using their lived experience in a paraprofessional, ethical, and recovery-oriented way to support others
- Wants to become eligible for Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist certification
- Is committed to learning about peer support, recovery principles, trauma-informed care, advocacy, culturally relevant practices, ethics and boundaries, documentation, and working as part of behavioral health an social service teams
- Is interested in completing undergraduate coursework through UW-Milwaukee and earning a micro-credential
- Can participate in required training, coursework, and 50 experiential hours in a peer support environment
- Is open to employment or continued education in behavioral health, recovery services, peer support, social services, or related community based settings
- May be interested in an optional registered apprenticeship pathway that provides paid learning and additional experiences in peer support practice, leadership, and supervision
A-PEERS may be a good fit for people who are ready to reflect on their lived experience, learn how to use that experience appropriately in a peer role, and support others in achieving their recovery, wellness, employment, education, and life goals.
The program is also a strong fit for individuals who want a structured pathway into peer support work, including people who are new to college, returning to school, currently working in community-based services, or seeking a meaningful behavioral health career pathway grounded in recovery and lived experience.
Minimum Requirements
Age 18, high school diploma or equivalent, eligibility to attend higher education in the US, eligibility for employment, Wisconsin-based residency or employment plans and commitment to Wisconsin’s peer values. hose accepted into A-PEERS need to complete the certification process to be recognized as a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPS), and a criminal background check prior to a 50-hour peer field experience, in alignment with School of Social Welfare requirements. A criminal background does not necessarily disqualify someone from the training program or certifications.
Those who already are certified as a CPS and as a CPS trainer are not eligible to participate in A-PEERS. Those holding a current certification as a CPS or CPPS will require individual application interview screening before eligibility can be determined.
How to Apply
To complete the application, you will need a current resume (covering the last 3 years of applicable employment), and unofficial high school transcripts (if you are not currently enrolled in a post-secondary program).
Applications are reviewed and completed on a rolling basis. Based on the date your application is completed and the semester you selected, you will be offered a selection of available cohorts to join.
To apply for the A-PEERS program, you will need to create an account in the SMAPPLY portal and complete the application.
If you are a UWM student, use your UWM email when creating an account.