The Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist Trainer certification is valid for two years. In this two-year period, 16 total hours of continuing education hours (CEH) and/or continuing education units (CEU) must be obtained to qualify for recertification. Recertification documents and the $55.00 fee are due by September 30th every two years from the year you were certified as a CPS trainer.
A minimum of 4 hours is required in the following three categories: Cultural Humility, Trauma-Informed Care, and Facilitation Skill-Building. Additionally, a minimum of 1.5 hours is required in the category of Demonstration Facilitation. The remaining 2.5 hours may be in any category of your choosing as it relates to the peer specialist trainer role. The conversion rate for CEU/CEH is: .1 CEU = 1 CEH.
Independent reading does not qualify as continuing education. Organized study groups with specific learning objectives and facilitated by trained individuals with direct knowledge of the content discussed may count for continuing education hours. In this case, it is recommended that the curriculum and trainer/presenter biography be submitted to the Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist Program Manager for approval.
As a Certified Peer Specialist Trainer, continuing education in the Cultural Humility and Trauma-Informed Care categories cannot be duplicated for Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Parent Peer Specialist recertification.
- Cultural Humility: To acquire the knowledge and skills to set aside individual cultural expectations and honor the fact that there are multiple cultures. Gaining knowledge and skills to better interact effectively with people living at the intersections of class, ability, ethnic background, gender identities, languages, race, religion, sexual orientation, and other diverse factors. A continued commitment to self- evaluation of individual beliefs, systemic oppression, the understanding that people are experts in their own culture, and being open to the idea that learning people’s individual cultures is a continuous process. This may also be known as cultural competence, cultural responsiveness, cultural awareness, cultural curiosity, and cultural sensitivity.
- Trauma-Informed Care: To acquire knowledge and skills in supporting people with histories of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma played in their lives.
- Facilitation Skill-Building: To acquire knowledge and skills in understanding the material to set goals for training days, keeping the group on the agenda and moving forward, navigating difficult and challenging conversations, involving everyone in a group setting, and making sure decisions are made collectively and in a productive direction. This knowledge and skills development can include learning new virtual or in-person tools to create a more accessible training, time management, energizing the environment, and exploring and understanding various communication styles.
- Demonstration Facilitation (1.5 hours): To continuously demonstrate the ability to provide meaningful facilitation and an understanding of the concepts and skills of a Certified Peer Specialist trainer. A trainer can complete a 1.5 hour Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative (WIPSEI) Community of Practice or Supervisor’s Community of Practice with a co-facilitator to fulfill this topic area.
- For non-WIPSEI related facilitation demonstration hours, verification must be provided. Verification must include facilitation description, event flyer, and/or any form or letter from the entity confirming the trainer facilitation. CEH must be approved by the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Program Manager.
Certified Peer Specialists Trainers are solely responsible for maintaining their continuing education hours and providing documentation of completion to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Random audits may occur within the year of recertification. It is recommended that documentation of attendance and training materials be available for the year following the recertification application.
For further information on the recertification process, contact:
Gaochi Vang
Peer Specialist Program Manager
608-716-7335
gaochiv@accesstoind.org
www.wicps.org
(Last updated: November 2023)