Peer Services: Peer Specialists
The Division of Care and Treatment Services has promoted professional peer support since 2010.
Certifications
Certified peer specialist: An individual with experience in the mental health and substance use services system trained to provide support to adults struggling to find a path to recovery. This certification has been available since 2010.
- Certified Peer Specialist Scope of Practice, P-00972
- Certified Peer Specialist Code of Ethics, P-00972A
- Certified Peer Specialist Core Competencies, P-00972B
Certified parent peer specialist: An individual with experience raising a child with behavioral health challenges trained to use their experience navigating services in support of other parents. This certification has been available since 2019.
- Certified Parent Peer Specialist Scope of Practice, P-01081C (PDF)
- Certified Parent Peer Specialist Code of Ethics, P-01081 (PDF)
- Certified Parent Peer Specialist Core Competencies, P-01081A (PDF)
Certification is awarded after successful completion of a training course on the knowledge and skills necessary for effective peer support and passage of an exam.
The certification is valid for two years. Twenty hours of professional development must be completed during this time period to qualify for recertification.
Send questions regarding the core competencies, scope of practice, and code of ethics for certified peer specialists and certified parent peer specialists to DHSDCTSPeerSpecialist@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Training courses
There are no upcoming certified peer specialist or certified parent peer specialist training courses.
The Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative closes September 30, 2026.
The Wisconsin Hub for Peer Professionals opens October 1, 2026.
The Wisconsin Hub for Peer Professionals will offer learning and networking opportunities to promote strengths-based, trauma-sensitive peer services rooted in lived experience and peer values. This includes training courses for people seeking to become certified peer specialists and certified parent specialists.
Learn more about the Wisconsin Hub for Peer Professionals
Exams
UW-Milwaukee's School of Continuing Education administers the online certification exams for peer specialists and parent peer specialists. There is a fee to register for the exams.
See information on upcoming exam dates.
Send questions regarding the certification exams for peer specialists and parent peer specialists to UWM-PeerSpecialist@uwm.edu.
Impact of Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 72
Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 72 is the state rule that defines and regulates peer recovery support services offered by agencies certified to provide mental health and substance use treatment in outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings, including crisis services, Comprehensive Community Services programs, Community Support Programs, and overdose treatment programs.
Peer recovery support services provided by peer recovery coaches under the standards listed in Wis. Admin Code ch. DHS 72, subch. II, are covered by Wisconsin Medicaid.
Certified peer specialists and certified parent peer specialists are eligible to work as peer recovery coaches.
Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 72 does not change the training and credentialing process for certified peer specialists and certified parent peer specialists. The scope of practice for these roles also has not changed.
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Peer Professional Employer Toolkit
The Peer Professional Employer Toolkit is available to help provider organizations implement peer recovery support services. Organizations are not required to use the toolkit.