Peer support specialists provide behavioral health services, education, recovery support and connection to other services. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines a peer support specialist as a person who uses his or her lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or addiction, plus skills learned in formal training, to deliver services in behavioral health settings to promote mind-body recovery and resiliency.
Peer support specialists may also be known as recovery support specialists, peer recovery support specialists, recovery coaches or peer coaches.
Certification for peer support specialists varies among the states. Some states offer certification through a nonprofit entity. In other states, a state agency or specific board offers certification.
The map below shows the peer support specialist certification or credentialing authority for each state, D.C. and territory if the information is available.