Program Requirements

To earn certification as a Reentry Peer Support Specialist, participants must successfully complete the following components:

 

  1. Three prerequisite courses and mandatory training, including passing all exams and required role-play assessments
  2. A consultation with a professional to explore and address any unresolved trauma, personal biases, or transference issues
  3. A personalized self-care plan developed and submitted as part of the coursework
  4. Fulfillment of all practicum requirements, including supervised peer support sessions
  5. Completion of final courses focused on providing psychosocial peer support

 

Training Overview

  • Total Training Hours: 60 hours
  • Syllabi and attendance verification available upon request
  • Total Practicum Hours: Varies by participant
  • Practicum hour verification available upon request

 

Training Hours by IC & RC Peer Recovery Domain:

  • Domain 1: Advocacy – 8 hours
  • Domain 2: Ethical Responsibility – 12 hours
  • Domain 3: Mentoring and Education – 18 hours
  • Domain 4: Recovery and Wellness Support – 22 hours

 

Courses and Requirements 

Please find a list of courses and requirements for completion below.

Curriculum Hours Details
Selection Process  1 hour  Post application you will be interviewed, as we have limited space.

1. Mandatory Prerequisite Courses

  • External courses 
  • Can be done online 
  • No cost
Suicide Prevention  1 Hour Mandatory, online 
(Options: Suicide Awareness, AFSP, or equivalent)
IC & RC Peer Recovery Domains and Tasks:
II1, II2, II3, II6, II9, II13, II14, III14, IV8
Child Protection & Mandated Reporting
 		 1 Hour Mandatory, online 
(Options: IL Child Protection or equivalent)
IC & RC Peer Recovery Domains and Tasks:
II1, II2, II4, II6, II9, II13, II14

2. Prerequisite Peer Support Courses:

  • Alternate courses on re-entry in social work, psychology, or sociology will be accepted
  • No cost 
  • Course registration will open approximately one month prior to start date
Peer Counseling Fundamentals 28 Hours   via Zoom Tuesdays

(16 hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours of peer counseling supervised practicum)
IC & RC Peer Recovery Domains and Tasks:
I1, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6, I7, I9, I10, I11, II1, II2, II3, II5, II6, II7, II9, II10, II11, II12, II13, II14, II15, III1, III2, III3, III4, III5, III7, III8, III9, III10, III12, III13, III14, IV1, IV2, IV3, IV4, IV5, IV6, IV7, IV8, IV9, IV10, IV11, IV12
What Happened to Me? PICS and PTSD 7 Hours via Zoom
IC & RC Peer Recovery Domains and Tasks:
I6, I7, I9, I11, II1, II2, II8, II9, II10, II11, II12, II13, II15, III1, III2, III3, III4, III8, III9, III10, III12, III13, III14, IV1, IV2, IV4, IV5, IV7, IV8, IV9, IV10, IV11, IV14
Conflict Mediation in Family - Post Incarceration  5 Hours  via Zoom
 
IC & RC Peer Recovery Domains and Tasks:
I2, I5, I6, I7, I9, I11, II1, II2, II8, II10, II11, II12, II15, III1, III4, III5, III6, III7, III8, III10, III11, III12, III13, IV1, IV4, IV5, IV8, IV9, IV10, IV14
Mental Health First Aid  5-8 Hours Optional 
From Victim to Survivor to Offender  6 Hours Optional
via Zoom Wednesdays
Peer Support Reflection & Skill-Building Sessions 6 Hours via Zoom Thursdays
IC & RC Peer Recovery Domains and Tasks:
I1, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6, I7, I9, I10, I11, II1, II2, II3, II6, II7, II8, II10, II11, II12, II15, III1, III2, III3, III4, III6, III8, III10, III11, III12, III13, III14, IV1, IV2, IV4, IV5, IV9, IV11, IV14

3. Final Program Course for Reentry Peer Support Specialists: 

Cost - $400

  • Open to those in the "Reentry Peer Support Specialist Program" only
  • You will receive a certification of completion from the HINDA Institute 
  • Prerequisite course must be completed first
  • Practicum can be completed after the course; however you will not receive the certificate until practicum is completed.
  • Must past assessment post course
  • Course registration will open approximately one month prior to start date
Advanced Peer Support 12 Hours via Zoom Thursdays
IC & RC Peer Recovery Domains and Tasks:
I1, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6, I7, I8, I9, I10, I11, II1, II2, II5, II6, II7, II8, II9, II10, II11, II12, II13, II15, III1, III2, III3, III4, III5, III6, III7, III8, III9, III10, III11, III12, III13, III14, IV1, IV2, IV3, IV4, IV5, IV9, IV10, IV11, IV12, IV13, IV14
4. Practicum 

50 Hours *
Practicum hours are designed to be aligned with specific courses. HINDA will assist in finding practicum opportunities but ultimate responsibility for securing practicum and completing hours is on the student. 
Recommended timeline: 
  • 5 hours in Winter 
  • 10 hours in Spring 
  • 35 hours in Summer  
*Additional hours are required for national certification. 
*Maintain a log of all completed hours. 

For more information:
Abigail - [email protected] 
 

To learn more about state-by-state requirements for peer support certification, please visit your local certification board’s website or the Copeland Center’s resource page.

 

Practicum

To complete certification, participants must fulfill 50 hours of peer support, either through direct one-on-one engagement or by leading support groups. A structured set of objectives must be completed and signed off by a supervising facilitator as part of this practicum requirement.

 

Facilitation

Courses in the reentry program are led by professors and professionals specializing in social work, sociology, and psychology. The curriculum is carefully designed by experts in instructional design to include measurable objectives, structured interactive learning, and thorough evaluations—ensuring a high-quality and impactful educational experience.

 

For more info on our lead facilitator, Prof. Dr. Stephanie Kutzen.

 


Fee
There is no fee associated with any of the prerequisite courses, one-on-one mentoring, or practicum opportunities.

However, the final course for completion of the program, Advanced Peer Support, will have a fee of $400.