Peer Certification Process

Arkansas Peer Specialist Program NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals https://www.naadac.org/arkansas-peer-specialist-program. The Arkansas Peer Specialist Program (APSP) is an innovative three-tiered credentialing process that allows an individual the opportunity to progress through the CORE, ADVANCED and SUPERVISOR levels of The Arkansas Model. This process is designed to produce highly trained and knowledgeable peer specialists. The APSP is a collaborative effort between NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, and the State of Arkansas. This organized system will streamline each step of the credentialing process and allow users access to a one-stop shop for all their peer credentialing needs.

THE ARKANSAS MODEL has three levels allowing peer specialists to advance in their profession:

1.  Arkansas Core Peer Recovery Specialist (PR)
2.  Arkansas Advanced Peer Recovery Specialist (APR)
3.  Arkansas Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor (PRPS)

Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible to become an Arkansas Core Peer Recovery Specialist (PR), you must (1) have a GED or have graduated from high school, (2) have a minimum of two years of abstinence-based recovery from lived experience with substance use and/or mental health disorders, and (3) have not committed a sexual offense or murder or have any active warrants.  

How to become an Arkansas Core Peer Recovery Specialist (PR):

STEP 1: Apply to the APSP PR Program

• Meet the PR eligibility requirements
• Apply to begin Core PR training by submitting a

completed and signed PR application, all supporting documentation, and a $50 non-refundable application fee

STEP 2: Become a Peer in Training (PIT)

• Once accepted into the program, complete the 30-hour core training and submit the training certificate to the APSP Manager
• Be paired with a Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor (PRPS) and begin peer supervision.
• Receive PIT confirmation letter from APSP Manager.

STEP 3: As a PIT, complete the remaining required education  and experience.

• Complete an additional 16 education hours

IMPORTANT NOTE: As a member of NAADAC

you can take the additional hours for your certification on the NAADAC website: https://www.naadac.org/peer-recovery-support resources

• Complete 500 experience hours (including 100 hours of domain-specific experience to be comprised of 25 hours of advocacy experience, 25 hours of ethical responsibility experience, 25 hours of mentoring/ education experience, and 25 hours or recovery/wellness experience)
• Complete 25 hours of domain-specific peer supervision (individual/group)

STEP 4: Pass the PR credentialing exam

IMPORTANT NOTE: You do not have to pay the exam fee to take the PR credentialing exam. PR Application Instructions

To apply to begin Core PR training, you must:

•  Submit a completed & signed PR application;
•  Pay a $50 non-refundable application fee;
•  Submit a copy of a GED, high school diploma, or higher level education diploma or transcript;
•  Attest to having a minimum of two years of abstinence-based recovery from lived experience with substance use and/or

mental health disorders (page 8 of application);

• Attest that you have read, understand, and will adhere to the Arkansas Peer Recovery Code of Ethics (page 8 of application);
• Submit a completed and signed reference evaluation (page 6 of application); and
• Submit a copy of a background check completed in the last 60 days.
• Applicant must email completed and signed application, all supporting documentation, with payment of the non-refundable
• $50 application fee to Kyle Brewer, Peer Specialist Program Manager, at kbrewer@naadac.org.
• Processing timeline: All applications are reviewed by the APS Manager and Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee once a month.

Questions? Please contact Kyle Brewer, BS, PRPS, Peer Specialist Program Manager, at 703.741.7686 x148, 703.253.3548, or

kbrewer@naadac.org