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Learn about peer certification and recertification programs in Colorado through the CPFS at COPA – Colorado Providers Association!
Pro-tip: All of this information comes from the CPFS Manual. It’s your in-depth guide to completing your Credential. Keep it handy!
We also have several video guides on the manual, a Certemy walkthrough and more!
Table of Contents
What is the CPFS?
About
The Colorado Peer and Family Specialist (CPFS) Certification verifies that a peer has met the necessary training, supervision and experience requirements to support individuals in recovery.
COPA is here to help you with your peer certification! We handle processing applications, and provide support to you as you navigate completing your application.
What You Gain
Getting credentialed validates your professional expertise, skills and commitment to your field.
High Standards
This credential follows the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) standards, which require applicants to complete specific training, receive supervised experience, and pass the IC&RC exam.
Grievance Policy
This credential maintains a formal grievance process to ensure accountability and fairness to both the applicants, credentialed professionals, and stakeholders.
Grievances are reviewed through a structured and impartial procedure to uphold the integrity of the credential and the values of peer support.
Domains
The Domains are the “core competencies” of the CPFS certification. These are just some of the skills, knowledge and abilities that will put you a cut above the rest!
Advocacy
Mentoring/Education
As an advocate, you work with both individuals and systems to promote a person-centered approach to recovery and wellness services. You help individuals understand their rights and responsibilities, and help communities and organizations understand the role and importance of peers.
As a mentor and educator, you serve as a recovery role model. You educate through shared experiences, help individuals identify and establish positive relationships, model self-care, and support the development of healthy behaviors that are based on choice.
Recovery/Wellness Support
Ethical Responsibility
In recovery and wellness support, you recognize there are multiple pathways to recovery. You help the individual identify their own strengths and resiliencies. You can identify the stages of change and signs of distress. Here, you’ll develop tools for effective outreach, continued support, and apply techniques you’ve learned such as Motivational Interviewing.
As a credentialed peer through the CPFS, it’s your duty adhere to the ethical guidelines of your role. That includes maintaining confidentiality, providing culturally competent care, reporting signs of abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities, and adhering to the Code of Ethics.
Harm Reduction
While IC&RC does not require training hours for harm reduction, it’s on the exam, as it’s a vital part of providing care as a peer. You’ll learn to provide tools and strategies to reduce harm and negative consequences, and practice self-awareness regarding personal beliefs and biases towards harm reduction. You’ll also identify alternative approaches that do not seek to prevent or end substance use, and lead with a person-first style of compassion and care.
The IC&RC Candidate Guide has more details about the domains, and their weight on the exam!
Benefits of the CPFS
Reciprocity
Recognized in other states and countries through IC&RC, so your
credential can go with you.
Core Competencies
Follows national standards from
SAMHSA for quality peer support
work.
Strength Building
Shows your lived experience matters
and that you have the right training
and skills to help others.
Professional Development
Helps you build new skills and tools
through peer training.
Business Development
Supports organizations in adopting
peer workforce policies and
integrating peer roles into behavioral
health systems.
Career Building
Opens doors to peer leadership roles,
training jobs, or other ways to grow in
the behavioral health field.
Leadership Skills
Your lived and professional experience are vital to building a path forward in the behavioral health workforce.
How Do I Get Started?
Step 1 – Get Experience
Here is your to-do list for your peer certification!
Education
You must have:
- A high school diploma
- High school transcript with graduation date
- GED, or test scores with date
- OR an official or unofficial college transcript (current/past)
Residency/Work Requirements
You must live OR work in Colorado at least 51% of the time, at the time of your application.
Training Requirements
You must take 60 hours of trainings.
Core Domain Training (46 Hours)
Must be a core domain training from the CPFS Approved Training List in:
- Advocacy – 10 hours
- Ethics – 16 hours
- Mentoring & Education – 10 hours
- Recovery & Wellness Support – 10 hours
- Harm Reduction – No required trainings, but will be on the exam
Additional Training (14 Hours)
- Must be peer-focused (e.g., trauma-informed care, cultural competency, motivational interviewing).
- Clinical trainings are not allowed. For more details, including other unallowable trainings, see the CPFS Manual for more info!
Work Experience
You need at least 500 hours of work experience in a peer role, and 25 hours of supervision. This can be paid or volunteer.
- Experience must align with the IC&RC Domains.
- Your supervisor(s) have to check off on your experience, too. See the manual for more details.
Additional Requirements
In addition to your Lived Experience Statement, a minimum of two years in recovery prior to applying for the CPFS certification is strongly recommended. This will become a requirement in March 2026.
The exam includes Harm Reduction Competencies.
You’re also required to sign and adhere to the Code of Ethics.
Reminder – Training Guidelines
Things to keep in mind when completing your trainings for your CPFS certification!
Core Trainings
The CPFS Committee requires completing your domain hours through large or comprehensive core trainings. See the Approved Training List for examples!
Certificates of Completion
All trainings you submit are required to have a certificate of completion.
Restrictions
Some trainings aren’t allowed. Those include self-paced trainings, health/fitness coaching, clinical trainings and more. See the manual for more details.
Step 2 – Uploading to Certemy
About Certemy
Certemy is the platform COPA uses to process applications for the peer certification.
You’ll make an account on Certemy to enter your eligibility materials such as certificates of completion, experience hours, lived experience statement and more.
Fees
It costs $50 to register, and $245 to complete your application for a total of $295. Scholarships are available with a completed application.
Step 3 – CPFS Committee and Exam
The Committee
Once you have completed your application, it will be reviewed by the CPFS Committee. The CPFS Committee is the final authority on all approvals.
The deadline to have your application added to the CPFS Committee’s monthly review meeting agenda is 10 days prior to the review meeting date; however, due to a high volume of applications, the manual allows 1-2 months past the date of application completion for applications to be reviewed. Please plan accordingly.
The CPFS Committee meets monthly on the third Wednesday.
The Exam
The last step in the process! You have one year from your committee approval date to take the exam.
See the manual for information about fees for missed exam dates and retakes.
Additional Resources
Approved Training List
Contains a list of pre-approved trainings, restrictions and more.
Training Calendar
Contains upcoming trainings. Contact trainers directly for scholarship info.
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