(1) An individual may seek certification as a peer specialist if he or she has been in recovery from a substance use disorder or mental illness for at least 2 years, or if he or she has at least 2 years of experience as a family member or caregiver of a person with a substance use disorder or mental illness.
(2) The department shall approve one or more third-party credentialing entities for the purposes of certifying peer specialists, approving training programs for individuals seeking certification as peer specialists, approving continuing education programs, and establishing the minimum requirements and standards that applicants must achieve to maintain certification. To obtain approval, the third-party credentialing entity must demonstrate compliance with nationally recognized standards for developing and administering professional certification programs to certify peer specialists.
(3) An individual providing department-funded recovery support services as a peer specialist shall be certified pursuant to subsection (2). An individual who is not certified may provide recovery support services as a peer specialist for up to 1 year if he or she is working toward certification and is supervised by a qualified professional or by a certified peer specialist who has at least 3 years of full-time experience as a peer specialist at a licensed behavioral health organization.
History.—s. 6, ch. 2019-159.