Become a
Peer
Professional!
The certification process can feel overwhelming and confusing.
NIAPP is here to help!
Certified Recovery
Support Specialist
(CRSS)
CRSS is a credential for those who provide mental health or co-occurring mental illness and substance use recovery support to others. A person with the CRSS credential uses unique insights gained through personal recovery experience.
The CRSS credential assures competence in advocacy, professional responsibility, mentoring, and recovery support. Persons with the CRSS credential are employed specifically to use their personal recovery experiences to facilitate and support the recoveries of others and to help shape systems of care.
Persons with their CRSS infuse their work environments with hope and empowerment, and improve opportunities for others to:
Develop hope for recovery
Increase problem solving skills
Develop natural support networks
Participate fully in life in the community
Certified Peer
Recovery Specialist
(CPRS)
A Peer Recovery Specialist is a trained individual who has lived experience with mental illness and/or addiction to alcohol and/or other drugs and provides one-to-one strengths-based support to peers in recovery.
Peer Recovery Specialists work in a wide range of settings including community health and mental health centers, behavioral health programs, substance use treatment facilities, peer-run organizations, community-based organizations, emergency rooms, courts, homeless shelters, and outreach programs. Sometimes,
Peer Recovery Specialists are referred to as Peer Support Specialists.
Certified Veteran
Support Specialist
(CVSS)
The Certified Veteran Support Specialist credential is designed to certify an individual’s competency in the field of Veteran recovery support primarily for Servicemembers, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF).
Under this credential, a Veteran is defined as any person who is or was a servicemember of the Armed Forces of the United States both Active and Reserve components, regardless of combat experience or discharge status.
CVSS responsibilities include advocating for the needs of Veterans as well as teaching them how to advocate for themselves, assisting the Veteran to navigate service and support systems, and helping the Veteran identify and achieve personal recovery goals.
CVSS professionals perform a unique function in the specialty of healthcare and human services and can work in a variety of settings, using various approaches to provide military culturally competent recovery supportive services.
Professional Endorsements
Through sharing common experiences and feelings, people gain strength, support, clarity, and hope.
FAQs
What’s the difference between CRSS and CPRS?
All the acronyms can be confusing. We get it!
A CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) is a certification specific to the state of Illinois. Individuals seeking this certification have personal, lived experience with mental health and/or co-occurring mental health and substance use recovery. Someone with the CRSS credential is considered a Mental Health Professional (MHP) and are recognized by Rule 132 and Rule 140 in the State of Illinois and able to bill Medicaid for services.
A CPRS (Certified Peer Recovery Specialist) is a certification that is recognized nationally. Individuals seeking this certification have personal, lived experience in recovery (undefined). Someone with the CPRS credential does not have the same recognitions in the State of Illinois that a CRSS has.
Which credential is best for me to get?
This is a personal and professional decision.
Most consider consulting with their employers about which credentials they should seek.
If I have more questions about CRSS and CPRS credentials, who do I ask?
You can reach out to us as NIAPP anytime to help clarify your questions. You can also reach out to the Illinois Credentialing Board (ICB).
What is the CRSS Success Program and where can I find more information?
The CRSS Success Program is designed to support students with lived experience of mental health or substance use recovery to successfully complete all requirements necessary to obtain either the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and enter the behavioral health workforce.
The program provides support for eligible students to overcome practical barriers to full participation and success, including but not limited to student tuition, books, and fees; ICB credentialing fees; general technology needs (e.g., laptop, tablet, hotspot, etc.); stipends for practical experience (internship) component; clothing for practical experience (internship) component (e.g., polo shirts, professional attire, etc.); childcare and transportation (including parking); employment and housing supports; counseling, advising, and transfer services; legal support to address barriers to employment related to criminal history or citizenship status; any other needs and/or accommodations essential for students to maintain participation in the program.
Head over to the IDHS-DMH website to gather more information about the CRSS Success Programs being offered. You’ll find more answers to your questions on their FAQ page.
Is there financial assistance available to help me get certified as a CRSS/CPRS?
Designated educational institutions participating in the CRSS Success Program maintain and manage a needs-based scholarship fund for Illinois residents who are CRSS and CPRS candidates or credentialed professionals, available to qualified Illinois residents, not just students in the CRSS Success program.
Illinois residents can apply for scholarship funds to cover any of the following: ICB credentialing fees (application, exam, annual renewal); and transportation costs to and from the exam site.
Interested students can find the participating school information here.