New Jersey Peer Support & Medicaid Guide

New Jersey has a large and increasingly formalized peer support system spanning substance use recovery, mental health, co-occurring conditions, hospitals and emergency departments, Community Peer Recovery Centers, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, crisis services, family support, and other community behavioral health programs.

The state’s primary cross-behavioral-health peer credential is the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, commonly abbreviated CPRS.

A CPRS is a trained person with lived experience in recovery from mental health, substance use, or co-occurring disorders who provides nonclinical, person-centered, strengths-based recovery support. New Jersey describes CPRSs as role models, mentors, and advocates who use their own recovery experience to help other people become and remain engaged in recovery. (NJ.gov)

Certification is administered by the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey, commonly referred to as the New Jersey Certification Board or APCB.

New Jersey also maintains a substantial state-supported recovery infrastructure through the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or DMHAS, including Community Peer Recovery Centers, recovery coaching, family support, peer warmlines, peer services within CCBHCs, and peer recovery specialists in crisis and hospital settings. (NJ.gov)

New Jersey Peer Support Quick Facts

Category	New Jersey overview
State Medicaid program	NJ FamilyCare
State behavioral health authority	Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Abbreviation	DMHAS
Primary peer credential	Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Abbreviation	CPRS
Certification body	Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey
High school diploma/GED	Required
Lived experience	Required
Minimum recovery	2 years
Initial training	46 hours
Work experience	500 hours
Supervised practicum	25 hours
NJ-only CPRS exam	Not currently required
International credential exam	IC&RC Peer Recovery exam
Renewal cycle	2 years
Continuing education	18 hours
Medicaid peer coverage	Yes, in applicable programs
Major Medicaid peer code	H0038 with applicable modifiers
Community Peer Recovery Centers	Yes
Family Support Centers	Yes
CCBHC peer services	Yes
Hospital/ED peer recovery	Yes
Crisis peer workforce	Yes
Mental health peer warmline	Yes
Last reviewed	August 2026

What Is Peer Support in New Jersey?

Peer support is nonclinical assistance delivered by people whose lived experience helps them understand and support another person’s recovery.

New Jersey describes Certified Peer Recovery Specialists as individuals with lived experience involving:

Mental health disorders
Substance use disorders
Co-occurring disorders

CPRS professionals use that experience to help others navigate recovery through person-centered, strengths-based support. (NJ.gov)

Peer support may include:

Recovery mentoring
Recovery coaching
Goal setting
Recovery planning
Advocacy
Resource navigation
Treatment engagement
Community connection
Wellness support
Recovery capital development
Mutual support connection
Housing navigation
Employment support
Education support
Family engagement
Harm reduction
Overdose prevention
Hospital transition support
Crisis follow-up
Telephone support
Group support

Peer support is distinct from psychotherapy and other clinical behavioral health services.

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

The Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, or CPRS, is New Jersey’s primary professional peer recovery credential.

New Jersey describes the CPRS as someone with lived recovery experience who provides:

Nonclinical support
Person-centered support
Strengths-based support
Recovery guidance
Mentoring
Advocacy
Recovery role modeling

(NJ.gov)

The Addiction Professionals Certification Board describes the CPRS as an entry-level credential rather than a clinical practice credential.

A CPRS cannot use the credential as a substitute for:

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or LCADC
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CADC
Other clinical professional licenses

The CPRS is intended for workers providing recovery support rather than independent counseling or clinical treatment. (APCB)

Where Do New Jersey CPRSs Work?

The New Jersey Department of Human Services identifies several settings where CPRSs may work, including:

Treatment centers
Recovery centers
Hospitals
Emergency departments
Prevention agencies
Educational settings
Behavioral health organizations
Community programs

(NJ.gov)

Peers also work within:

Community Peer Recovery Centers
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
Substance use treatment providers
Opioid Overdose Recovery Programs
Crisis programs
Mental health programs
Family support programs
Recovery community services

CPRS Lived Experience Requirement

Lived experience is fundamental to the New Jersey CPRS credential.

Current New Jersey guidance requires at least two years spent in recovery from lived experience involving substance use and/or mental health disorders.

The recovery requirement is self-attested. (NJ.gov)

This distinguishes the CPRS role from traditional behavioral health professions where expertise is primarily based on academic or clinical training.

CPRS Education Requirement

Applicants must have:

A high school diploma, or
GED

to qualify for CPRS certification. (NJ.gov)

A college degree is not required.

CPRS Training Requirement

New Jersey requires 46 hours of pre-approved CPRS training. (NJ.gov)

Approved training is organized around the core domains of peer recovery support.

The Addiction Professionals Certification Board identifies four major domains:

Advocacy
Ethical Responsibility
Mentoring and Education
Recovery/Wellness Support

(APCB)

Training may address:

Recovery principles
Peer relationships
Recovery coaching
Advocacy
Ethics
Boundaries
Wellness
Communication
Recovery planning
Resource navigation
Multiple pathways to recovery
Use of lived experience
Cultural responsiveness
Professional peer practice

CPRS Work Experience Requirement

New Jersey requires at least 500 hours of work experience.

Current state guidance specifies that the experience must occur:

In a pre-approved facility
Within the previous two years

(NJ.gov)

This requirement means completing CPRS training alone does not establish full certification.

Programs employing people working toward CPRS certification should maintain systems for tracking qualifying work hours.

CPRS Supervised Practicum

Applicants must complete a 25-hour supervised practicum.

Current state guidance states that the practicum must be provided by:

A CPRS
A licensed professional
Or an approved agency

(NJ.gov)

Organizations developing their peer workforce should distinguish between:

General employee supervision
CPRS practicum hours
Peer-specific supervision
Clinical consultation
Medicaid-required supervision

How to Become a CPRS in New Jersey

Step 1: Meet the Education Requirement

Have a high school diploma or GED.

Step 2: Meet the Lived Experience Requirement

Have at least two years in recovery involving mental health and/or substance use lived experience.

Step 3: Complete 46 Hours of Approved Training

Complete a pre-approved CPRS training curriculum.

Step 4: Complete 500 Hours of Work Experience

Accumulate qualifying peer recovery work experience in a pre-approved facility.

Step 5: Complete the 25-Hour Practicum

Complete the required supervised practicum.

Step 6: Apply Through the Certification Board

Submit the CPRS application to the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey.

Step 7: Select the Applicable Credential Path

New Jersey currently allows applicants to obtain a New Jersey-only CPRS without taking the IC&RC Peer Recovery Specialist examination.

Applicants seeking the international credential must pass the IC&RC examination.

The Certification Board states that someone holding the New Jersey-only CPRS may later take the examination and upgrade to the international credential. (APCB)

New Jersey-Only CPRS vs. International CPRS

New Jersey currently distinguishes between a state-only certification pathway and an internationally recognized peer recovery credential.

New Jersey-Only CPRS

The New Jersey-only credential:

Does not currently require the IC&RC examination
Is recognized within New Jersey
Uses the state’s CPRS certification requirements

International Credential

The international pathway requires the IC&RC Peer Recovery examination.

The advantage of the international credential is potential recognition by other jurisdictions participating in the IC&RC system. (APCB)

Peers expecting to work across state lines should carefully consider which credential pathway best fits their career plans.

CPRS Renewal

Current Addiction Professionals Certification Board requirements establish a two-year certification cycle.

CPRS professionals must complete 18 hours of continuing education during the 24 months between certifications.

The continuing education may fall within the four Peer Recovery domains. (APCB)

The Certification Board currently lists a $200 nonrefundable renewal fee and a monthly late fee for late renewal.

Fees and renewal rules can change, so professionals should verify current requirements directly with the Certification Board.

CPRS Ethics

Certified Peer Recovery Specialists are required to comply with professional ethical standards established by the Certification Board.

Ethical peer practice may address:

Boundaries
Confidentiality
Self-determination
Use of lived experience
Dual relationships
Professional conduct
Advocacy
Cultural responsiveness
Participant choice
Conflicts of interest

The Certification Board requires applicants to verify that they have read and understood its Ethical Standards for Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. (APCB)

CPRS Scope of Practice

New Jersey explicitly describes CPRS as a nonclinical credential.

Appropriate peer activities may include:

Recovery coaching
Recovery mentoring
Sharing relevant lived experience
Recovery planning
Goal setting
Advocacy
Treatment navigation
Community resource navigation
Mutual support connection
Recovery capital development
Wellness support
Housing resource connection
Employment resource connection
Education support
Family support
Transition support
Recovery groups
Follow-up
Engagement

The exact scope depends on the program, payer, population, employer, and funding source.

Activities Generally Outside CPRS Scope

A CPRS credential does not independently authorize someone to:

Diagnose mental health disorders
Diagnose substance use disorders
Conduct psychotherapy
Practice independent counseling
Prescribe medication
Provide medical advice
Conduct assessments requiring clinical licensure
Independently modify clinical treatment
Make involuntary treatment decisions
Represent themselves as an LCADC
Represent themselves as a CADC
Represent themselves as another licensed clinician

The Certification Board specifically states that CPRS certification is not a clinical practice credential and does not substitute for LCADC or CADC qualifications. (APCB)

Substance Use Peer Recovery Support

Substance use recovery is a major component of New Jersey’s peer infrastructure.

DMHAS supports peer recovery services across:

Recovery centers
Treatment programs
Hospitals
Emergency departments
Community programs
Family support
Overdose response
Recovery navigation

The state also supports formal peer workforce training through programs connected with the New Jersey Prevention Network. DMHAS notes that not every peer position requires formal certification, although the state supports peer certification pathways for workers interested in state or national credentials. (NJ.gov)

Mental Health Peer Support

New Jersey’s CPRS framework also recognizes lived experience involving mental health disorders. (NJ.gov)

The state maintains a broader mental health peer ecosystem that includes:

Peer Recovery Warmline
Community behavioral health programs
CCBHCs
Crisis services
Recovery-oriented mental health programs
Family support

New Jersey’s Peer Recovery Warmline is a peer-run telephone support service staffed by people with lived experience with mental health disorders. (NJ.gov)

Co-Occurring Disorders

New Jersey explicitly recognizes people with co-occurring mental health and substance use experiences within the CPRS role. (NJ.gov)

This allows peer programs to support people whose recovery does not fit neatly into a mental health-only or substance use-only category.

Peers working with co-occurring populations may help participants:

Navigate multiple systems
Engage in treatment
Identify recovery goals
Develop wellness strategies
Build recovery capital
Connect with community resources
Strengthen natural supports

Community Peer Recovery Centers

New Jersey maintains a statewide network of Community Peer Recovery Centers, commonly abbreviated CPRCs.

The Department of Human Services describes CPRCs as organizations providing peer support recovery services and activities to their communities. (NJ.gov)

Services may include:

Peer recovery coaching
Naloxone training
Naloxone kits
Social activities
Recreational activities
Support groups
Recovery resources
Community connection

(NJ.gov)

These centers form a major part of New Jersey’s community recovery infrastructure.

Recovery Centers

New Jersey also supports Regional Recovery Centers and other recovery center programs.

DMHAS describes recovery centers as supportive, substance-free environments providing:

Peer support
Information about SUD treatment
Recovery support services
Community resource information
Social support
Opportunities to give back
Community connection

Most activities and services are peer-led or peer-driven. (NJ.gov)

Family Support Centers

New Jersey operates Family Support Centers, or FSCs, for families affected by substance use disorders.

Family Support Centers may provide:

One-on-one support
Group support
Naloxone information
Treatment system navigation
Education
Recovery resources
Family support

(NJ.gov)

These services recognize that substance use disorders affect families and natural support networks, not only the person receiving treatment.

Family Peer Support

New Jersey also uses family peer roles within portions of its behavioral health system.

For example, NJ Connect for Recovery provides support through a workforce that includes:

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors
Family Peer Specialists
Insurance navigation specialists

The service helps families understand treatment options, access resources, receive follow-up support, and navigate substance use systems. (NJ.gov)

Family peer support is distinct from psychotherapy and formal clinical family treatment.

Hospitals and Emergency Departments

New Jersey has developed a significant peer recovery presence within hospitals and emergency departments.

CPRS professionals may work in these settings to:

Engage patients
Build rapport
Provide recovery support
Discuss treatment options
Connect people with services
Develop recovery plans
Navigate treatment
Conduct follow-up
Support transitions into community care

The state specifically identifies hospitals and emergency departments as common CPRS employment settings. (NJ.gov)

Opioid Overdose Recovery Programs

New Jersey has used peer recovery specialists as part of its response to opioid overdose.

The state’s Opioid Overdose Recovery Program, commonly called OORP, connects people treated for opioid overdose with peer recovery support and navigation.

Historical NJ FamilyCare billing guidance for OORP includes peer recovery services incorporating:

Face-to-face hospital or emergency department engagement
Navigation
Recovery or care planning
Follow-up

(NJ.gov)

Organizations should verify current OORP contract and Medicaid requirements because reimbursement structures can change.

Crisis Services

Peers are increasingly incorporated into New Jersey’s behavioral health crisis continuum.

In March 2026, New Jersey opened its first Crisis Receiving Stabilization Center in Newark.

The state reported that the center would operate 24/7 with a multidisciplinary workforce including:

Prescriber
Registered nurse
Clinician
Behavioral health technician
Peer recovery specialist

(NJ.gov)

This reflects New Jersey’s broader movement toward incorporating lived-experience professionals into crisis care.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

New Jersey’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, or CCBHCs, explicitly provide peer services.

CCBHC services include:

Mental health services
Substance use services
Screening
Risk assessment
Crisis care
Care coordination
Peer services
Family support
Psychiatric rehabilitation
Supported employment
Supported education

(NJ.gov)

New Jersey currently has state-certified CCBHC providers operating across multiple locations. (NJ.gov)

Peer workers within CCBHCs may support both mental health and substance use populations.

Peer Recovery Warmline

New Jersey operates a Peer Recovery Warmline for people in mental health recovery.

The warmline is:

Peer-run
Staffed by people with lived mental health experience
Focused on ongoing telephone support
Designed to provide supportive peer connection

(NJ.gov)

Warmline support should be distinguished from emergency crisis services.

Is Peer Support Covered by NJ FamilyCare?

Yes, peer support is reimbursable within specific NJ FamilyCare programs and provider structures.

However, there is not one universal rule under which every CPRS service is automatically billable.

Coverage depends on:

Program
Provider type
Participant
Peer qualification
Service
Setting
Documentation
Applicable Medicaid requirements

This distinction is particularly important for New Jersey’s large community recovery ecosystem.

A peer service may be funded through:

Medicaid
DMHAS contract
State grant
Federal grant
Hospital contract
Opioid settlement funding
Other program funding

NJ FamilyCare Peer Recovery Billing

New Jersey has used H0038 for qualifying peer recovery services.

For substance use services, state Medicaid materials identify:

H0038 HF

Self-help/peer services, individual, per 15 minutes.

Historical state guidance for Medicaid SUD treatment providers identifies H0038 HF for individual face-to-face Peer Recovery Support Services. (NJ.gov)

The HF modifier identifies substance use disorder programming.

Organizations should verify current:

Fee schedules
Modifiers
Provider types
Managed care rules
Authorization
Limits

before billing.

Medicaid Peer Recovery Support Specialist Qualifications

New Jersey Medicaid guidance for SUD peer recovery services has required qualifying peer workers to have:

Lived experience
At least two years of successful recovery from an SUD diagnosis
Recognized Peer Recovery Support Specialist certification

(NJ.gov)

Because Medicaid requirements may be more specific than general CPRS certification requirements, organizations should separately verify the current Medicaid standard for the program under which they bill.

Medicaid Peer Services in Independent Clinics

New Jersey has established Peer Recovery Support Services within qualifying independent clinic substance use treatment settings.

Historical state guidance identifies qualifying settings including:

Independent drug and alcohol clinics
FQHCs under applicable structures
Opioid Treatment Programs
CCBHCs

(NJ.gov)

The exact current enrollment and billing structure should be confirmed with NJ FamilyCare and the applicable managed care organization.

Medicaid Documentation

New Jersey Medicaid guidance has required a progress note for each qualifying peer recovery visit.

The note should support the procedure code billed and document elements including:

Specific service rendered
Duration
Setting
Outcome of the intervention
Progress toward identified goals

(NJ.gov)

This creates a direct relationship between peer documentation and claims compliance.

Documentation for New Jersey Peer Support

A strong peer support note may include:

Participant identifier
Date
Start time
End time
Duration
Location
Modality
Peer worker
CPRS credential
Recovery goal
Peer activity
Relevant use of lived experience
Recovery coaching intervention
Resource navigation
Advocacy
Recovery capital addressed
Participant response
Progress
Follow-up
Connection to recovery or service plan
Signature or attestation

When Medicaid reimbursement is involved, documentation should satisfy the specific service requirements for the code being billed.

Documentation Should Be

Accurate
Timely
Person-centered
Strengths-based
Recovery-oriented
Specific
Respectful
Relevant
Consistent with peer scope
Connected to participant goals
Consistent with payer requirements when billed

Documentation Should Avoid

Unsupported diagnoses
Clinical interpretations outside peer scope
Stigmatizing language
Generic statements such as “provided peer support”
Copy-and-paste notes
Unnecessary sensitive information
Services that did not occur
Personal opinions presented as clinical facts
Documentation designed solely to justify reimbursement

Participants Must Understand the Peer Role

New Jersey Medicaid guidance has specifically required beneficiaries receiving Peer Recovery Support Services to be informed that:

The staff member is a peer
The peer is not a counselor
The participant has a choice about working with peer staff

(NJ.gov)

This is an important expression of peer role integrity and participant choice.

Peers Cannot Replace Counseling Staff

New Jersey Medicaid guidance also states that peer workers:

May not substitute for substance use counseling staff
May not be counted toward applicable counselor staffing ratios
Must perform functions consistent with their peer job description

(NJ.gov)

This reinforces the distinction between peer support and clinical treatment.

Documentation and Billing Are Not the Same Thing

Completing a peer note does not automatically establish that the service is reimbursable.

Payment may additionally depend on:

NJ FamilyCare eligibility
Covered service
Provider enrollment
Program eligibility
CPRS qualification
Medicaid-specific peer qualification
Participant choice
Service plan
Correct code
Correct modifier
Units
Authorization
Documentation
Timely filing
Managed care requirements

Organizations should verify each component rather than treating CPRS certification as automatic Medicaid billing authority.

Supervision

The New Jersey CPRS is not an independent clinical practice credential.

The Certification Board explicitly describes the CPRS as working under agency supervision. (APCB)

Peer supervision may address:

Use of lived experience
Peer ethics
Boundaries
Recovery orientation
Participant choice
Recovery coaching
Advocacy
Documentation
Role fidelity
Difficult interactions
Crisis escalation
Staff wellness
Professional development

Organizations should distinguish among:

Administrative supervision
Peer practice supervision
Clinical consultation
CPRS practicum supervision
Medicaid-required supervision

New Jersey peer organizations may handle highly sensitive mental health and substance use information.

Applicable requirements may include:

HIPAA
42 CFR Part 2
New Jersey confidentiality requirements
NJ FamilyCare requirements
DMHAS requirements
Certification ethics
Employer policies
Participant consent

Peer workers should receive training covering:

What information they may access
What information should be documented
What information may be shared
Participant consent
Substance use records
Mental health records
Treatment-team communication
Text messaging
Email
Telehealth
Social media
Crisis communication
Legal requests

Organizations should obtain qualified compliance guidance for their specific services.

Starting a Peer Support Program in New Jersey

Organizations should begin by defining the population, peer role, funding source, and service setting.

Step 1: Define the Population

Determine whether the program serves:

People with substance use disorders
People with mental health conditions
People with co-occurring disorders
Families
People after overdose
Hospital patients
People experiencing behavioral health crises
People in community recovery
Other populations

Step 2: Determine the Peer Qualification

Determine whether staff need:

CPRS
International CPRS
Program-specific peer training
Family peer qualifications
Medicaid-specific qualifications
Additional specialty training

Step 3: Establish Credential Tracking

Track:

High school diploma/GED
Two-year recovery requirement
46 training hours
500 work hours
25 practicum hours
CPRS certification
Certification number
Expiration date
International credential status
Continuing education
Renewal

Step 4: Establish Supervision

Determine:

Peer supervisor
Administrative supervisor
Practicum supervisor
Clinical consultation
Medicaid supervision when applicable
Supervision frequency
Documentation expectations
Crisis escalation procedures

Step 5: Determine the Funding Model

Possible funding sources include:

NJ FamilyCare
DMHAS
Federal grants
State grants
Opioid settlement funds
Hospital contracts
County funding
Philanthropy
Other contracts

Step 6: Determine Medicaid Provider Structure

If billing NJ FamilyCare, determine:

Provider type
Enrollment
Peer qualification
Covered service
Participant eligibility
H0038 applicability
Modifier
Units
Authorization
Documentation
Managed care requirements

Step 7: Build the Service Workflow

Map:

Referral
Outreach
Intake
Consent
Peer choice
Recovery goals
Peer assignment
Scheduling
Service delivery
Documentation
Supervision
Follow-up
Outcomes
Billing

Step 8: Establish Role Boundaries

Develop policies covering:

Use of lived experience
Peer vs. counselor roles
Confidentiality
Dual relationships
Transportation
Gifts
Social media
Communication outside work
Crisis escalation
Staff wellness
Role drift

Step 9: Configure Documentation

Peer documentation should support:

Recovery goals
Service delivered
Duration
Setting
Participant response
Progress
Follow-up
Applicable billing requirements

Step 10: Measure Outcomes

Potential outcomes include:

Engagement
Treatment initiation
Treatment retention
Recovery capital
Recovery goal progress
Community connection
Natural supports
Housing stability
Employment
Education
Overdose recurrence
Emergency department utilization
Crisis utilization
Participant satisfaction
Peer workforce retention
Documentation timeliness

Common Challenges for New Jersey Peer Programs

Certification vs. Job Qualification

DMHAS notes that not every peer position requires formal certification. (NJ.gov)

Organizations therefore need to distinguish among:

Peer job eligibility
CPRS certification
Contract requirements
Medicaid requirements

State-Only vs. International CPRS

New Jersey currently allows a state-only CPRS without the IC&RC examination.

Organizations should know which version of the credential each worker holds.

Tracking 500 Experience Hours

People pursuing CPRS certification must accumulate 500 qualifying hours.

Organizations developing their own peer workforce need reliable hour tracking.

Tracking the 25-Hour Practicum

The supervised practicum is separate from general work experience and should be tracked accordingly.

Community Support vs. Medicaid Services

New Jersey has a large grant-funded and state-funded peer recovery infrastructure.

Not every service delivered at a Community Peer Recovery Center is a Medicaid encounter.

Programs should preserve low-barrier peer support while separately identifying encounters that satisfy Medicaid requirements.

Peer vs. Counselor Role

New Jersey explicitly distinguishes CPRSs from counselors.

Role drift can occur when organizations ask peers to perform:

Counseling
Clinical assessments
Administrative work
Generic case management
Compliance monitoring

Organizations should preserve the unique function of lived-experience peer support.

Hospital Transitions

Hospital and emergency department peer programs require strong workflows for:

Referral
Rapid peer engagement
Consent
Treatment navigation
Recovery planning
Follow-up
Community handoff
Outcomes

Poor coordination can result in participants being lost after discharge.

Fragmented Technology

Peer programs may use separate systems for:

Referrals
Recovery plans
Scheduling
Peer documentation
Participant communication
Credential tracking
Supervision
Outcomes
Medicaid billing
Grant reporting

This fragmentation can increase administrative burden and reduce time available for relationship-based support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is New Jersey’s primary peer credential?

The Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, or CPRS. (NJ.gov)

Who certifies CPRSs?

The Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey administers CPRS certification. (APCB)

Is lived experience required?

Yes.

Current New Jersey guidance requires at least two years in recovery involving substance use and/or mental health lived experience. (NJ.gov)

Is a high school diploma required?

Yes, either a high school diploma or GED. (NJ.gov)

How much CPRS training is required?

46 hours of pre-approved training. (NJ.gov)

How much work experience is required?

500 hours in a pre-approved facility within the applicable two-year period. (NJ.gov)

Is supervision required?

Applicants must complete a 25-hour supervised practicum. (NJ.gov)

Does New Jersey require the IC&RC exam?

Not for the current New Jersey-only CPRS.

The IC&RC examination is required for the international credential. (APCB)

Can someone upgrade from the New Jersey-only CPRS?

Yes.

The Certification Board states that a state-only CPRS can later take the examination and upgrade to the international credential. (APCB)

How often does CPRS certification renew?

Every two years under current Certification Board requirements. (APCB)

How much continuing education is required?

18 hours during the two-year certification period. (APCB)

Can a CPRS provide therapy?

No.

CPRS is explicitly a nonclinical credential and does not substitute for professional counseling licensure. (APCB)

Can a CPRS work with mental health participants?

Yes.

New Jersey’s CPRS definition includes lived experience involving mental health disorders. (NJ.gov)

Can a CPRS work with substance use recovery?

Yes.

Substance use recovery is a major component of New Jersey’s CPRS and peer recovery infrastructure. (NJ.gov)

Can CPRSs work in hospitals?

Yes.

New Jersey specifically identifies hospitals and emergency departments as CPRS employment settings. (NJ.gov)

Does New Jersey have Community Peer Recovery Centers?

Yes.

New Jersey maintains a statewide network of CPRCs providing community recovery support. (NJ.gov)

Does New Jersey have Family Support Centers?

Yes.

Family Support Centers support families affected by substance use disorders. (NJ.gov)

Do New Jersey CCBHCs provide peer support?

Yes.

Peer services and family support are included within New Jersey’s CCBHC service model. (NJ.gov)

Does New Jersey Medicaid cover peer support?

Yes, within applicable NJ FamilyCare programs and provider structures.

What Medicaid code is used for SUD peer recovery support?

New Jersey Medicaid materials identify H0038 HF for applicable individual SUD Peer Recovery Support Services. (NJ.gov)

Are all Community Peer Recovery Center services Medicaid billable?

No.

Community recovery centers provide a broad range of peer and community services. Medicaid reimbursement depends on the specific provider, service, participant, workforce, and billing requirements.

Are CPRSs counselors?

No.

New Jersey explicitly distinguishes peer workers from counselors and requires participants in applicable Medicaid peer programs to understand that distinction. (NJ.gov)

Official New Jersey Peer Support Resources

New Jersey Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Official New Jersey Department of Human Services workforce resource explaining the CPRS role, lived-experience requirement, education, training, 500-hour work requirement, 25-hour supervised practicum, employment settings, and certification pathway.