Are you in recovery from a mental health and/or substance use disorder? Do you want to use your experience and recovery to help peers with their recovery journey? If so, you should think about becoming an OhioMHAS Certified Peer Recovery Supporter!

Individuals who successfully complete training will be eligible to apply for PRS Certification in Ohio. If you have criminal charges or are on probation/parole, please click here for additional information regarding PRS Certification requirements. Individuals applying for Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter Certification, must have a high school diploma or GED (there is no waiver or exception to this requirement).

Here are the steps to achieving your certification:

1. Complete e-Based Academy Courses

Eleven e-Based Academy courses (16 hours) must be completed as your first step to become a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter. Register for your free e-Based Academy account at www.ebasedacademy.org and complete these trainings:

1. Introduction to Certified Peer Recovery Support for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
2. History of Substance Use, Mental Health, and Advocacy for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
3. The Recovery Environment for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
4. Cultural Competency for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
5. Ethics and Boundaries for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
6. The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
7. Trauma Informed Care for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
8. Understanding Human Trafficking for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
9. Health and Wellness for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
10. Supervision for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters
11. Realities of Peer Recovery Support for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters

If you have questions about how to use the e-Based Academy, please view these Troubleshooting Tips or email the OhioMHAS IT Helpdesk at MHAhelpdesk@mha.ohio.gov.

2. Register for Online 40-Hour PRS Training

The second step to certification is completing the online 40-hour training. You must complete all e-Based Academy courses before registering for a 40-hour online PRS training. 

The 40-hour online PRS training must be completed on a laptop or desktop computer. You may not complete training on a phone or tablet (this includes Chromebooks). Before registering for training, it is your responsibility to carefully read the Online PRS Training Readiness Checklist and ensure that you can meet all requirements (participation and technological).

To register for training, you must download, fill out, and email the Registration Form to: henderson@adamhscc.org. If you completed the 11 e-Based Academy courses before September 2022, also email the certificates of completion to: henderson@adamhscc.org.

Also, indicate in email the training date preference selected from training dates below. You cannot register for the training online.

If the training you requested is full or registration is closed at the time your Registration Form is received, you will be placed on a training waiting list. If a space becomes available in the training, you will be contacted through email and/or telephone before the first day of training.  

Your registration will be confirmed through email from Myra Henderson because online trainings are limited to 18 participants.

Click here to download the Registration Form *When you click this link the document will automatically download to the downloads folder on your computer.

Online trainings are limited to 18 participants. Individuals residing in Cuyahoga County or employed/seeking employment in Cuyahoga County are the target participants for these trainings. Individuals from other counties may register for a training if space is available. 

Trainings with less than 10 participants present on the first day of training will be cancelled. Registration ends one week before the first day of training.

2024 OhioMHAS 40-Hour Peer Recovery Supporter (PRS) Trainings

You will work with OhioMHAS to complete steps 3 – 6. Click here for instructions on completing these final steps.

3. Complete Background Checks

Complete both a BCI and FBI background check. To avoid a delay in certification, OhioMHAS recommends completing your background checks as soon as you have registered for a 40-hour training. Background checks may take 30-45 days to arrive at OhioMHAS. Click here for background check instructions.

4. Apply for Certification with OhioMHAS

Once you’ve reached step 4, you’re almost there! This is when you can apply for your Peer Recovery Supporter Certification for the State of Ohio. You must upload the following documents to the eLicense web portal: https://elicense.ohio.gov/OH_CommunitiesLogin

• 11 e-Based academy certificates
• 40-hour training certificate (get this on the last day of your 40-hour training)

5. Complete Exam

Once you have successfully applied for certification and your BCI & FBI background checks have been received, you will receive by e-mail a link to complete the online exam.

6. Receive Your Certification!

 You will receive your Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter certification via email through the eLicense portal within 14 business days after you have passed your PRS exam.

Congratulations! You did it!

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