What is a Peer Support Specialist? (Apprenticeship coming soon!)
Peer Support Specialists (PSS) are an emerging, unique, and effective solution to the needs of the mental health industry, serving as approachable role models for people coping through mental health challenges and/or substance use disorders. Having gone through these struggles themselves, Peer Support Specialists leverage their own experiences in addition to professional training to help guide and support people in recovery. PSS do this through a variety of responsibilities such as advocacy, system navigation, and mentoring. Learn more about the PSS profession through SAMHSA’s resources below:
Once the PSS apprenticeship launches, both existing employees and new hires are eligible to participate. This apprenticeship is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and provides an opportunity for structured, on-the-job learning in roles such as intake counseling, after-school programming, outreach work, justice reentry, and more.
By investing in apprenticeships, employers demonstrate their dedication to access, inclusion, and professional development, all while building a pipeline of talented professionals passionate about serving young people.
Interested in learning more? Fill out our interest form!
The Apprenticeship Commitment
Apprentices commit to at least 2,000 hours* of on-the-job learning concurrent with job duties, supplemented by at least 150 hours of related coursework.
*Existing employees may receive a signed endorsement verifying up to 1,000 hours of previous on-the-job learning.
What apprentices learn: The 165 hours of related training instruction are across nine distinctive modules, including Public Health Principles, Trauma-Informed Care, Psychosocial Support & Rehabilitation, and more.
To learn more about becoming an employer that sponsors an apprentice in your organization or to learn about becoming an apprentice, schedule a conversation with a NIWL apprenticeship specialist by emailing apprenticeship@fhi360.org
A Week in the Life of an Apprentice
Each week, Peer Support Specialist Apprentices spend about 70% of their time completing tasks aligned with their jobs, 20% of their time on the job with their mentor, and 10% of their time completing related training.
