# Title 75 — Department of Human Services

## Article 75-03 — Community Services

## Chapter 75-03-43 — Certified Peer Support Specialists

### § 75-03-43-01. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter:
1. "Certified peer support specialist I" means a peer support specialist who has been approved
by the division as certified in North Dakota as a certified peer support specialist I.
2. "Certified peer support specialist II" means a peer support specialist who has been approved
by the division as certified in North Dakota as a certified peer support specialist II.
3. "Department" means the North Dakota department of human services.
4. "Division" means the behavioral health division.
5. "Peer support specialist" means an individual who uses the individual's lived experience and
skills learned through formal training to deliver services to promote mind-body recovery and
resiliency.
6. "Recovery" means a process of change through which individuals improve the individual's
health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach the individual's potential.
History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
### § 75-03-43-02. Eligibility.

1. An applicant shall meet the following criteria to be eligible to become a certified peer support
specialist I:
a. Self-identify as an individual who has personal lived experience and is willing to publicly
identify as an individual in recovery from a mental health disorder, substance use
disorder, brain injury, or any combination thereof; or a family member who has personal
lived experience with an individual with a mental health disorder, substance use disorder,
brain injury, or any combination thereof;
b. At least eighteen years of age;
c. Currently resides or is employed within the state;
d. Have a high school diploma, general equivalency diploma, or can demonstrate the ability
to read and write at a level proficient for training, documentation, and the type of work
peer support will require; and

e. Successfully complete a division-approved peer support training program.
2. An applicant shall meet the following criteria to be eligible to become a certified peer support
specialist II:
a. Self-identify as an individual who has personal lived experience and is willing to publicly
identify as an individual in recovery from a mental health disorder, substance use
disorder, traumatic brain injury, or any combination thereof; or a family member who has
personal lived experience with an individual with a mental health disorder, substance use
disorder, traumatic brain injury, or any combination thereof;
b. At least eighteen years of age;
c. Currently resides or is employed within the state;
d. Have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma or can demonstrate the
ability to read and write at a level proficient for training, documentation, and the type of
work peer support will require;
e. Successfully complete a division approved peer support training program; and
f. Applicant has at least one thousand five hundred direct service hours as a peer support
specialist.
History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
### § 75-03-43-03. Application for certification of certified peer support specialist I.

1. An applicant shall submit a signed application for certification and all required information and
documentation for certification in the form and manner prescribed by the division, along with:
a. Proof of successful completion of division-approved peer support training;
b. Three letters of recommendation:
(1) One personal recommendation;
(2) One professional recommendation; and
(3) One recommendation that demonstrates the applicant's commitment to the
applicant's or family member's recovery process;
c. A personal statement that must detail how the applicant will use the individual's lived
experience to benefit others through a peer relationship; and
(1) The applicant's commitment to the recovery process, including information
establishing a continued recovery for a year or longer; or
(2) The applicant's commitment to the individual's family member's recovery process,
including information establishing a period of recovery support for a year or longer;
d. A signed North Dakota certified peer support specialist code of ethics;
e. A nonrefundable application fee of fifty dollars; and
f. The requirements of section 75-03-43-02.

2. The division shall consider an application for certification complete when it has received all
information and documentation required under this section and section 75-03-43-02. The
division shall notify an applicant if an application for certification is incomplete. The division
may declare an application for certification withdrawn if an applicant fails to submit all required
information and documentation within thirty days of the division's notification to the applicant
that the application for certification is incomplete.
3. Upon receipt of a completed application for certification, the division shall review and
determine an approval or denial of certification based on whether the applicant has submitted
information to satisfy the eligibility and application for certification requirements under this
section and section 75-03-43-02.
4. An applicant may appeal a decision to deny an application for certification by completing a
written appeal with the department within thirty days of the decision. Upon receipt of a timely
appeal, an administrative hearing must be governed by the provisions of chapter 75-01-03.
5. Applications for certification and all accompanying materials are subject to the open records
requirements of North Dakota Century Code chapter 44-04.
History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
aw Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
### § 75-03-43-04. Application for certification of certified peer support specialist II.

1. An applicant shall submit a signed application for certification and all required information and
documentation for certification in the form and manner prescribed by the division, along with:
a. Proof of successful completion of division-approved peer support supervision training;
b. Two letters of recommendation:
(1) One personal recommendation; and
(2) One professional recommendation;
c. A personal statement that must detail how the applicant will provide direction, develop
competence, skills, and ethical expertise in a collaborative manner with certified peer
support specialists I;
d. A nonrefundable application fee of fifty dollars; and
e. The requirements of section 75-03-43-02.
2. The division shall consider an application for certification complete when it has received all
information and documentation required under this section and section 75-03-43-02. The
division shall notify an applicant if an application for certification is incomplete. The division
may declare an application for certification withdrawn if an applicant fails to submit all required
information and documentation within thirty days of the division's notification to the applicant
that the application for certification is incomplete.
3. Upon receipt of a completed application for certification, the division will review and determine
an approval or denial of certification based on whether the applicant has submitted information
to satisfy the eligibility and application for certification requirements under this section and
section 75-03-43-02.

4. An applicant may appeal a decision to deny an application for certification by completing a
written appeal with the department within thirty days of the decision. Upon receipt of a timely
appeal, an administrative hearing must be governed by the provisions of chapter 75-01-03.
5. Applications for certification and all accompanying materials are subject to the open records
requirements of North Dakota Century Code chapter 44-04.
History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
### § 75-03-43-05. Certification.

1. Certifications are effective when approved by the division and the certificate has been issued
to the certified peer support specialist I or II.
2. Certificates are effective for a period of two years.
3. Certificates expire at midnight of the expiration date provided on the certification.
4. A certified peer support specialist I or II shall inform the division of any changes in personal
information within sixty days.
History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
### § 75-03-43-06. Recertification.

1. To renew a certification, a certified peer support specialist I shall submit an application for
recertification, along with all required supporting information and documentation in the form
and manner prescribed by the division. Application for recertification will be accepted within
ninety days of expiration of current certificate. Information required for recertification includes:
a. A personal statement that must include the applicant's experience as a certified peer
support specialist I, and how the applicant will continue to use the individual's lived
experience to benefit through a peer relationship. The statement must:
(1) Demonstrate the applicant's commitment to the recovery process, including
information establishing a period of continued recovery for a year or longer; or
(2) Demonstrate the applicant's commitment to an individual family member's recovery
process;
b. A signed North Dakota certified peer support specialist code of ethics;
c. Evidence of compliance with section 75-03-43-02; and
d. A nonrefundable application fee of fifty dollars.
2. To renew a certification, a certified peer support specialist II shall submit an application for
recertification, along with all required supporting information and documentation in the form
and manner prescribed by the division. Application for recertification will be accepted within
ninety days of expiration of current certificate. Information required for recertification includes:
a. A personal statement that must detail the applicant's experience as a peer support
specialist II and how the applicant will continue to provide direction, develop competence,

skills, and ethical expertise in a collaborative manner with certified peer support
specialists I;
b. A signed North Dakota certified peer support specialist code of ethics;
c. Evidence of compliance with section 75-03-43-02; and
d. A nonrefundable application fee of fifty dollars.
3. If a certified peer support specialist I or II does not submit an application for recertification, the
individual shall not be eligible to practice as a certified peer support specialist I or II after the
individual's certification has expired. The division may extend the renewal deadline for an
applicant who has proof of a hardship as recognized by the division. The decision to deny a
request for extension is not an appealable decision.
4. The division shall consider an application for recertification complete when it has received all
information and documentation required under this section and section 75-03-43-02. The
division shall notify a certified peer support specialist I or II if an application for recertification is
incomplete. The division may declare an application for recertification withdrawn if a certified
peer support specialist I or II fails to submit all required information and documentation within
thirty days of the division's notification to the certified peer support specialist I or II that the
application for recertification is incomplete.
5. Upon receipt of a completed application for recertification, the division shall review and
determine an approval or denial of recertification based on whether the certified peer support
specialist I or II has submitted information to satisfy the eligibility and application for
recertification requirements under this section and section 75-03-43-02.
6. A certified peer support specialist I or II may appeal a decision to deny an application for
recertification by completing a written appeal with the department within thirty days of the
decision. Upon receipt of a timely appeal, an administrative hearing must be governed by the
provisions of chapter 75-01-03.
7. Applications for recertification and all accompanying materials are subject to the open records
requirements of North Dakota Century Code chapter 44-04.
8. If a certified peer support specialist I or II certification lapses, the applicant shall apply for
certification under the provisions of section 75-03-43-03.
History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
### § 75-03-43-07. Continuing education.

1. Twenty hours of continuing education are required for a two-year certification period. At least
two hours of continuing education must be on the topic of peer support specialist ethics. No
more than four hours of continuing education can be completed by self-study or distance
learning methods unless an exception is granted by the division. If a certified peer support
specialist I or II is certified in July or later of a calendar year, the two-year continuing education
reporting cycle beings the following year. The division may require evidence that an applicant
for recertification has completed continuing education requirements.
2. A certified peer support specialist II shall complete all continuing education requirements as
outlined in subsection 1 along with four additional hours of training specific to supervision of
peer support specialists.

History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
### § 75-03-43-08. Revocation and complaints.

1. The division may revoke the certification of a peer support specialist based on a determination
that it is necessary to protect the welfare, health, and safety of the residents of the state.
2. Formal complaints against a certified peer support specialist may be made to the division.
There is no provision for anonymous complaints.
3. A peer support specialist may reapply for certification, pursuant to section 75-03-43-06, no
sooner than one hundred eighty days after determination of revocation.
4. A peer support specialist may appeal a decision to revoke a certification by completing a
written appeal with the department within thirty days of the decision. Upon receipt of a timely
appeal, an administrative hearing must be conducted in the manner provided in chapter
75-01-03.
History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
### § 75-03-43-09. Reciprocity.

A certified peer support specialist from another state may obtain certification in this state if the
department has entered into a reciprocity agreement with the state that issued the individual's
certificate.
History: Effective July 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06-41.1
