SCCC Peer Support Training

Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification

Turn lived experience into skilled peer support work, with training, supervision, and career support from SCCC.

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Peer support training participants in conversation
80 hours completed over five weeks
17 core competencies aligned with Medi-Cal certification
Hybrid options in-person, online, asynchronous, and hybrid training

Beyond the Certificate

Support Beyond Graduation

SCCC offers comprehensive support throughout your journey to a career in behavioral health.

  • Enhance your skills with free drop-in Peer Supervision for six months following program completion.
  • Receive PSS services from graduates of our program to support you every step of the way from training through placement.
  • Receive personalized career plans, job placement support, and access to our state-wide job board.
  • Benefit from learning in a behavioral health setting with pathways for further training, networking, and mentorship.

Program Details

Training built for peer support work in California.

Learn peer values, social justice, self-advocacy, self-reflection, hands-on support skills, and group collaboration in a behavioral health setting.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Must be 18 years old or older.
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent qualification.
  • Personally identify with the recovery journey from mental illness or substance use disorder, either through personal experience or as a parent, caregiver, or family member.
  • Open to sharing personal experiences and committed to the recovery process.
  • Ready to complete the full 80-hour training program.

Course Schedule

  • Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • 25 hours of asynchronous online training.
  • 3 hours of experiential process groups.

Financial assistance is available upon request.

Application

Apply for Peer Support Specialist training.

Complete the two-step application below. We will follow up using the contact information you provide.

Application

Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Training Application

Complete a focused two-step application covering your experience, demographic survey, and required acknowledgements.

Two-step form Required fields marked *
1 Application
2 Demographics

Step 1

Application details

Tell us who you are, how to reach you, and the experience you would bring into peer support work.

Enter a 5-digit California ZIP code to auto-fill city.

Current role and employment

Help us understand your current work context

Select the options that describe your present experience. If you are employed, tell us where you work and your title.

Do you have any experience providing peer support?

Are you currently in a peer support specialist role?

Are you currently employed?

Written responses

Tell us in your own words

Use the prompts below to describe the perspective and experience you would bring into the training program.

Many experiences influence who we are. Please tell us an important experience you've had that has shaped you, influenced you, and led you to the decision to become a Peer Support Specialist.

Please describe an experience from your past that shows how you've coped with feeling different or "othered" socially, systematically, or relationally.

Step 2

Demographic survey and acknowledgements

Finish with the funder survey and confirm the program expectations required for submission.

Demographic Data

The next set of questions includes a demographic survey administered by the funder of this program. The purpose of this survey is to help evaluate how well the program serves individuals from diverse backgrounds. Your responses are optional and will not be used to determine your eligibility for the program.

Please identify your Race/Ethnicity:

Not everybody uses the same labels, however, indicate which BEST describes your current gender:

Not everybody uses the same labels to describe their sexual orientation, however, indicate which BEST describes your sexual orientation:

Do you identify as having a disability?

A disability is defined as an individual who: 1) has a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that limits one or more life activities, such as walking, speaking, breathing, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, learning, caring for oneself or working; 2) has a record or history of such impairment or medical condition; or 3) is regarded as having such an impairment or medical condition.

Do you have any lived experience with mental health, substance abuse as a consumer or as a family member?

Are you a military service member?

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