To become a Peer Support Specialist in North Dakota, the first step is to take an initial peer support specialist training.
- Do you identify as a person with lived experience of recovery from mental health, substance use, brain injury and/or a combination thereof? Do you want to provide peer support to others with like, lived experience? You will want to apply for the Peer Support Specialist Training.
- Do you identify as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated child or youth serving systems on behalf of their child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health, and/or behavioral healthcare needs? Do you want to provide others with like, lived experience? You will want to apply for the Parent and Caregiver Peer Support Training.
If you have completed a training program in a different state, reach out to peersupport@nd.gov to discuss next steps for certification.
As a certified peer support specialist, you are required to obtain at least 20 hours of continuing education units during every 2-year renewal period; two hours must be specific to peer support ethics. Below you will find continuing education training opportunities.
Peer Support training is 40 hours long, over the course of 5 days. Full attendance is required for successful completion of Peer Support Training. For all upcoming trainings we utilize an application process to offer priority to those who have a current or pending position at an agency that would benefit from attending. Please note, the application does NOT register you for the training. As applications are processed, you will receive notification of next steps.
Hotel accommodations are available for individuals traveling from over 60 miles to an in-person training.
Who should attend?
- Individuals who publicly identify as a person in recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, brain injury or combination thereof
- Individuals supervising Peer Support Specialists
- A family member of an individual living with a mental health condition, substance use disorder, brain injury, or combination thereof
Please reach out to peersupport@nd.gov or any questions.
Oct. 5-9, 2026
This training will be held in person in Bismarck, ND.
Jan. 11-15, 2027
This training will be held virtually.
Application will open Nov. 2, 2026.
Parent and Caregiver Peer Support Training
A five day training, split into an initial 3 day foundational training (in-person or virtual) and a following 2-day virtual training. Full attendance in both is required for successful completion of Parent and Caregiver Peer Support Training. For all upcoming trainings we utilize an application process; please note the application does not register you for the training. As applications are processed, you will receive notification of next steps.
Who should attend?
Parent and Caregiver Peers have lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated child or youth serving systems on behalf of their child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health, and/or behavioral healthcare needs.
Upcoming Training Dates:
- Sept. 22–24, 2026 (virtual)
Please complete this application - Sept. 28–29, 2026 (virtual)
For questions about Parent and Caregiver Peer Support, reach out to Emilie Bahr, bahremilie@nd.gov
Upholding Integrity Through Lived Experience (2 CEUs)
Date: Nov. 5, 2026
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Who: Peer Support Specialists
Cost: Free
Format: Zoom Virtual Meeting
Date: May 20, 2027
Time: 9-11 a.m.
Who: Peer Support Specialists
Cost: Free
Format: Zoom Virtual Meeting
Registration will open Jan. 4, 2027.
Peer Support supervisors play a key role in the successful integration of peer support within the behavioral health system. This training will address the following topics:
- Overview of Supervision Specialists
- Recognizing Peer Drift
- Supervision is a Peer Relationship
- Job Descriptions
- First Meeting
- Supervision Models
- Development Models
- Evaluations
- Professional Ethics and Standards
- Relationship with the Agency
Date: Dec. 3 and 4, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CT, each day
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Date: May 17 and 18, 2027
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CT, each day
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Registration will open Jan. 4, 2027.
Each training is approved for a total of 12 CEUs by the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners, the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners and for North Dakota Certified Peer Support Specialists. This training meets the criteria for North Dakota peer support supervision.
To obtain your brain injury endorsement, visit the North Dakota Brain Injury Network website for more information.
Military service is a unique experience that has lasting impacts on many Veterans, military family members, and caregivers, including feelings of social connection in their communities. Peer Support Specialists have a unique opportunity to offer an intentional space for Veterans to connect and offer support as they navigate their post-service journey.
Developed by PsychArmor, this training aims to educate peer support specialists and provide a deeper understanding of the military culture. This peer support training is available to North Dakota Peer Support Specialists and offers 1 CEU.
To qualify for military peer support endorsement, a peer support must complete both classes identified below and send proof of completion to peersupport@nd.gov.
- 15 Things Veterans Want You To Know (17 mins) - This is the cornerstone course for PsychArmor and was created to educate anyone who works with, lives with, or cares for our military Veterans. PsychArmor asked hundreds of Veterans what they wanted civilians, employers, educators, healthcare providers, and therapists to know about them. These comments were used to create the topics of this course, including 5 Questions You Should Always Ask Veterans, 1 Question You Should Never Ask Veterans, and 15 Facts that promote greater understanding of our Veterans.
- Military Culture Series (40 mins) - Want to learn more about the US military and Veteran population? Here’s where you start. Our new Military Culture course series takes a deeper dive into four defining aspects of daily life in the military: Service, Values, People, and Transition. Expanding on ideas presented in our foundational course, 15 Things Veterans Want You To Know, this series introduces six characters who made the choice to serve their country.
Please reach out to peersupport@nd.gov for more information.
Peer Support Refresher
Peer Support skills training is continually advancing and evolving, and strengthening our specialized peer skills is important. This training will provide the opportunity to review our core peer skills and introduce updated enhanced skills. No CEUs available for recorded trainings.
Workshop Objectives:
- Examining Our Unique Skills
- Five Stages in the Recovery Process
- Effective Listening
- Peer Specialist Skill Evaluation
- Self-Care
Who should watch?
- Individuals recently hired by organizations to offer Peer Support Services who have not yet attended Peer Support training
- Individuals interested in attending Peer Support training
- Individuals who have previously attended Peer Support training
- Certified Peer Support specialists
- Supervisors of Peer Support Specialists
- Individuals interested in the role of a Peer Support Specialist in the workplace
Peer Support Ethics and Values in the Workplace
In this pre-recorded training, we discussed practical applications of ethics and boundaries to everyday peer-to-peer interactions. It will assist in enhancing critical thinking skills in ethical situations, clarify our own values as persons providing services, and foster learning opportunities while working within community agencies. No CEUs available for recorded trainings.
Workshop Objectives:
- Understand how ethics and boundaries lead to the delivery of quality services.
- Strengthen knowledge of ethics and how they apply to the individuals served by your agency.
- Learn how core recovery values are used as guiding principles and practices.
Who should watch?
- Individuals interested in attending Peer Support training
- Individuals who have previously attended Peer Support training
- Certified Peer Support specialists
- Supervisors of Peer Support Specialists
- Anybody interested in the role of a Peer Support Specialist in the workplace.
We are excited to invite you to participate in upcoming continuing education opportunities designed specifically for Peer Support Specialists. These sessions are a great way to strengthen your skills, connect with peers, and earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) at no cost.
Details:
- Who: Peer Support Specialists
- What: Continuing Education sessions with CEUs provided
- Cost: Free
- Format: Microsoft Teams Virtual Meetings
These opportunities are offered to support your professional growth and to ensure you have access to ongoing learning that enhances the important work you do every day.
The Cost of Caring – Addressing Vicarious Trauma
This training is designed for peers who support others in recovery or challenging life situations. Caring for others can take an emotional toll, and this session helps peers understand the impact of trauma on both the people they support and themselves. Participants will explore the types of trauma, learn trauma-informed approaches, and recognize signs of vicarious trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. The training emphasizes practical strategies for self-care and maintaining resilience while continuing to provide peer support.
Date: Monday, Aug. 17, 2026
Time: 2-4 p.m. CST
CEUs: 2
Click HERE to register!
Owning Your Life With Recovery Goal Setting
This training equips participants with the skills to set meaningful, realistic, and inspiring goals that support personal growth and recovery. It emphasizes a strength-based approach, enhancing confidence and engagement in achieving goals.
Participants will explore how goals act as milestones and sources of motivation. The training also addresses understanding resistance, identifying barriers such as fear of failure and external pressures, and providing strategies to address these constructively.
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026
Time: 2-4 p.m. CST
CEUs: 2
Click HERE to register!
Staying On Course - Identifying and Addressing Peer Drift
Peer drift refers to the gradual shift of peer providers away from their core role of leveraging lived experience to support others, often toward more traditional clinical or administrative functions. This can occur when organizational expectations, supervision styles, or workplace culture unintentionally prioritize compliance, documentation, or clinical norms over authentic peer connection. While integration into professional teams is essential, peer drift can dilute the unique value peers bring—mutuality, shared experience, and recovery-oriented support. We explore the causes and signs of peer drift, its impact on service quality and workforce identity, and strategies organizations can use to preserve the integrity of peer roles while maintaining effective collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.
Date: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2027
Time: 10-12 p.m. CST
CEUs: 2
Click HERE to register!
Video Trainings for Recovery Support | SAMHSA