Approval for Social Workers in Tennessee

INITIAL:

Have successfully completed the state’s Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training within the past year. If more than one year has passed since taking the training, it must be retaken. To apply for the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training, complete Part One of the Certification Application, which can be found at https://cprs.tn.gov/home.

RENEWAL:

Certified Peer Recovery Specialists must complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education trainings, seminars, workshops, or college courses per two-year certification period. All continuing education must be approved by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS).

• A minimum of two (2) hours of continuing education per two-year certification period must be in ethics
• Continuing education focused on clinical treatment will not be accepted as it is a violation of the Code of Ethics for CPRS’s to provide clinical treatment

INITIAL:


We do not offer courses for initial certification for this credential. Information on the training required for initial certification can be found here: https://cfss.tn.gov/home

RENEWAL:

Thirty (30) hours of on-going CFSS education are required over a two-year period to maintain active certification and must be earned within the certification period (15 hours per year). On-going education trainings are not transferable to any other certification period and are intended to enhance the knowledge and skill base of the CFSS.

• Online trainings are limited to five (5) hours out of the 15 hours per year requirement.
• A minimum of one and half (1.5) hours of Continuing Education per year must be in ethics.
• Continuing Education fully focused on clinical treatment will not be accepted.

INITIAL:

Have successfully completed the state’s CYAPSS Training within the past year. If more than one year has passed since taking the training, it must be re-taken. Apply for the CYAPSS Training here: https://cyapss.tn.gov/home

RENEWAL:

Certified Young Adult Peer Support Specialists must complete at least ten (10) hours of continuing education trainings, seminars, workshops, or college courses per certification year. All continuing education must be approved by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). If a CYAPSS is also certified as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, continuing education hours earned for the CPRS continuing education guidelines can be applied towards CYAPSS recertification.

• Online trainings are limited to five (5) hours out of the 10 hours required.
• A minimum of one (1) hour of continuing education per year must be in ethics.
• A minimum of one (1) hour of continuing education per year must be in cultural responsiveness and/or working with diverse populations (this includes trainings on youth culture).
• Continuing education focused on clinical treatment or therapy will not be accepted. It is a violation of the Code of Ethics for CYAPSS to provide clinical treatment or therapy.

Continuing education must be within, but not limited to, recovery and wellness in the fields of mental illness, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, or other child and adult-serving systems.