Virginia Law

A. Registered peer recovery specialists shall be required to have completed a minimum of eight contact hours of continuing education for each annual registration renewal. A minimum of two of these hours shall be in courses that emphasize ethics.

Registered peer recovery specialists shall complete continuing competency activities that focus on increasing knowledge or skills in one or more of the following areas:

1. Current body of mental health or substance abuse knowledge;

2. Promoting services, supports, and strategies for the recovery process;

3. Crisis intervention;

4. Values for role of peer recovery specialist;

5. Basic principles related to health and wellness;

6. Stage appropriate pathways in recovery support;

7. Ethics and boundaries;

8. Cultural sensitivity and practice;

9. Trauma and impact on recovery;

10. Community resources; or

11. Delivering peer services within agencies and organizations.

B. The following organizations, associations, or institutions are approved by the board to provide continuing education:

1. Federal, state, or local governmental agencies, public school systems, or licensed health or mental health facilities.

2. A national or state recovery-oriented association or organization recognized by the profession.

3. A national behavioral health organization or certification body recognized by the board.

4. An agency or organization holding approval by DBHDS as a certifying body for peer recovery specialists.

5. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and its state affiliates.

6. The American Association of State Counseling Boards.

7. The American Counseling Association and its state and local affiliates.

8. The American Psychological Association and its state affiliates.

9. The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

10. NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals and its state and local affiliates.

11. National Association of Social Workers.

12. National Board for Certified Counselors.

13. Individuals or organizations that have been approved as continuing competency sponsors by the American Association of State Counseling Boards or a counseling board in another state.

14. Regionally accredited colleges or universities.

C. Attestation of completion of continuing education is not required for the first renewal following initial registration in Virginia.

D. The board may grant an extension for good cause of up to one year for the completion of continuing education requirements upon written request from the registrant prior to the renewal date. Such an extension shall not relieve the registrant of the continuing education requirement.

E. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the continuing education requirements due to circumstances beyond the control of the registrant such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters upon written request from the registrant prior to the renewal date.

F. All registrants shall maintain original documentation of official transcripts showing credit hours earned or certificates of participation for a period of three years following renewal.

G. The board may conduct an audit of registrants to verify compliance with the requirement for a renewal period. Upon request, a registrant shall provide documentation as follows:

1. Official transcripts showing credit hours earned; or

2. Certificates of participation.

H. Continuing education hours required by a disciplinary order shall not be used to satisfy renewal requirements.