National Certification for Peer Supporters and Family Peer Supporters

Peer Support Canada offers certification for Peer Supporters and Family Peer Supporters. Peer Support Certification is a confirmation of one’s knowledge, skills, and experience as a peer supporter. Certification verifies one’s alignment with the nationally endorsed Standard of Practice and is recognized across Canada.

Certification is an assessment of one’s ability to demonstrate the nationally endorsed Standards of Practice. It is not a training program.  For a full overview of our certification program, please review the Certification Handbook.  

The certification process includes an application, reference and self assessments, a written knowledge assessment, and a verbal competency assessment. These components ensure that the candidate meets the expectations outlined in the National Standards of Practice, which consist of; 

  • Lived Experience Standard
  • Knowledge Standard
  • Required Competencies Standard
  • Formalized Peer Support Service Delivery Experience Standard 
  • Code of Conduct Requirements

The certification process will take between 3-4 months. You must review the following FAQ document and create a Peer Support Canada Profile ahead of applying for certification.

I've Reviewed the Certification Handbook and I'm Ready to Apply for Certification

Learn More About the Peer Supporter Certification Program

Watch this recording of one of our Certification Information Sessions, to learn more about what the National Peer Supporter Certification Program entails, the steps taken to complete the process, pathways for organizations to gain access to certification for their employees or volunteers, and more. 

Common Questions

The National Peer Supporter Certification is not a training program. Rather, it is an assessment of a peer supporter’s demonstration of the National Standards of Practice. It is recommended that candidates interested in the National Peer Supporter Certification Program complete peer support training prior to applying for certification.

Full certification is for applicants with at least 200 hours of formalized peer support experience (see the definition below). After successfully completing the assessment, they receive a certificate asserting that they are a Certified Peer Supporter or Certified Family Peer Supporter with Peer Support Canada.

Provisional certification is for applicants who meet all requirements except the 200 hours of experience. It offers a pathway into the field: after successfully completing the assessment, applicants receive a letter confirming they’ve met the provisional requirements. They can earn full certification and a certificate by completing 200 hours of formalized peer support experience within one year. See the Certification Handbook for details.

Formalized peer support means supporting peers in a way that reflects Peer Support Canada’s values and principles of practice. It involves intentionally pulling from personal lived and living experiences to support others with similar experiences. Formalized peer support experience involves prior training or some type of preparation, supervision, and job titles such as “peer supporter,” “peer specialist,” “peer mentor,” or “workplace peer supporter.”

Applicants need at least 200 hours of this experience to qualify for full certification. Those who meet all other requirements may be considered for provisional certification.

  • The National Peer Supporter Certification supports consistent, high-quality peer support across Canada while allowing programs to meet their communities’ needs.

  • It helps peer supporters show that their knowledge, experience, and skills align with the National Standards of Practice.

  • The National Peer Supporter Certification can build confidence and recognition, helping peer supporters advocate for the value and role of peer support.

  • It is recognized across all provinces and territories.

  • The National Peer Supporter Certification can strengthen trust and respect among funders, partner organizations, colleagues, and the people receiving support.

  • Nationally certified peer supporters on multidisciplinary teams can help challenge unfair practices and support change in health care and other systems.

The National Peer Supporter Certification process usually takes 10–15 hours to complete and can be finished within 3–4 months. It is self-paced, but must be completed within one year. Applicants are responsible for keeping track of the steps they need to complete.

The fees for certification are broken down into two payments:

Application Fee: $200.00
Assessment Fee: $1000.00

These fees are non-refundable. There is no HST associated with these costs.

Yes, your organization can pay for certification application and assessment credits that you would then allocate amongst staff members.  If you would like to purchase any certification credits, please email certification@peersupportcanada.ca for more information. As processing these payments can take some time, we recommend organizations ask interested staff members to hold off on starting an application until the payment has been received and the credits have been issued.  

There are currently no group rates available for certification.

For additional information and answers to some more common questions, please visit our FAQ page and Certification Handbook, which provide further details about the certification process and requirements.