An NMSU Cooperative Extension Program

Youth Peer Support Specialist Certification

  2. Youth Peer Support
  3. Youth Peer Support Specialist Certification

Youth Peer Support Specialist Certification 

  • Youth Peer Support Specialists (YPSS) are young people over the age 18 who work one-on-one with transition-aged youth who share similar lived-experiences in youth-serving systems such as but not limited to Behavioral Health, Foster Care, and Juvenile Justice.
  • YPSS are professionally trained to share their experience overcoming challenges related to mental health, trauma, or substance use, to guide and support young people receiving services where the YPSS is employed.
  • YPSS promote hope and resiliency by listening to the self-determined needs of the young person they work with and by identifying the strengths, resources, and next steps to achieve their goals.

Who is YPSS Certification for?

The following is a list of requirements to be eligible to apply for YPSS certification:

  • Have valid NM ID.
  • At least 18 years of age or older.
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Have personal experience, prior to the age of 18, navigating systems involvement in child welfare, juvenile justice, or children’s behavioral health OR have personal experience recovering from substance use or trauma that occurred prior to the age of 18.
  • Have personal strategies used to maintain health and wellness and have been doing so for the past 2 years or more.
  • Have a willingness and ability to share those strategies with others.

 

Youth Peer Support Specialist Certification Track 

Step 1

Complete Youth Peer Support Specialist Certification Application Form

After submitting application, applicants will be contacted for a brief phone interview to verify eligibility.

Enroll Here

Step 2

NMSU COI Staff will contact approved applicants about YPSS Certification Training registration.

Step 3

Complete Youth Peer Support Specialist (YPSS) Exposure Worksite Identification Form 

Candidate indicates where they will be completing their 40 worksite exposure hours and who will be overseeing their time there.

Complete Form

Step 4

Complete 40 hours of Worksite Exposure and Request Supervisor Verification

Request Supervisor Verification

Step 5

Schedule Reflection of Learning or Written Exam for Certification 

Candidate may choose to sit for a Reflection of Learning interview OR an online written exam.

Schedule Reflection of Learning/Exam

Step 6

Create Certemy Account to Track Certification Progress

Candidate uploads documents onto personal Certemy account.

Appeal Certification Interview Decision 

If you are interested in appealing the interview decision, complete YPS Certification Interview Decision Appeal Form

Request Appeal