Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Training
80 hours/Live Webinar & Self-Paced
Experienced trainers lead the 80-hour CMPSS Training that covers the 17 core competencies required to successfully prepare for the California Peer Support Specialist exam to achieve certification and implement effective strategies for service delivery.
Peers have a transformative effect on client care and use their valuable lived experiences to help others navigate and progress in their own recovery process. Pacific Clinics has led professional development courses aligning with peer empowerment, respect, and resiliency principles for over 25 years.
Courses are interactive and held via Zoom offered through a combination of live webinars with lectures, skills exercises, small group and open guided discussion, and self-paced training modules. We offer a curriculum that fosters inclusion, resource sharing, and belonging. You will achieve confidence and competence to become a CMPSS, and once certified qualify to enroll in the specialty training programs.
Apply Here
Program Eligibility
To qualify, participants must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have a High School Diploma or GED or higher education
- Identify themselves as a peer with lived experience as a consumer, family member, orcaregiver of behavioral health or SUD services
- Be interested in entering the behavioral health workforce
Participant Commitment
- Complete the 80-hour state-approved training
- Apply for state certification
Training Format
The 80-hour training includes:
- Part 1: 31 self-paced online learning modules (39 hours) — rolling enrollment
* Pre-requisite: Participants must enroll by the cohort deadline and complete Part 1 of self-paced training at least 5 days before the start of Part 2: Live Training to be eligible to join. - Part 2: 14 live instructor-led Zoom sessions (41 hours, 3 hours each)
- Training Location/Method: Live Webinar with Self-Paced, Hybrid
- Training Modality: Cohort Style with Self-Paced (Asynchronous) Individual Learning
- Training Length: 80 hours total – 31self-paced sessions (39 hrs.) and 14 live webinars (41 hrs.)
- Training Hours: Available during regular business hours, Monday – Friday from 9 am -12 pm or 1 pm – 4 pm (varies per cohort)
Upcoming Cohorts
Cohort 19B
Self-Paced Modules (Part 1)
Participants must enroll by March 10, 2026 and complete all self-paced modules by March 30, 2026 in order to be eligible for Part 2.
Live Zoom Sessions (Part 2)
Dates: April 6 – April 23, 2026 (Mon–Fri)
Time: 9:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m.
Future Cohort Live Training Dates (pending ongoing enrollment and completion of Self-Paced Part 1 of training):
Cohort 20: April 20, 2026 – May 7, 2026
Cohort 21: June 1, 2026 – June 18, 2026
Registration Capacity: 50 students maximum per cohort
San Diego County, CA Residents: Please visit the ELEVATE Peer Support Training and Placement Program – Pacific Clinics for upcoming no-cost Peer Support training opportunities through the ELEVATE grant-funded program if eligible (must be a San Diego County, CA resident)
Orange County, CA Residents: Please visit the Pacific Clinics Recovery Education Institute for upcoming training opportunities (must be an Orange County, CA resident) 401 South Tustin Street, Bldg. B, Orange, CA 92866
Interested in a private cohort for your Agency? Custom training is available for organizations with a minimum of 15 participants –session dates can be in-person at your site, online, or hybrid based on availability. Travel and lodging costs are charged separately for onsite training) contact us at peercert@pacificclinics.org to speak to a representative.
If you have any questions, please contact us at peercert@pacificclinics.org.
Mary Cline, Training Administrator
626-701-4622
(Mon-Fri 8:00am – 4:00pm)
