(a) A peer specialist must:
(1) be at least 18 years of age;
(2) have lived experience;
(3) have a high school diploma or General Equivalency
Diploma (GED);
(4) be willing to appropriately share his own recovery
story with recipients;
(5) be able to demonstrate current self-directed recovery;
and
(6) pass criminal history and registry checks as described
in §354.3201 of this subchapter (relating to Criminal History
and Registry Checks).
(b) A person certified in Texas on the date this rule
is initially effective may apply to a certification entity to be grandfathered
into certification under this subchapter.
(1) A request under this subsection must meet the requirements
of §354.3203(a) of this subchapter (relating to Procedures for
Peer Specialist Certification), except as outlined in paragraphs (2)
and (3) of this subsection.
(2) A person with a certification in good standing
with the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals, on
the date this rule is initially effective, may apply to a certification
entity to be grandfathered into peer specialist certification under
this subchapter, with the designation of Recovery Support Peer Specialist.
A person requesting to be grandfathered under this paragraph is exempt
from the initial certification and supervised work experience requirements
in §354.3205 of this subchapter (relating to Initial Peer Specialist
Certification).
(3) A person with a certification in good standing
with Via Hope, on the date this rule is initially effective, may apply
to a certification entity to be grandfathered into peer specialist
certification under this subchapter, with the designation of Mental
Health Peer Specialist. A person requesting to be grandfathered in
under this paragraph must submit documentation of at least 250 hours
of supervised work experience. If the person does not have, or cannot
document, at least 250 hours of supervised work experience, the certification
entity may offer that person an initial certification under §354.3205
of this subchapter.
(c) A certification entity must ensure that each applicant
for certification meets the requirements in subsection (a) or (b)
of this section.
(d) A peer specialist must complete required training
and be certified under this subchapter before providing services under
this subchapter. A peer specialist must remain certified in good standing
under this subchapter to provide services under this subchapter. The
required training does not apply to a person grandfathered into certification
under subsection (b) of this section.
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