Human Services – Peer Support

Program Description

Turn your lived experience into a positive pathway of hope. If you or a family member has lived experience with substance abuse or a mental health crisis, and you have a desire to provide support to others with similar life experiences, you are qualified to join this growing and rewarding profession.

Southeast Community College is a leader in providing this new educational pathway. A Peer Support Certificate prepares individuals for a career focused on offering hope, support and encouragement to others. You will earn college credit and gain practical hands-on experience. 

Upon successuf completion of the certificate, you will be eligible to apply for certification from the State of Nebraska to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist (C.P.S.S.). The State certification, along with your knowledge and lived experience, will open opportunities for employment at addiction and/or mental health treatment agencies, recovery community organizations, recovery homes, drug courts, hospitals, and other support agencies.

There are a number of options available for those wanting to pursue attainment of the Peer Support Specialist Certification from the State of Nebraska. The program can be taken as:

  • Option 1: A 16-credit hour academic certificate, that can be completed in one year.
  • Option 2: The 16-credit hour Peer Support Certificate courses can be taken alongside the Human Services Associates Degree. This empowers students to graduate with both the Peer Support Certificate, as well as the Human Services Associates of Arts Degree at the same time.
  • Option 3: An accelerated non-credit course that includes 90 hours of instruction as well as 135 hours of on-site practicum experience.

Scholarships and financial support may be available after acceptance into the Peer Support Certificate classes.

This project and webpage are supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $575,788 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

Careers

We will prepare you to be a Certified Peer Support Specialist within:

  • Addiction Treatment Agencies
  • Mental Health Treatment Agencies
  • Recovery Community Organizations
  • Recovery Homes
Awards Offered: Certificate
Locations: Lincoln, Online
Formats: In-Person
Start: Fall / Spring
Schedule: Full-Time / Part-time
Estimated Total Cost
$2,833 Certificate

You will be a good fit for our Human Services program if you are interested in human behavior and want to help people overcome social barriers to improve their quality of life. Human service professionals are good listeners, open-minded and accepting of others' differences. 

You can start in the Fall or Spring terms. Follow these steps to finish your application:

  1. Want to learn more about SCC? Come see how SCC will help you achieve Your Path to Possible! Schedule a campus visit!
  2. Need help exploring career opportunities or navigating the admissions process? Schedule an appointment with an Admissions Counselor.
  3. Ready to apply? Complete an Application for Admission.
  4. Submit ACT, SAT, Next Generation Accuplacer, or Accuplacer test scores (reading and math) or official college transcripts showing completion of post-secondary coursework in English and math to the Admissions Office at any SCC location.


Special Program Requirements

Students are accepted once they complete program requirements listed on the Peer Support Get Started Checklist. Financial assistance may be available to those meeting all the requirements. Information on applying for scholarships will be shared upon acceptance to the program.

  1. Complete online application to the program during the designated time periods.
  2. Complete program Get Started checklist (PDF).
  3. High School or GED® transcripts.
  4. Submit a copy of a current American Heart Association CPR card.
  5. Submit a completed Health Statement to the Health Sciences Division.
  6. Submit completed 2-Step Tuberculosis Skin Test.
  7. Submit flu vaccination.
  8. A criminal background check will be required of each student in this program. Based on the background check, a student may be prevented from taking certain courses, accessing certain practicum experiences, or completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $45 will be accessed for this CBC. Misdemeanor or felony convictions may prevent a graduate from acquiring a state license.
  9. Students admitted to a Health Sciences program at SCC requiring a practicum rotation at a contracted healthcare facility will submit to initial drug and alcohol testing prior to the first clinical rotation. A non-refundable fee of $35 will be accessed for the drug screen.

*Please note: Students need to obtain CPR AED and TB for acceptance into the program. Any cost associated with this will be the student's expense.

Please contact the Program Coordinator:
Michelle Hawco
mhawco@southeast.edu
402-437-2746

Accreditation

Curriculum approved by the State of Nebraska, Department of Behavior Health, Office of Consumer Affairs.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution:

Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

For more information about the post-graduation achievements of SCC Graduates as well as average starting salaries, refer to the annual Graduate Report (PDF).

For information about the methodologies used to gather the post-graduation student achievement data contained in the annual Graduate Report, refer to the Institutional Research page or contact ir@southeast.edu.