Wisconsin Peer Professional Online Course

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This course provides a comprehensive overview of peer recovery support services as delivered by Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist, also known as peer professionals, including all roles that provide peer recovery support services. This online course is designed as an update to practice for those Certified Peer Specialists who may have participated in an earlier training.

Completing this online learning will represent four hours of continuing education.

Cost: Free

Who Is This Training For: This training is designed for all roles that provide or support peer recovery support services including Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialists, also known as peer professionals.

Time: Approximately 4 hours.

This course was developed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Care and Treatment Services, in partnership with Employment Resources, Inc., with input from subject matter experts, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience. Content is based on current best practices, state guidelines, and relevant policies at the time of development, and is intended to support high-quality, person-centered services.

The training is divided into seven modules. You can complete them in order or return to individual modules for reference. Each module builds on the last, so we recommend starting with Module 1 if this is your first time. Each module has a number of lessons and activities can be completed at your own pace.

Introduction (Module 1)

Provides foundational information to help you get oriented including how to navigate the course, learning objectives, a little background and history, and a comprehensive practice overview.

Phases of Peer Support (Modules 2-6)

The bulk of the course is divided into phases of peer support work, each treated as its own module. Each phase follows a consistent structure.

Within each phase, you see:

Process Overview (big picture of that phase)
Tasks (what you actually do)
Communication Skills (how to interact effectively)
Cultural Humility Skills (how to work respectfully across differences)
Self & Community Care Skills (how to sustain yourself and support others)

Five Key Practice Phases

Connecting
Exploring
Supporting
Planning
Advocating

This progression reflects real-world peer support practice—moving from relationship-building to long-term growth and independence.

Consistent Skill Integration Across Modules

Each phase reinforces the same core skill areas, applied in different contexts:

Communication (e.g., listening, asking questions)
Cultural humility (awareness of identity, power, and bias)
Self-care and community care

This mirrors Wisconsin’s competency-based training model, which includes communication, ethics, trauma-informed care, and advocacy across all learning.

Course Wrap-Up (Module 7)

At the end:

Summary of the full peer support process
Reinforcement of how all phases connect

After This Training,

You'll Be Able To:

Understand and describe the five fundamental processes of peer support.
Develop OARS+I communication skills
Recognize the importance of cultural humility in peer support services and describe ways to practice it.
Develop skills in self and community care.
Engage in practice activities.

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Course Content