Recovery Support Specialist Certificate (Plan 25HO)

This certificate program prepares students in recovery for employment roles that include mentoring individuals who are recovering from substance use disorder, mental health issues, or other behavioral disorders. Recovery support professionals may work in a variety of settings including hospitals, inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, rehabilitation centers, local health departments, and community-based organizations.

The recovery support certificate program has been designed to prepare students for the Illinois Certification Board (ICB) Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) exam. The minimum requirements to take the exam include a high school diploma or GED, 110 hours of recovery support skills training, and 2000 hours (one year) of paid qualified work experience or volunteer work within the last four years. Three hundred hours of internship can be applied to the work experience requirements.