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In the Peer Recovery Specialist Certificate, you will be able to use your personal experiences or experience with friends and family who “have lived experience” with sustained recovery for any behavioral health or similar disability.

The Peer Recovery Specialist Certificate is designed to provide knowledge of the addiction-recovery cycle, 12-step and other self-help recovery organizations, community resources, working with diverse populations, engagement with clients, relapse prevention techniques, coping skills training, navigating the healthcare system and ethics.

Why Choose NECC?

With NECC’s Peer Recovery Specialist Certificate, you will learn how to provide people with direct emotional support, aid in developing a recovery plan, and help them with navigating the health system. You will:

  • Learn about the addiction-recovery cycle, 12-step and other self-help recovery organizations, community resources, how to work with diverse populations, how to engage with clients, relapse prevention techniques, coping skills training, how to assist clients with navigating the healthcare system.
  • Earn credits that can be transferred to the Alcohol and Drug Counselor certificate, the Human Services associate degree or to a four-year bachelor’s degree program.
  • Gain practical experience by completing 150 field hours with NECC’s local agency partners.

Because of NECC

Upon completion of the Peer Recovery Specialist Certificate program, you will be prepared to directly enter the workforce in an entry-level position, or transfer credits to an associate or bachelor’s degree. You can:

  • Transfer all 16 credits to NECC’s Human Services Associate Degree
  • Earn the 16 credit certificate full or part time
  • Be prepared to work professionally with those needing assistance with recovery or accessing resources.

Program Costs

For the 2024-2025 academic year, non-health for-credit courses have a cost of $263/credit for in-state students.

Career Paths & Job Market

Employment Outlook

Employment Outlook

Prospects for employment within the human services are projected to be excellent according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employment Projections 2006-2016, the New Hampshire Employment Projections 2004-2014 and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2006-2016.

Job Opportunities

Job Opportunities

Graduates who choose to directly enter the workforce, are recruited by a variety of community agencies who work with children, adolescents, adults and seniors in a range of settings such as:

  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Vocational programs
  • Residential programs
  • Day habilitation programs
  • and Day treatment programs

Graduates may be given titles such as:

  • Recovery coach
  • Lead peer specialist
  • Recovery support specialist
  • Peer support specialist
  • Peer support coordinator
  • Outreach worker, peer respite
Career Paths

Career Paths

The broad based skills of the program provide a foundation for a wide range of professional pursuits. Graduates who pursue advanced degrees will have opportunities to choose among many fields including:

  • Social work
  • Guidance counseling
  • Labor negotiations
  • Human resources
  • Academic advising
  • Organizational psychology
  • Mental health
  • Vocational rehabilitation
Licensing and Credentialing for Graduates

Licensing and Credentialing for Graduates

There are a variety of licenses and certifications possible to graduates of the Human Services Program.

External Online Resources

Program Pathway

A pathway is the most efficient sequence of courses semester-to-semester recommended for students to complete their degree. View the suggested pathway for the Alcohol / Drug Abuse Counseling certificate.

Courses and Requirements

 

Required Documents

Contact

Program Coordinator

Program Coordinator

Brian MacKenna-Rice Office: C-304 M Phone: 978-556-3331 bmackennarice@necc.mass.edu

Faculty Contact Information

Faculty Contact Information

Kathleen Bartolini, MA, NCC

Phone: 978-556-3293 Email: kbartolini@necc.mass.edu

Jack Davidson

Phone: 978-556-3540 Email: jdavidson@necc.mass.edu

Lisa Fabbri-Lopez, MA

Email: lfabbri@necc.mass.edu

Joseph Hannon, LICSW, LADC I

Email: jhannon1@necc.mass.edu

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