(1) The authority recognizes a person as a certified peer counselor who can provide medicaid-reimbursable peer counseling services when the person meets the requirements in WAC 182-115-0200.

(2) Certified peer counselors who provide services to people enrolled in medicaid must be under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional and/or substance use disorder professional who understands rehabilitation and recovery. The clinical supervisor's expertise should be aligned with the needs of the populations served by the certified peer counselor.

(3) Certified peer counselors must provide services to people enrolled in medicaid under a licensed community behavioral health agency as defined in WAC 246-341-0200 and certified under WAC 246-341-0724.

(1) A certified peer counselor may provide medicaid-reimbursable peer services only:

(a) Through December 31, 2026;

(b) Under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional, or substance use disorder professional, or both:

(i) Who understands rehabilitation and recovery;and

(ii) Whose expertise aligns with the needs of the populations served by the certified peer counselor;

(c) When the services are provided in a licensed community behavioral health agency, as defined in WAC 246-341-0200; and

(d) When the certified peer counselor is credentialed as an agency-affiliated counselor under chapter 18.19 RCW.

(2) On January 1, 2027, the profession of certified peer specialist, as defined in RCW 18.420.010, will supersede certified peer counselors. On and after that date, only certified peer specialists and peer specialist trainees may provide medicaid-reimbursable peer services.

(1) Applicants applying to become a certified peer counselor with the authority must meet all of the following:

(a) Self-identify as a person with lived experience in behavioral health recovery or as a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 18 who experienced behavioral health challenges;

(b) Demonstrate they have been well-grounded in their own recovery for at least one year and be willing to tell their recovery story;

(c) Demonstrate basic reading and writing comprehension;

(d) Meet the minimum education requirements of a high school diploma or GED. The authority may grant a waiver of this requirement;

(e) Be 18 years of age or older;

(f) Be credentialed as an agency affiliated counselor under chapter 18.19 RCW;

(g) Complete specialized training provided by or contracted through the authority. If the person was trained by trainers approved by the department of social and health services before October 1, 2004, and has met the requirements in (a), (b), and (f) of this subsection by January 31, 2005, the person is exempt from completing this specialized training; and

(h) Successfully pass the authority's examination.

(2) In order to take the authority's examination to become a certified peer counselor who can provide medicaid-reimbursable peer counseling services, applicants must:

(a) Successfully complete an approved certified peer counselor training course administered by the authority's approved training entity with approved trainers; and

(b) Pass the Washington state certified peer counseling examination with a score of 80 percent or higher.

(3) Upon successful completion of the authority's examination, the authority issues a letter stating the authority recognizes the person as a "certified peer counselor."

Only those people who are certified peer counselors or certified peer specialists may qualify to take the authority's training to become endorsed by the department of health as an approved supervisor.

Only certified peer counselors or certified peer specialists may qualify to take the authority's training to become recognized by the department of health as an approved supervisor.