Recertification

Your certification as a CPRP or CFRP has distinguished you as an accomplished professional in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation in the eyes of both consumers and employers.  As the field expands and new insights and practices develop, you must continue to enhance your expertise and knowledge through continued professional development.  By maintaining your CPRP or CFRP credential through recertification, you not only differentiate yourself from the workforce's competition but also become more proficient and effective in your role as a provider. 

Recertification – Quick Facts 

• CPRPs and CFRPs must recertify every three (3) years.  
• Your certification expires on December 31st of your third year of certification. 
• If your certifications have expired, Click Here for more information on reinstating a lapsed credential. 

To recertify, click the link below and answer all questions on the application. After you submit your application, you must submit your recertification fee to complete the process. 

If you have any questions regarding your certification or membership status, please contact [email protected] before submitting your application. Be sure to review the recertification requirements below before starting your application. 

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE RECERTIFICATION APPLICATION 

PLEASE NOTE:  The Recertification Application will not be viewable or available for purchase by persons who

• do not have a registered account on the PRA website. 

If you cannot find the application in the store, or are experiencing technical issues, please contact [email protected] for assistance. 

Download the PRA Certification Handbook for complete information on recertification here.

Recertification Requirements 

In order to recertify, CPRPs and CFRPs must meet the following requirements every three (3) years: 

• Complete a minimum of 45 contact hours of education/training within the field, of which 22.5 hours must be from official CPRP or CFRP by either the Academy for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery or a PRA-Approved Provider of Continuing Education (chapters and other designated organizations - contact the organizer of an activity to verify).   
• A minimum of 4 of these contact hours must be specific to ethics. 
• Attest to their good standing within the field. 
• Recommit to abide by the PRA Code of Ethics. 
• Submit the appropriate recertification fee. 

PLEASE NOTE: You are not required to submit all documentation of your credits at the time of recertification, however you are required to maintain this documentation (i.e. CE Certificates) in the event of audit. 

Please refer to the Identifying Acceptable PSR Training for Recertification section below for more information regarding what counts towards your CE requirements. 

Deadlines and Fees 

Those that choose not to recertify will find their credential terminated at midnight on December 31st of their expiration year.  You've worked hard to earn and maintain your credential - don't let that happen! 

Identifying Acceptable PSR Training for Recertification 

Continuing education offers the opportunity to enhance knowledge, skills, and resources through conferences, in-service trainings, seminars, webcasts, or approved independent study trainings. In order to maximize the continuing educational experience, CPRPs/CFRPs should consider the following when seeking continuing educational opportunities: 

• Select presenters with the necessary credentials to present the information 
• Find educational programs that can fill current professional goals 
• Consider evidenced based practices, information, and management 
• Assess knowledge attained and how this knowledge will affect your practice 

For purposes of the CPRP recertification, training must address the treatment and/or rehabilitation of serious/persistent mental illness in adults or transition-age youth (age 16+); for CFRPs, children/families.  Possible topics include any of the CPRP practice domains, as well as direct care, vocational or life skills training, crisis intervention, treatment modalities, medications, diversity, ethical/legal issues, etc.  Related topics such as infection control, dealing with medical complications, etc., are only acceptable if presented in the context of psychiatric rehabilitation practice. 

For the purposes of CFRP recertification, training must address resiliency services for children living with mental illness or severe emotional disturbances and their families.  Possible topics include any of the CFRP practice domains, direct care, life skills training, crisis intervention, treatment modalities, medications, diversity, ethical/legal issues, etc. Related topics such as infection control, dealing with medical complications, etc., are also acceptable if presented in the context of psychiatric rehabilitation and resiliency practice. 

Instruction on the use of treatment modalities in opposition to a recovery-based philosophy may not be used to fulfill the 45-hour requirement (e.g., use of restraints, involuntary commitment, forced medication, etc.).  

Acceptable Education & Training Activity Formats

• Training that addresses the rehabilitation and/or treatment of persons (within the appropriate age group for the credential you are seeking) with serious mental illness 
• Courses in psychiatric rehabilitation or mental health offered by an established university or college. 
• Institutes and workshops at PRA conferences 
• PRA chapter conference sessions on relevant topics 
• Activities sponsored by PRA-Approved Providers of Continuing Education (contact provider about PRA Approved Provider status) 
• Training in any of the various models of rehabilitation (clubhouse, lodge, case management, etc.) 
• Workshops in related mental health disciplines, which address the rehabilitation and/or treatment of persons with serious mental illnesses 
• In-service training on relevant topics, provided within your agency on rehabilitation or treatment of persons with serious mental illness 
• Training sponsored by a state or provincial mental health authority in rehabilitation or treatment of persons with serious mental illness 
• Training or workshops addressing related components of services such as vocational rehabilitation, supported education, housing, etc. 
• Independent study or distance-learning courses (on-line, audio-conferences, etc.) offered on relevant topics by accredited academic institutions or approved by the Commission 
• Approved participation in Item Writing and/or Test Assembly meetings 
• Presenting training to an audience of psychiatric rehabilitation practitioners with content that meets the requirements for exam applicants. (See Additional Recertification Information below for more information) 
• Articles on any topic within the CPRP Practice Domains, published in peer-reviewed journals; books and book chapters. Note that self-published volumes are not accepted. (See Additional Recertification Information below for more information) 

Acceptable Training Topics

All training must address the treatment and/or rehabilitation of serious mental illness within the appropriate population (CPRP: adults/transition-age youth over age 16; CFRP: children and youth under age 18), and be relevant to the practice domains as outlined on the corresponding Exam Blueprint ( CPRP Exam Blueprint and/or CFRP Exam Blueprint).  

• Direct Care 
• Life Skills Training 
• Vocational Rehabilitation 
• Supported Housing Education 
• Intervention 
• Treatment Modalities 
• Medications 
• Diversity 
• Ethical/Legal issues 

Unacceptable Training Topics and Activities 

• CPR/first aid 
• Fire safety 
• Disaster training 
• Materials handling/MSDS 
• Driver education (for transport vans) 
• Training on computer software 
• Agency specific training 
• Topics specific to children 
• Autism spectrum disorders 
• Human development 
• Human sexuality 
• Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia/Aging 
• HIV/AIDS 
• Domestic violence/abuse*  
• Drug Use/Abuse*  
• Death and dying 
• Anger Management 
• Infection/bloodborne pathogens 
• Internships 
• Courses taken towards a completing a degree  
• Staff meetings or retreats 
• HIPAA training 
• Routine coaching, training or supervising staff 
• Topics contrary to the principles of psych rehab (including but not limited to involuntary commitment, use of restraints, forced medication, etc.) 

• *unless specific to co-occurring disorders 

Additional Recertification Information

Calculating Contact Hours: One (1) contact hour is equivalent to 60 minutes of instructional time, exclusive of breaks, lunches or homework time. 

Credit for Training Provided for Others in the Field

• Sole presenter of an activity: Earns twice the contact hours for attendance. 
• Co-presenter and were actively involved for the entire presentation: Earns twice the contact hours for attendance. 
• Co-presenter with responsibility for a specific portion of the presentation (e.g., a one-hour module of a full-day seminar): Earns twice the clock hours presented. Attendance at the remainder of the session may be counted as regular attendance time.  
• ​Presentations of the same title and content may be documented only once during a three-year re-certification period.  

Credit for Articles, Chapters and Books About Psychiatric Rehabilitation

An article in a professional journal or a chapter in a published book may count as 10 hours of training but may not be used until the article or chapter is published. Book reviews or short articles in nonprofessional journals are not considered for continuing education. The first page of the publication must be included with the recertification application. Writing or editing of a published book on psychiatric rehabilitation, earns up to 30 hours of continuing education. The first page of the publication must be included with the recertification application. 

PLEASE NOTE: A minimum of 22.5 hours must be earned through attendance or completion of approved trainings sponsored by a PRA Approved Provider of Continuing Education (PRF's Academy of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery, most PRA Chapters and Affiliates, PSR Canada, and other designated organizations. Contact the activity sponsor to inquire about PRA Approved Provider status), exclusive of any presentations, publications or other acceptable training activities/topics. If you participated in the same training more than once, count ONLY the initial presentation. Repeat presentations will NOT be accepted. 

The Certification Commission of Psychiatric Rehabilitation encourages recertification to

• sustain a workforce competent to support the needs of persons in recovery. 
• meet the goals of the behavioral healthcare field. 
• illustrate the positive impact that skilled psychiatric rehabilitation and resiliency practitioners provide. 
• ​encourage ongoing credentialing of behavioral healthcare practitioners. 

Has your Certification lapsed?  Apply for Reinstatement! 

REINSTATE YOUR CERTIFICATION TODAY!