Public Safety Peer Counseling Certification Program

Procedures for establishment of peer support and critical incident stress management services teams.

First responders – including law enforcement, firefighters, EMS personnel, corrections officers, 9-1-1 dispatchers and civilian staff at agencies with first responders face exposure to traumatic events.

Peer Support Teams and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) services are used by agencies throughout the state to help first responders with emotional support and coping mechanisms. 2023 Wisconsin Act 220 (Act 220) required the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) to create and implement a program for the establishment of these teams. For teams that get certifications through DOJ’s program and meet the on-going training requirements, Act 220 provides protections for communications between trained peer supporter team members/CISM services team members and the people the team serves. A person receiving peer support services from a peer support team member or receiving CISM services from a CISM team member obtains a privilege under Wis. Stat. § 905.095.

This certification program includes team certification, training requirements for team members, a process for certification and recertification of team members, and a process for certification and recertification of instructors.

The team and instructor certification process is designed to:

• Ensure programs meet statewide standards
• Enable testimonial privilege protections under Wis. Stat. § 905.095
• Support consistent, high‑quality peer support and CISM services
• Ensure instructors and team members have appropriate training and documentation

This program reflects a growing recognition of the importance of mental health support in high-stress public safety professions and aims to foster a culture of wellness and resilience through structured peer support systems.

The following relates to the program established by DOJ to fulfill Wis. Stat. § 165.875 and Administrative Rule Jus Chapter 22.

Agencies eligible to form certified peer support or CISM teams include:

• Law enforcement
• Tribal law enforcement
• Corrections
• Fire services
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Nonprofit organizations and other entities that employ, represent, or serve law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement officers, correctional officers, jail officers, juvenile detention officers, fire fighters, dispatchers, emergency medical responders, EMS practitioners, public safety personnel, or ambulance service provider personnel

To request certification for a Peer Support Team or CISM Team, complete and submit an Agency Certification Request form, Form DOJ-PS-900.

A PDF version of the form is available to preview the questions asked on the webform.  

The request form will require you to:

• Verify eligible team members and verify that all members have met the training requirements.
• Submit your agency’s written guidelines which are required to:
  1. Be available to the public and members of the team(s),
  2. Address the selection and removal of members, the maintenance of confidentiality, and the training requirements for team membership, and
  3. Be consistent with the regional team’s written guidelines, if the team members are part of a regional team.

Certification begins when DOJ certifies the team and continues through the remainder of the state fiscal year (which ends on June 30) and the following three state fiscal years.

To qualify to become a peer support or CISM team member, an individual shall complete a DOJ approved 16-hour curriculum that is taught by an instructor approved by DOJ or a training program of at least 16 hours provided by a credentialed health care provider.

Alternatively, an individual may meet the training requirements if the individual’s agency verifies that, prior to November 1, 2026, the individual completed a training course that meets the DOJ approved curriculum or a peer support training program of at least 16 hours provided by a credentialed health care provider.

Designation of a peer support or CISM team member takes effect on the date the designation is made by the agency head or their designee and continues for the remainder of the state fiscal year (which ends on June 30) and the following 3 state fiscal years as long as training qualifications are met.

Maintaining qualification as a team member after completing the 16-hour basic peer support training requirement:  

• To maintain qualification to serve on a peer support or CISM team, each individual must complete 8 hours of training during each of the 3 years of their current certification.
• The training content is at the discretion of the agency but must be on topics relevant to peer support or CISM, wellness, or suicide prevention. An agency may credit an individual’s time spent teaching toward this requirement.

An individual who fails to complete training requirements shall be removed from the team and is not eligible to serve on a peer support or CISM team until 24 hours of training on top of the basic peer support training have been completed.  

To request agency recertification, complete and submit an Agency Recertification Request form, Form DOJ-PS-925. (This form is not yet available.) Requirements include:  

• A letter from the agency administrator verifying that all members of the peer support team or CISM team have met the training requirements.
• A copy of the agency’s current guidelines for the peer support team or CISM team which the agency is seeking certification, if the guidelines changed since the last certification/recertification.

To be certified to teach the 16-hour basic peer support course curriculum, instructors need to complete and submit an Instructor Certification Request form, Form DOJ-PS-817. This form may also be used to request certification as a credentialed health care provider.

A PDF version of the form is available to preview the questions asked on the webform. 

Two types of certifications are available.

• “Instructor” – this is an instructor who is not seeking certification as a health care provider  
• “Credentialed Health Care Provider” – this is a health care provider seeking to be certified as a credentialed health care provider

The certification as an instructor for peer support or CISM training provided by the department is for purposes of s. JUS 22.05 and does not constitute certification to teach an International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) course. An instructor who wishes to teach an ICISF course on CISM must also obtain and provide the separate Certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CCISM) required by ICISF.

Instructors must:

• Provide evidence of 3 years full‑time experience (or 6,000 hours) in an eligible profession.
• Be an active or concurrently accepted member of a certified peer support or CISM team.
• Complete a 16‑hour basic peer support training that meets DOJ curriculum requirements.
• Provide a letter from an agency head or peer support or CISM team leader supporting the instructor’s application.

Credentialed Health Care Providers must:

• Provide documentation showing the training, education, or experience qualifying them to provide peer support or critical incident stress management training.
• Be a current or retired Wisconsin-licensed health care provider.
• Provide a letter from an agency that intends to use the applicant as an instructor.

Certification beings when DOJ certifies the applicant and continues through the remainder of the state fiscal year (which ends on June 30) and the following three state fiscal years.

To request instructor recertification, complete and submit an Instructor Recertification Request and Credentialed Instructor Recertification form, Form DOJ-PS-818. (This form is not yet available.) Requirements include: 

• Instructing the basic peer support 16-hour DOJ approved curriculum at least twice during the current certification period.
• Providing a letter supporting the instructor’s recertification from an agency for whom the instructor taught in the current certification period.
• For credentialed health care providers only, provide proof of maintaining their license as a health care provider.

• DOJ 16 Hour Basic Peer Support Course
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Training opportunities to meet certification requirements

peercertification@wisdoj.gov