CARES Continuing Education Program

CARES CEUs 2026

Click HERE to access the CEU submission form for 2026.

We would like to share important updates with the CARES/CPS-AD annual renewal process to ensure
clarity and continuity of certification.

CEU Submission Requirements

• All required Continuing Education Units (CEUs) must be completed and submitted via the CEU portal by December 31, 2026.
• A reminder email with a submission link will be sent to all CARES beginning on October 1, 2026.
• CPS-AD certificates will not expire until January 31 of the following year (January 31, 2027), rather than expiring on December 31, 2026.
• CARES certified in 2025 are now required to begin collecting CEUs starting in the upcoming year of
2026.

Purpose of the Update
This timeline adjustment is intended to support employment continuity by eliminating gaps in certification
coverage.

Annual CEU Requirements

• CARES (Cohorts 1–78) must earn 12 CEUs annually.
• CEUs must be earned between January 1 and December 31 each year and do not roll over.
• A minimum of 6 CEUs must be earned through CARES Academy Connects.
• Up to 6 CEUs may be earned through the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network CPS Project.
• One (1) CEU annually must be completed in peer-based Ethics training.

Deadlines & Fees

• CEUs submitted after January 15, 2027, will incur a $25 late fee.
• Failure to submit CEUs by January 31, 2027, will result in Inactive Status.
• Reactivation requires a reactivation application and a $100 fee.
CARES are responsible for tracking CEUs and ensuring timely submission. Please share this information
with your employer as needed.

Training fee & Attendance Policy

• Training fees, including CARES Connects, are non-refundable.
• Cancellations made before 14 days of the scheduled training may transfer payment as credit toward a future training.
• Cancellations made less than 14 days before the scheduled training are not eligible for credit transfer.

Punctuality Expectations

• No call/no shows are not eligible for refunds or transfers.
• Participants arriving more than 30 minutes late will not receive CEUs and are not eligible for refunds.
• Please plan accordingly to ensure timely attendance.

For questions, contact Alvin Cotton at alvin@gc4recovery.org or the CARES Team at 678-306-7035.

Thank you for your continued commitment to high-quality peer support services, and congratulations on this professional achievement