Peer Employment Training AZ

Arizona Peer Employment Training is conducted via in person format at our main campus in Phoenix.  If you would like to enroll in Arizona Peer Employment Training, please contact: craig.secrest@riinternational.com or sonnet.sharpe@riinternational.com  or call (602) 636-4478

Course Information: Our Certified Peer/Recovery Support Specialist Training, which we call Peer Employment Training (PET), is recognized around the world. To date, we have trained over 15,000+ individuals worldwide. Our CPSS training is an approved curriculum in many states, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and California. CPSS Training has been developed and updated through the years, to support individuals in developing a unique set of skills needed to work as a Peer Support Specialist.

Type of Training/who for: This is a peer/recovery support core training and is designed to prepare the student to deliver peer support services for individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges.

Learning Objectives: Peer Employment Training meets current Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Mental Health America (MHA), Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) and, the National Association of Peer Supporters (NAPS) core competencies for employment as a peer/recovery support specialist.

AZ Peer Employment Training Classes are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with lunch and rest breaks. AZ PET facilitators hold office hours for 1:1 and small group training support, on Wednesdays

Training Qualifications: 

• 18 years old or older.
• Is a current or former recipient of mental health and/or substance use services
• Identify as an individual in recovery and be willing to share their experience of recovery
• Having a GED or High School Diploma.

CPS Training Completion Requirements:

• Must earn a final grade of 80% or higher based on test scores, participation grade, and attendance.

• Must achieve consistent attendance - missing no more than 8 hours of training.

• Must not miss the following mandatory modules of training: 1) Module 1 - day one, 2) Story day, 3) Ethics and Boundaries and, 4) Final Exam

Missing any of these days would result in the need to withdraw from the course and reschedule another training when one becomes available.

• If students need to miss class time, it is their responsibility to contact the facilitator and let them know that they will be absent. Your facilitator needs to know generally what the reason for the absence is: for example, not feeling well, etc.  We trust your judgment about your priorities and needs. We will also be asking for phone numbers. When missing or late to class, we like to be able to text or give you a call and see how we can support you.
• If a student misses more than 8 hours of class, they will not be eligible to receive a graduation certificate. We recognize that unexpected life events come up. We then encourage the student to consider taking the training again from the beginning at a future date.  We do not offer the option of retaking just the missed class at a future date. To earn a certificate, a student needs to complete a whole consecutive training, missing no more than 8 hours. This is to ensure that . . .
• The student participates in the sequence of skills-training we believe is most effective.
• The student has the full experience of the peer support relationship-building that takes place, from Day 1 to Day 10, within the learning community.