VHA Peer Support Training (Private Course for Veterans)

Residents of Pennsylvania and North Carolina:  are not eligible for online peer certification courses as they are not currently accepted by the accrediting body in Pennsylvania nor North Carolina.  To see a list of upcoming trainings in Pennsylvania, please click here:  Upcoming Peer Support Certification Trainings - PA Peer Support Coalition;  To see a list of upcoming trainings in North Carolina, please click here:  NCCPSS Approved Course Training Sessions Going on Now.. | NC Peer Support Specialist Certification Program (unc.edu)

Residents of California:  You may be eligible for grant scholarship to take this class.  If you would like to explore this, please stop this registration and contact:  RIC.HCAI@Riinternational.com.  If you are eligible, the California team will direct you to next steps.  If you are not eligible, we welcome your registration here and look forward to seeing you in class soon.

Residents of Arizona:  Arizona Peer Employment Training is conducted by our Licensed Private Vocational School, The Recovery Education Center, in Phoenix AZ.  If you would like to take the two-week offering, live, in Arizona, please contact: RICC.Referrals@riinternational.com.  If you would like to take the two-week online course, please continue here.

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.

Once you have submitted your application and it has been reviewed and approved, you will receive an email for next steps in registration. If you have not been approved as eligible, you will receive an email from our administrative staff on what you will need to become eligible.

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.

 Note: For all states where RI International is recognized as a training entity, please click the application link below to complete an eligibility application. Once your application has been approved as meeting your state of residence’s requirements, you will receive an email on how to register for the class. Do not proceed to registration and payment until you have received our approval email. When approved, you will receive an email from our administrative staff explaining how to register for this course. If you submit your payment and subsequently need a refund, please note, refunds may take up to two weeks to process. You may add as many classes as you like to your shopping cart. Please do not proceed to payment until you have been approved for the training!

Peer Employment Training Classes are Monday thru Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with lunch and rest breaks

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.

Virtual CPS Training is not available in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania The completion of at least 12 months of employment or volunteer activities within the past three (3) years or have earned 24 credit hours.

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.

Technical Requirements:

• Access to a computer with dedicated internet access (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
• A webcam (internal or external) 
• A microphone and speakers (internal or external); all in good working order

Participants are required to use their webcams and be always present during the training in order to successfully complete the course. Use of cell phones or tablets will not afford the individual the ability to see the presentation or the class chat; therefore, a computer must be used.

Registration Fee: $1,295 (If your employer or another funder is paying for your class, please do not proceed to payment at this time. You will receive an email from our administrative staff explaining how to register for this course. If you submit your payment and subsequently need a refund, please note, refunds may take up to two weeks to process.)