What is Peer Support?

A peer support team is a group of people within an organization who are specialty-trained to recognize when peers and coworkers may be struggling with mental health and wellness issues in the workplace, as well as in their personal lives. The training received through the CPWG© program prepares the peer support team leader and team members to be a first-line go-to resource for employees who need someone to talk to, someone who is connected to resources and support services, and who can be trusted to keep personal information confidential. A peer support team member will be a good listener, with no judgment of their peers and coworkers who are struggling. 

What is the CPWG©?

The CPWG© program is a combination of a training course and a certification exam. The training course teaches everything needed in order to start an organization's employee peer support team, run it, maintain it, and grow it.  Once the training course is complete, a certification exam tests knowledge and proficiency. Passing the exam earns the participant the certification credential of Certified Peer Wellness Guide©.

What will you learn?

Your main CPWG© training course will prepare you for the CPWG© certification exam, and thoroughly covers the following topics:

• Mental health foundations will be covered, including anxiety, stress, and burnout. Participants will gain insight into common mental illnesses and disorders, and will learn extensively about managing coworkers who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide. Family work/life balance will be included in the training, and the program will also teach elements of depression, grief, hurt, anger and fear and how it affects individuals in the workplace. Additionally participants will learn about addiction and compulsions.
• The workplace culture and its relation to mental wellness will be covered, including topics like the pressure to succeed, interacting with coworkers, common workplace stressors, the environment, and leadership stress.
• Creating a Peer Support Team, or being a part of one, is the point of this program, and the training sessions will thoroughly cover things like confidentiality and trust, when to react or respond, and when someone may just need a listening and compassionate person to talk with. The training will teach how to select the right peer advocacy team members, what training will be beneficial along the way, how to support coworkers and peers, and what to do in a situation of crisis.
• Leadership is part of being a Certified Peer Wellness Guide©, and participants will learn about the privilege and responsibility, as well as expectations of a wellness leader. The importance of setting an example and earning & keeping peer trust is covered as well.

Being a Certified Peer Wellness Guide© is an important role, and we take the responsibility very seriously. The program is rigorous and thorough. Once complete, participants may take the certification exam, and we'll be here to help with exam preparation, 1-on-1 tutoring sessions pre-exam, and we'll walk in detail through the renewal and Continuing Education (CE) process for maintaining certification.

The program will fully prepare participants to be a peer support team leader and/or team member, no matter the size or mission of the organization. 
Participants will gain knowledge of mental health foundations, so as to understand most workplace and employee challenges and scenarios, and be able to assist and lead individuals toward ongoing resources.

How it Works

1. Complete the Certified  Peer Wellness Guide© training course within a 120-day period.

2. Take and pass the CPWG© certification examination with at least a 90% score.

3. Every year renew the certification to keep it active.

4. Every year take 1 hour of CE (continuing education) classes provided by Center of Training in order to qualify for certification renewal. 

What You Get

When you enroll in the Certified Peer Wellness Guide© training course:

1. Access to the training course for 120 days. The course is 100% online, self-paced within the timeframe.

2. Support & assistance with any questions or clarification needed throughout the training course.

3. Printed workbook which is designed to become your long-term reference manual so you always have the training content and information at your fingertips.

After passing the Certified Peer Wellness Guide© certification exam:

You will have earned the CPWG© designation!.. you can add "CPWG" as credentials after your name and proudly claim the title Certified Peer Wellness Guide© as long as you remain active with Center of Training.

The CPWG© Exam

After completing the training course you will be eligible to take the CPWG© certification exam.

1. The exam is online and asks 100 questions covering the training course material.

2. You must pass with a 90% score or better to earn the certification.

3. You will have access to the exam for up to 30 days, and will have 2 attempts to pass the exam. If not passed the first time, we require a 72-hour waiting period and a 1-on-1 tutoring session to help you be successful on the 2nd attempt and in your role as a CPWG©.

Where is the CPWG© certification recognized?

The CPWG© program is a certification rather than a license, and so it is recognized everywhere. Different types of training documentation and privileges are defined here:

1. Certificate of training -- this is a certificate/document provided when someone completes a training class which simply shows the training was attended or completed.  You can earn a certificate of training by completing the wellness programs specialist training course but not taking the exam. This does not enable you to use the credentials or claim yourself as a CCPA.

2. Certification -- credentials and designation which is earned by completing a training program and passing a proficiency and knowledge examination. The provider/host of a certification program must be a subject matter expert who is qualified to teach and test the training content provided. Center of Training qualifies as a provider of certification in mental health and wellness programs. Read our "About Us" page here.

3. License -- a government-issued (typically) right to provide professional services within a particular location (state, etc.). The CPWG© is not a license, and does not train anyone to provide professional services like counseling, etc.

Tuition / Costs

Costs & fees below are per person. We do offer group discounts for 5 or more enrollees from the same organization. Email us at [email protected] for more information.

Course/Exam:

- Training Course (Certified Peer Wellness Guide©) enrollment tuition:  $195/person
- CPWG© Certification Exam: $100/person
- Training Course & Certification Exam Bundle: $275/person

Renewal/Continuing Education (CE):

- Annual CPWG© Certification Renewal:  $100
- Annual 1 CE Course:  $75
- Annual Renewal + 1 CE Hour Bundle:  $150

Maintaining the Certification

Once you pass the exam and graduate from the CPWG© program you may use the CPWG© designation credentials as long as you remain active. The following are required to retain active status as a CPWG©:

1. Annual renewal on your graduation anniversary date.

2. One (1) hour of CE (continuing education) training provided by Center of Training each year.  Every CPWG© will take the same CE classes for the purpose of standardization and cumulative learning - we want the CPWG© certification to be held at a very high standard so that anyone seeing you have earned this CPWG© designation knows that you have gained extensive knowledge and are continuing to learn and stay current on wellness program topics.

Please note that the CPWG© certification belongs to the individual and not to any employing organization, and is not transferable.

How to Enroll

To enroll choose from:
~ 1-payment course enrollment ($195)
or
~ Course enrollment & exam bundle ($275)

When enrolling, use the email address you will want to use as your login username. This will also be the email address where you will receive program reminders and updates as well as your certificate and other program-related information and resources. Be sure to enter your name as you would want it to be reflected on course materials, certificates, etc.