Why does Peer Professional training pricing vary so much? 🧐

During my tenure as the Director of Training at FOR-NY, I constantly fielded questions about the price discrepancy for CRPA/CARC certification training. I did some research and it comes down to five factors:

1️⃣ Geography: Urban areas (like NYC) often have lower costs due to higher student volume, whereas rural trainers have higher per-student costs to break even. 

2️⃣ Overhead: Pricing fluctuates based on who covers the venue, printing, and amenities. 

3️⃣ Facilitation: Trainings with two facilitators naturally cost more to ensure fair compensation for both. 

4️⃣ Financial Backing: Trainers with agency-backed salaries offer lower rates than independent contractors. 

5️⃣ Experience: You pay for expertise. Veteran trainers often command higher rates than those just starting out.

My analysis found the industry average for renewal training is approximately $25 per credit hour.

How to make training more affordable: 

·       Pay People a Living Wage! Let's work together to advocate for higher compensation for Peer Professionals.

·       Raise Agency Training Budgets! Professional development isn’t just an expense—it’s an investment in staff retention and quality care.

·       Scholarships: OASAS, through Friends of Recovery-New York, fully funds initial and some renewal training. https://lnkd.in/eWaE3shF

We need to advocate for more funding for this important project.

·       Technical Assistance: Agencies can request help through the Opioid Response Network (ORN) to fund staff-wide training. https://lnkd.in/eP6iuCvG

·       Host Benefits: For agencies that host a training and assist with marketing, I offer a complimentary certificate and several "audit" spaces once a minimum enrollment is met. I also provide flat-fee packages to make it more affordable to train an entire staff.

·       My Commitment: I offer a 50% "self-pay" discount for peers paying out of pocket for many of my trainings. 

Many of my colleagues in the training space offer similar accessibility options as well. 

It's paramount to keep professional development accessible for those on the front lines while ensuring trainers are fairly compensated for their expertise and commitment. 🤝 

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Photo taken on a walk after an in person training in Oswego, NY (Lake Ontario)