APPROVED INSTRUCTOR TRAINING PROGRAM
Know the material.
Model the skills.
Shape the learning.
You've built the peer support skills. Now learn how to teach them to others.
The CSS Approved Instructor Training Program (AITP) prepares experienced Helpers to teach Basic Peer Support inside their organizations—building internal training capacity while developing the instructional skill, judgment, and confidence needed to teach well.
BUILD CAPACITY INSIDE YOUR ORGANIZATION
Train your people.
Build your own capacity.
AITP prepares experienced Helpers to bring Basic Peer Support training inside their organization—giving programs greater flexibility while developing instructors who can teach the curriculum well.
KNOW THE MATERIAL
Understand what you're teaching.
Know why the material matters, how the pieces fit together, and what needs to remain consistent.
MODEL THE SKILLS
Show what good helping looks like.
Make the skills visible so learners can see and hear what effective helping looks like in practice.
SHAPE THE LEARNING
Help people learn to do it themselves.
Use demonstration, practice, feedback, pacing, and good judgment to move learners from understanding to capability.
The goal isn't simply someone who can present Basic Peer Support. It's an instructor who can help others learn to do it well.
THE INSTRUCTOR LENS
Knowing Basic is only the beginning.
Being a capable peer gives an instructor candidate an important foundation. Teaching Basic requires a different way of thinking.
AS A HELPER
What do I need to do to help this person?
Your attention is on recognizing the need, connecting well, using the skills, and responding appropriately in the moment.
AS AN INSTRUCTOR
What does this learner need in order to do it themselves?
Now you're thinking about what they need to understand, see modeled, practice, receive feedback on, and demonstrate before moving forward.
AITP changes the lens: from doing the skills yourself to helping someone else understand, practice, and learn to use them well.
AITP AT A GLANCE
Here’s what it takes to become—and stay—an Approved Instructor.
AITP is a 3-day instructor-development experience for experienced Helpers who have already completed Basic Peer Support and are ready to build training capacity inside their organization.
BECOMING AN INSTRUCTOR
Instructor-focused training and practice
Choose the format that works for your organization
Candidates should already know the participant-level curriculum
Per candidate for live Zoom.
In-person pricing includes additional instructor travel.
APPROVED INSTRUCTOR AGREEMENT
Approval comes with both opportunity and responsibility.
Approved Instructors teach CSS Basic Peer Support under the terms of the Approved Instructor Agreement, including expectations for curriculum use, class registration, student materials, and instructional integrity.
Completion is an important milestone.
Independent instructor approval reflects demonstrated readiness,
not attendance alone.
LIVE ZOOM
Build instructor capacity without travel.
A practical option for organizations that need the training but do not have travel funds available.
IN PERSON
Bring AITP to your organization.
In-person delivery is available for organizations that prefer classroom-based instruction. Instructor travel costs are additional.
THINKING ABOUT BUILDING INTERNAL TRAINING CAPACITY?
Let’s talk about whether AITP fits your program.
WHEN YOU TEACH BASIC
Know the ongoing costs up front.
Approved Instructors register each Basic Peer Support class with CSS and use licensed CSS student materials.
Per Basic Peer Support class
Per student
Per registered class
APPROVED INSTRUCTOR AGREEMENT
Approval comes with responsibility.
Approved Instructors teach CSS Basic Peer Support under an Approved Instructor Agreement that establishes expectations for curriculum use, class registration, student materials, and instructional quality.
Completion of AITP is an important milestone. Independent instructor approval reflects demonstrated readiness to teach the curriculum well.
READY TO BUILD INTERNAL TRAINING CAPACITY?
Train the people
who will train your people.
If you're ready to develop an instructor inside your organization, let's find the next AITP opportunity that fits your team.
Questions about prerequisites, Zoom delivery, in-person training, or bringing AITP to your organization? We're happy to help.