Peer Training & Continuing Education
We offer an Oregon Health Authority-approved 40-hour Peer Support Specialist (PSS) Training, as well as ongoing Continuing Education workshops for peer providers and other community members.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Fall 2026 Veteran Peer Support Specialist Training
NAMI Multnomah’s upcoming Veteran Peer Support Specialist (PSS) Training is free and open to Veterans anywhere in Oregon who meet the PSS training requirements outlined below. Participants do not need to live in Multnomah County, and discharge status does not affect eligibility.
This is a 40-hour training, and participants must be available for the full training schedule:
Monday, October 19: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Tuesday, October 20: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Thursday, October 22: 6:00–8:00 PM — Skills Practice
Monday, October 26: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Tuesday, October 27: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Thursday, October 29: 6:00–8:00 PM — Skills Practice
Monday, November 2: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Tuesday, November 3: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Applications open September 11, 2026.
Applications will close September 18, 2026, or when 100 applications have been received, whichever comes first.
All applicants will be notified of their application decision by September 25, 2026.
Selected applicants will then receive a registration form and will have through October 9, 2026 to complete registration and confirm their spot.
Check back here for the application on September 11th, 2026.
Sign up here for training announcements.
Our tentative FY26–27 training schedule (July 2026–June 2027):
Veteran PSS Training (free) — October 2026
Veteran PSS Training (free) — tentatively January 2027
Core & 2SLGBTQIA+ PSS Trainings (paid, $650/person) — 5 trainings offered between February and June 2027
Exact dates and locations will be confirmed closer to each training and posted here as they're finalized.
Interested in a training just for your organization? We can schedule a dedicated PSS training for your staff or team. Contact us at peertraining@namimultnomah.org to discuss availability.
Questions? Contact us at peertraining@namimultnomah.org.
For training and CE opportunities offered by other organizations, please check out the Oregon Health Authority’s THW Training Program database.
Training Program Overview
Our 40-hour job training program is an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) approved PSS training for Adults in Mental Health. NAMI Multnomah developed our peer training curriculum in collaboration with Cascadia Health and other peer collaborators. Peers who complete the training can apply to become OHA Traditional Health Workers (THW) as Peer Support Specialists for Adult Mental Health. Find the OHA’s Traditional Health Worker FAQs here.
Training Requirements for NAMI Multnomah’s PSS Training:
Identify as a peer (a person with lived experience of a mental health condition).
Be at least 18 years of age.
Not be listed on the Medicare provider exclusion list.
Other requirements may apply, depending on training; see below for additional information.
Program costs and Additional Eligibility REQUIREMENTS
Training costs and eligibility requirements vary by training:
Veteran Peer Support Specialist Training — FREE
Open to Veterans throughout Oregon. Discharge status does not affect eligibility.General Peer Support Specialist Training — $650 per person
2SLGBTQIA+ Peer Support Specialist Training — $650 per person
Financial Assistance
We recognize that the cost of training can be a barrier for people interested in becoming Peer Support Specialists.
NAMI Multnomah is currently working toward becoming an approved provider on Oregon's Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) through the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). If approved, eligible participants may be able to work with their local WorkSource Oregon center to access funding that could cover some or all of the cost of training.
This funding option is not yet available and is not guaranteed. We will update this page as additional funding options become available.
Continuing Education (CE), Certification, and Recertifcation Information
We offer ongoing Continuing Education (CE) courses, including our Evening with the Experts series. Please sign up here to be notified about upcoming CE courses.
Resources for Training Graduates
OHA has an online portal where PSST graduates can submit their THW applications. Click here to access the portal. For applications in languages other than English, applicants submit applications to thw.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
Need to earn recertify? Find information here on the recertification process. To find Continuing Education opportunities, you can use the OHA’s database here.
For more information, please visit the Oregon Health Authority’s website here.