A peer educator is a student of similar status as the student they are working with. The role of peer educator may include peer mentor, peer coach, SI Leader, classroom leader, peer academic leader, resident assistant or similar position affiliated with a college or university program. The administrators of the peer program will define "peer" more specifically to ensure a proper fit with the program..

IPTPC certifies peer educator training programs and authorizes those programs to certify individual peer educators once they complete all applicable certification requirements.

Once an application is approved, CRLA will send an email to each contact person listed on the application. The email will contain a letter of congratulations; a certificate for your program listing the levels approved and the dates of approval; a template file for you to use to provide recognition for tutors who complete your program at each level; and a sample press release to use at your discretion.

No, there are no deadlines to apply. However, there are deadlines to renew.

Initial certification lasts for two years, followed by renewal, which is every four years thereafter. Certification is an ongoing process with renewal scheduled on a regular basis.

No. However, we encourage you to become a member of CRLA.

CRLA membership has many advantages, including regular newsletters, discounted conference and Summer Institute registration, access to Taylor & Francis publications such as the JCRL (Journal of College Reading and Learning), professional networking and leadership opportunities through the Special Interest Groups and State/Region/Chapter meetings and events.

Yes, CRLA provides many opportunities to learn about certification through intensive half-day pre-conference sessions, concurrent sessions at annual, local and regional conferences, and a multi-day training on tutor training development and implementation at the CRLA Summer Institute.

Attending training is not a requirement for certification, however it is highly recommended and consistently lauded as a valuable professional development experience for the Learning Assistance community.

Additionally, the CRLA IPTPC Standards, Outcomes, and Assessments (2nd Ed) is written in support of CRLA certification and provides a clear path toward successful development of your program and completion of your certification application. It is a “must-read” for anyone interested in certifying a tutor training program.

Yes! Compliance with federal copyright law is expected of all CRLA members and IPTPC programs. It is your legal and ethical responsibility to give authorship credit for all materials used in the classroom and for peer educator training. Additionally, it is your legal and ethical responsibility to purchase, or have students purchase, copyrighted materials. IPTPC programs found to be in violation of copyright may lose their certification.

Once a program is certified or re-certified, the primary contacts on the application will receive an email that includes the program certificate as an attachment (PDF), as well as the PowerPoint template for the tutor recognition certificate(s). Your Center’s certificate is valid for the dates indicated on the PDF.

The certification approval email contains your recognition template(s). If you cannot find your recognition template, send an email to certifications@crla.net requesting it. Include the name of your college or university in your request, as well as your ITTPC ID (if known).

International Tutor Appreciation Week (ITAW) is celebrated annually during the first full week in October. It is a celebration to let tutors know how much they are appreciated for all they do for students each year.

Appreciation Week also gives students, faculty, staff, and campus administration the opportunity to thank tutors.

Suggestions for ITAW:

• Make posters announcing International Tutor Appreciation Week
• Ask students to write notes to tutors they wish to thank
• Invite faculty to thank the tutors for their departments
• Promote ITAW through the center or department social media
• Write personalized thank-you notes from the supervisor to each tutor
• Ask university president, chancellor, or dean to write or record a special thanks to tutors