With the rising demand for specialists and an obvious shortage of these specialists, peer specialists can step in to fill this gap while increasing the density in the workforce. Today, the ratio of Peer specialists to patients is between 1:10 to 1:50.
As a peer specialist, there is a wide range of areas in which your services may be required. Some of the areas where peer specialists are the most desired city in the healthcare service industry (hospitals, clinics, and telecare) community care (in such cases, the peer serves as a compass or guide to those around them).
These individuals could work as voluntary staff, salary earners, or even voluntary staff with compensatory bonuses to help their basic needs. On average, a peer specialist can earn an average pay of about $13.38 an hour.
The Career Path for A Peer
Picking your employment opportunities works hand in hand with picking the right career path. As a peer, there are specific areas that experience the highest amount of individuals with your skillset.
- Certified peer specialist:
Certified peer specialists make up more than 20% of the peer population. These are individuals who have attained certificates showing that they are professional peers. It’s mostly common for employers seeking to pay for peer services to opt for this group. That is because these peers have spent some money acquiring their professional status and would require to get paid. After all, their certification assures you that they are great at their job.
- Program coordinator, nonprofit organizations:
Other peers may decide to work as program coordinators or in nonprofit organizations. In such jobs, peers are made to be the face of the organization. They are also hired to work with the population that the nonprofit has been designed to serve. Program coordinators are usually indoor workers but may be required to work outdoors, depending on their organization’s nature.
- Program assistants
This is the area where you are bound to find the least amount of peers. That is because the level of skills required for this category of work is usually minimal, and almost anyone can play the part. Peers as program assistants work in various fields, and they rely on their administrative and communicative skills. These individuals can be hired in nonprofits, technological firms, or silicon valley. As a program assistant, it barely looks like you are a peer because you perform duties such as meeting the customer’s concerns, work with community leaders, negotiating, keeping records, etc.
Being a peer can be a successful career path with several benefits besides the salary. On the plus side, peers get to do relevant jobs that make the lives of patients better.
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