Certified Peer Recovery Mentor (CPRM) Academy
About Certified Peer Recovery Mentor (CPRM) Academy
CPRM Academy is an 80-hour training program for individuals with lived experience in recovery from substance use and who are seeking MCBAP-certification as Peer Recovery Mentors (also known as Peer Recovery Coaches/Peer Support Specialists in the workforce). Through specialized education and supervised practical training, students learn how to use their lived experiences to promote wellness and recovery to others.
Financial assistance and training stipends available to qualifying candidates who successfully complete the program.
Graduates of CPRM Academy will have earned the specialized education and supervised practical training hours required by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) to earn the CPRM credential. Click here to view MCBAP’s requirements.
Program Requirements
To be eligible for CPRM Academy, applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be a person in recovery from alcohol/substance use and have at least 2 years of continuous successful recovery/sobriety
- Provide verification of highest education credentials (high school diploma/GED, or college transcripts)
- Basic technology skills (using email, navigating the web, working with files, etc.)
Prepare for Application
Applicants for the CPRM Academy cohort must submit their application and all accompanying documents. Those with incomplete applications will not be accepted. The required application materials are:
- CPRM Academy Application Form
- Personal Interest Statement
- Proof of Education
- Reference for Involvement in Recovery Community
What is a Certified Peer Recovery Mentor?
A Certified Peer Recovery Mentor (CPRM) is a paraprofessional credential for an individual who works as a peer provider who assists clients throughout all stages of their recovery from alcohol and/or drugs. A CPRM uses their skills learned in formal training and their lived experiences of addiction and recovery to deliver services that promote wellness and offer support, guidance, resources, encouragement, and hope.
Career Opportunities
Earning your CPRM will enable you to find stable and rewarding employment! Individuals with their CPRM often work as Recovery Coaches, Peer Recovery Specialists, and Peer Support Specialists in settings such as:
- Community mental health centers
- Substance use treatment centers
- Drop-in centers
- Employment services
- Crisis response teams
- Prevention and outreach teams
What do Certified Peer Recovery Mentors/Recovery Coaches do?
The responsibilities of a CPRM/Recovery Coach include:
- Offering emotional, informational, and instrumental support to clients as they enter and progress through treatment and recovery
- Assisting in post-treatment recovery maintenance by directing the client to appropriate support systems and resources (housing, food, clothing, etc.)
- Conducting intakes, creating individualized recovery plans, and assessing the client’s progress
- Helping the client build a recovery network by helping them build social connections and relationships through support groups/meetings and recovery-enhancing events
- Minimizing the obstacles to recovery by identifying challenges to and opportunities for long-term recovery
Why become a Certified Peer Recovery Mentor?
Studies show that people who receive peer recovery support services experience:
+ Increased treatment retention
+ Greater housing stability
+ More access to social supports
+ Improved relationships with treatment providers
– Decreased rates of relapse
– Less criminal justice involvement
– Lower rates of rehospitalization
– Less need for and use of emergency services
Recovery Coach Apprenticeship
- Completion of CPRM Academy required as prerequisite
- Paid apprenticeship (full-time)
- 1-on-1 mentorship
- Includes roughly 140 hours of additional trainings/coursework specific to the job functions of a Peer Recovery Coach
- Financial support available to eligible candidates