If you have lived experience with mental health or substance use challenges and a passion for helping others, you may be an ideal candidate to become a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS).


A certified recovery peer specialist (CRPS) is a professional who uses their personal "lived experience" of recovery from mental health and/or substance use conditions to help others achieve and maintain wellness. They provide non-clinical support, mentorship, and advocacy, working alongside clinical teams to offer a unique, empathy-based perspective on the recovery journey.

As a CRPS, you’ll use your personal recovery journey to inspire hope, foster connection, and support others as they work toward wellness. With specialized training, you’ll play a powerful and unique role in the behavioral health field.

To be eligible for the Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) credential—regardless of the application pathway—all applicants must ultimately meet the minimum requirements outlined below. These requirements ensure that every CRPS professional is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and lived experience needed to provide effective, ethical peer support.


Donaldson Edge Consulting is an equal opportunity training program and is commitment to providing equal opportunities for all applicants.

Certified Recovery Peer Specialist training

D-Edge Consulting is a Florida Certification Board approved education and training provider. We offer a diverse selection of online, self-paced courses through our online education platform. Courses may be purchased individually to meet your continuing education requirement or you may purchase the entire (40) hour bundle.

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"Turn your wounds into wisdom."


- Oprah Winfrey



What is a Peer Recovery Specialist?
A Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) is a trained professional with lived experience in mental health and/or substance use recovery who supports others on their own recovery journeys, acting as a mentor, advocate, and facilitator to promote empowerment, self-determination, and wellness through shared understanding and practical guidance. They bridge the gap between traditional treatment and real-life challenges, helping peers navigate systems and build community.


CRPS Requirements & Application

To be eligible for the Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) credential—regardless of the application pathway—all applicants must ultimately meet the minimum requirements outlined below. These requirements ensure that every CRPS professional is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and lived experience needed to provide effective, ethical peer support.



What Makes You "Certified"
Lived Experience: 
Must have a personal history of recovery from mental health or substance use challenges.
Training: 
Complete specific training (e.g., 40+ hours) in areas like ethics, crisis management, and recovery principles.
Experience: 
Accumulate supervised practical hours in peer support roles.
Formal Credential: 
Meet state or national requirements (like the Florida Certification Board or NAADAC) to earn and maintain their certification.




Peer Recovery Specialists reinforce recovery as viable by being living proof, sharing lived experiences to build hope and connection, offering empathy and practical guidance, reducing isolation, and connecting peers to resources, proving recovery isn't just possible, but attainable and sustainable through shared understanding and mentorship. 


CRPS Training


Completion of 40 hours of Donaldson Edge Florida Certification Board approved training in CRPS-approved topics are designed to build foundational skills in peer support.

Advocacy for Peer Recovery Specialists: 4hrs.

This course prepares Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS) to engage in effective, ethical advocacy that supports self-determination, equity, and recovery-oriented systems of care. Participants learn how to help peers identify their needs, understand their rights, navigate complex service systems, and build confidence to speak for themselves. The training also identify systemic barriers and promote meaningful change.

Sandra L Donaldson

Sandra L Donaldson

$200

Mentoring Matters: 3 hrs.

This course is important because it strives to strengthen recovery, build confidence, and help peers navigate life with support from someone who truly understands what they’re going through. Mentors have personal recovery experience, which builds credibility and trust. The mentoring concept help peers feel understood, accepted, and less alone.

Sandra L Donaldson

Sandra L Donaldson

$100

Coaching, Guiding, and Growing: The Role of a CRPS Mentor: 3hrs.

This course assists Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) demonstrate healthy, independent behaviors expected of a person in recovery based on choice rather than compliance. The course guides the (PRS) to establish and maintain an effective peer mentoring relationship with their peer and promote social learning through shared experiences.

Sandra L Donaldson

Sandra L Donaldson

$100

Certified Recovery Peer Specialists in the Workforce


Certified Recovery Peer Specialists (CRPS) are trained professionals who use lived experience of recovery from mental health and/or substance use challenges to support others in achieving and sustaining recovery. In the workforce, CRPS serve as a critical bridge between individuals, services, and systems—enhancing engagement, reducing barriers, and promoting long-term stability.

CRPS operate within recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centered frameworks, complementing—not replacing—clinical, case management, or supervisory roles.