AHEC West's MABPCB-approved 50-hour initial training prepares you for the Maryland Certified Peer Recovery Specialist credential — built on lived experience, peer connection, and evidence-based practice.
AHEC West's CPRS training is designed for people with lived experience of addiction and recovery who want to formalize their role in supporting others. The program is approved by the Maryland Addiction & Behavioral Health Professionals Certification Board (MABPCB).
Graduates earn the hours required for the Maryland Certified Peer Recovery Specialist credential and gain the skills to support individuals at any stage of recovery — with compassion, boundaries, and professional tools.
The initial CPRS curriculum meets all MABPCB requirements across five core competency areas — advocacy, ethics, mentoring & education, recovery & wellness, and harm reduction.
Understanding the recovery support systems landscape, advocating for individuals in treatment and community settings, and navigating healthcare and social service systems.
MABPCB code of ethics, maintaining appropriate boundaries in peer relationships, managing dual relationships, and professional conduct in recovery support settings.
Peer mentoring skills, motivational interviewing foundations, teaching self-management strategies, and using lived experience as a professional tool.
Understanding multiple pathways to recovery, wellness planning, stages of change, recovery-oriented systems of care, and supporting long-term recovery.
Harm reduction philosophy and practices, person-centered approaches to substance use, medications for addiction treatment, and supporting individuals across the spectrum of use.
Structured review aligned to MABPCB certification requirements, including documentation of competencies and support for the credential application process upon completion.
The initial training curriculum covers all five MABPCB competency domains and exceeds the minimum hours required for certification.
| Course | Advocacy | Ethics | Mentoring & Education | Recovery & Wellness | Harm Reduction | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCAR Recovery Coach Academy® · 30 hrs live via Zoom | 7.5 | 9.0 | 5.25 | 8.25 | — | 30.0 |
| Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.5 | — | 8.0 |
| Compassion Over Judgment | — | — | — | — | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Addiction & Recovery 101 | 1.5 | — | 2.5 | — | — | 4.0 |
| ACEs & Trauma-Informed Care | — | 6.0 | — | — | — | 6.0 |
| Total Earned | 10.0 | 16.0 | 10.25 | 11.75 | 4.0 | 52.0 |
| MABPCB Minimum Required | 10.0 | 16.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 4.0 | 50 |
* Program manual and digital platform access are included in the cost of training.
See the full CPRS certification requirements →
You do not have to enroll in the full program. If you are already credentialed and need continuing education hours, or you only want to cover a specific competency area, individual modules are available on their own.
Ask about individual modules →This training is designed for individuals in Maryland who have personal experience with addiction and recovery and want to use that experience to support others — professionally and with a credential to back it up.
Have questions before saving your spot?
Our team is happy to walk you through eligibility requirements, what to expect in the training, and how to prepare for the MABPCB credential application.
Leave your details and we'll notify you when the next cohort is announced. Have a question about the August 2026 session instead? Add it below and we'll follow up.