Certified Recovery Specialist/ Certified Family Recovery Specialist 78-Hour Training Curriculum

The Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) assists others in recovery from substance use disorders. Those with direct experience in addiction and recovery are welcome to register for this program.

The Certified Family Recovery Specialist (CFRS) assists family members who have been directly impacted by their own family member or loved one’s substance use disorder. Those with direct experience of being impacted by a family member or loved one with a substance use disorder are welcome to register for this program.

The program is designed to meet the current educational requirements for the CRS and CFRS credentials as set forth by the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB):

Topics Include

  • History of Recovery and Substance Use Disorder
  • Multiple Definitions of Recovery
  • The Role of the Recovery Specialist
  • Communication and Professional Skills
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Stages of Change
  • Ethical Responsibility and Professionalism
  • Substance Use Knowledge
  • Co-Occurring Disorders and Mental Health Knowledge
  • Recovery Planning and Collaboration
  • Non-Clinical Recovery Support Groups
  • Digital Recovery Support
  • Advocacy
  • Cultural Competency
  • Safety and Self-Care

When

Dates coming soon

Where

Penn State Lehigh Valley

Cost

$995 (includes all program materials*)

* A separate fee of $150 for the CRS or CFRS Application review is payable directly to the Pennsylvania Certification Board. (CRS applicants will then receive information on sitting for the CRS exam.)

Registration Information

Cindy Evans
Penn State Lehigh Valley
610-285-5133 or [email protected]

CRS training registration 

CRS/ CFRS Requirements

This program provides participants with the required 78 hours of education needed to apply for the CRS or the CFRS credential. Please note that Penn State Lehigh Valley / The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania is the education provider only and our training is one part of the larger process to become a successful CRS or CFRS

For individuals to become a CRS, they must meet the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) requirements which include:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Successful completion of the Certified Recovery Specialist/ Certified Family Recovery Specialist – 78 Hour Training Curriculum
  • 18 months of sustained personal lived recovery
  • 1000 word statement describing personal lived experience with addiction and recovery and history of sustained recovery
  • Application to the Pennsylvania Certification Board, payment of fee, and successful completion of the CRS exam
  • Signing of an ethical code of conduct

For individuals to become a CFRS, they must meet the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) requirements which include:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Successful completion of the Certified Recovery Specialist/ Certified Family Recovery Specialist – 78 Hour Training Program
  • History of lived experience of being directly impacted by family member or loved one’s substance use disorder
  • 1000 word statement describing lived experience of being impacted by a family member or loved one’s substance use disorder and navigating of systems, accessing of resources, and what family recovery means personally
  • 3 letters of reference/ character as described by the PCB
  • Application to the Pennsylvania Certification Board and payment of fee
  • Signing of an ethical code of conduct

These requirements listed are detailed in full on the Pennsylvania Certification Board’s website and it is important that you visit the PCB site for more information on the requirements and expectations of these certifications prior to registering for any trainings.

Questions?

For general information, please contact:

Cindy Evans
Penn State Lehigh Valley
610-285-5133 or [email protected]

The Council and Penn State Lehigh Valley are approved providers with the Pennsylvania Certification Board. The PCB offers many certifications and for more information on their programs please visit them on the web.