Turn Your Lived Experience Into a Career That Changes Lives

Become a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC) or a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA)

Your Journey Starts Here.

Recovery Coach Academy

What’s Covered in This Training

30-Hour Live, Virtual Experience

Ready to launch your career or expand your work in recovery? Earn the foundational credits required for certified coaches and peer professionals in this field.

    • Spectrum of Attitudes about Recovery

    • What is recovery?

    • Guiding Principles, Values, and Core Components of Recovery

    • What is a recovery coach?

    • Distinguishing between addiction counselor, recovery coach, and sponsors

    • Getting Your Buttons Pushed

    • Sexual Harassment

    • Crisis Intervention

    • Stigma & Labels

    • Sharing Your Story

    • Issues of Self Disclosure

    • Making Connections

    • Motivational Interviewing

    • Stages of Change

    • Stages of Recovery

    • Multiple Pathways to RecoveryCulture &

    • Cultural Competency

    • Power & Privilege

    • Power Walk

    • The CCAR Experience

    • Making a Referral

    • Building Recovery Capital

    • Resources Available

    • Researching Additional Resources

    • Boundary Issues

    • Self-Care

    • Recovery Wellness Plan

    • Role Plays

    • Continued Professional Development & Next Steps

Recovery Coach Academy is

the Gold Standard in Recovery Coaching & Peer Support

Become the kind of support you once wished you had.

The Recovery Coach Academy (RCA) is an immersive, evidence-based training that equips you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to make a real difference in the lives of others.

This dynamic, 30-hour foundational course was developed by the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) and approved by the New York Certification Board (NYCB). It is the essential first step toward becoming a certified peer professional in New York State and beyond.

Whether you’re pursuing the Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC) credential, this training lays the groundwork for your career by teaching you how to support others effectively and ethically with compassion.

Start Your Peer Professional Journey

Step into your role as a confident, compassionate peer professional. Begin making the difference only you can make.

What Our Students Say…

  • "Lisa and Sandy are genuine. The use of activities and conversation kept me engaged."

    Airelle, Elmcrest Supervisor

  • "I appreciate the amount of support given by the instructors"

    Anonymous Student

  • "This is the best training I've ever attended."

    Christine, Elmcrest Staff

  • "I liked how interactive it was. There were opportunities to apply everything."

    Elmcrest Staff

  • Lisa and Sandy are absolutely amazing! They are warm, inviting, and made me feel comfortable. They shared in a fun, interactive way."

    Emma, Crouse Medical Practice

  • "I feel equipped with a comprehensive set of tools I can implement."

    Kristine H., CNY Peer Networking Group

What You’ll Learn

By the end of the Recovery Coach Academy, you will be able to…

  • Step into your role as a trusted, compassionate peer professional, ready to support others and advance your career.

  • Apply active listening and motivational techniques to build trust and foster meaningful change.

  • Respect and support every recovery pathway while keeping the client’s goals and dignity at the center.

  • Maintain clear professional boundaries and ethics and work effectively within the larger system of care.

  • Support individuals in creating personalized wellness plans and setting meaningful recovery goals they can own and achieve.

  • Use your own lived experience appropriately and confidently as a strength in helping others heal.

Who should take this training?

The Recovery Coach Academy is open all who want to effectively support others in recovery. Whether you’re just starting out or growing in your role.

This training is for...

  • People in recovery who want to turn their journey into meaningful work

  • Family members and allies seeking skills to support loved ones with care and confidence

  • Peer recovery support professionals pursuing NYS CRPA or CARC certification

  • Behavioral health and human service professionals providers looking to strengthen collaboration with peers and clients in recovery and expand their toolkit

  • Addiction counselors, therapists, and case managers seeking foundational peer coaching skills

  • Community advocates and volunteers passionate about making a positive impact in recovery support

Whether you’re here to start a career, build your confidence, or deepen your understanding of recovery support, this course will equip you with the tools, perspective, and belief in yourself to make a difference.

Make the Difference Only You Can Make

This course is also perfect for…

  • Aspiring peer professionals who need initial certification training

  • Certified peer professionals who need re-certification training for renewal

  • Individuals who have let their certification lapse and need to renew it

  • Supervisors who wish to understand the role competencies for those they supervise  

Why Choose Us for Your RCA Training?

When you take this step toward becoming a peer professional, you deserve a training team that truly understands your journey.

At A Purpose 4 Life, in partnership with Authentic Trainings, our team of peer champions, recovery professionals, and coaches is here to guide you with empathy, experience, and unwavering support.

Lisa Ardner

FOR-NY Best Practice Trainer, NYCB Training Registry Member

Lisa blends over 20 years of clinical expertise with her own lived experience in recovery to create a training environment that is both deeply knowledgeable and profoundly human. As a Certified Recovery Coach and trauma-informed professional, she understands what it takes (emotionally and ethically) to support others while protecting your own well-being. Students appreciate Lisa’s compassionate, relational style. She makes learning feel safe, engaging, and practical.

Learn more.

Continue Your Recovery Coach Journey Today

Sandra Rivers

FOR-NY Best Practice Trainer, NYCB Training Registry Member

Sandy combines decades of clinical expertise with personal, lived experience to help you learn what really works when supporting others in recovery. As a Certified Recovery Coach, Best Practice Instructor, and parent to children in active recovery, she understands both the professional and deeply personal sides of this work. You’ll benefit from her ability to bridge evidence-based practices with real-life realities, giving you tools you can use with confidence and integrity.

Learn more.

Why take RCA with us?

While many organizations offer Recovery Coach Academy, A Purpose 4 Life goes beyond the certificate. We guide you through every step of your journey with care, expertise, and understanding.

We have decades of experience in the field and we are committed to you and helping you grow a career or business out of your lived experience.

Here is what makes training with us different:

  • Guidance Through the Entire Process: We don’t just teach the course and send you on your way. We help you complete the certification process with confidence, from paperwork to exam preparation.

  • Volunteer & Work Experience Support: We help you find volunteer opportunities and fulfill your work and supervision hour requirements, allowing you to gain real-world experience.

  • Ongoing Mentorship & Community: After your training, you’ll have access to a monthly learning collaborative where you can build new skills, connect with other peers, and feel supported as you grow.

  • Recertification Made Easy: When it’s time to renew your certification, we’re here with courses and support to keep you moving forward in your career.

  • Training With Heart & Expertise: Unlike other programs, our trainers bring a unique blend of evidence-based curriculum, trauma-informed practices, and compassionate mentorship to meet you where you are.

  • Lived Experience Valued: We see your story as a strength and help you channel it into meaningful, professional work.

OUR GUARANTEE

We stand by the quality of our program and by you. If you complete the training and still need guidance before applying for certification, we’ll continue to support you, at no extra charge, until you’re ready.

What continuing education credits are available?

  • Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA), initial and renewal, all CEs

  • Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC), initial and renewal, all electives

  • InUnity -NY Credentialing Board (NYCB)

Step into your role as a confident, compassionate peer professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This is a live, virtual training. All participants must participate in real time.

  • For all CCAR workshops, you are required to purchase your Participant Manual on Amazon.

    Please order your manual immediately.

    Link to order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KN7XZ4D

    After registering, immediately order the training manual.

    Here is why. 👇🏼

    Once you register for this course, you will receive an email with specific instructions as you will need to register in the CCAR Protraxx system before the class start date.

    You will receive the zoom registration link and the pre-work information once your registration is completed.

  • Yes. Once you register, you’ll receive an email with instructions to register with the CCAR Protraxx system before the class start date.

    Next, you’ll receive homework to complete before the live, in-person training.

    To do this homework, you’ll need to purchase the CCAR's Recovery Coach Academy workbook.

    Purchase it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KN7XZ4D

  • This is a live, virtual training.

    Participants must have reliable internet access and a computer with audio/video capabilities.

  • Throughout the training, you’ll find a variety of accommodations, including workbooks, hands-on exercises, skills demonstrations, and learning guides. We are committed to accessibility for all students. Contact us to request additional accommodations.

  • The cost for this training is $650. However, we do provide scholarships. Please contact to inquire.

  • To earn CEs, you’ll need to attend all in-person classes and participate in all activities.

  • Click on any button on this page to enroll in the next training session.

    • Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA), initial and renewal, all CEs

    • Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC), initial and renewal, all electives

    • InUnity -NY Credentialing Board (NYCB)


  • Recovery Coach Academy covers 30-foundation credits for initial CRPA and CARC. You’ll need to follow this training with Ethical Considerations for Recovery Coaches (16 hours) and Medication Supported Recovery (4 hours).