Empowering the Next Generation of Peers
Amethyst Recovery Academy is a 46-hour training program designed to prepare individuals for impactful work as Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) in Minnesota. Developed by Amethyst Recovery Solutions, a trusted MARCO-member nonprofit rooted in community, Amethyst Recovery Academy goes beyond certification prep to equip trainees with the real-world tools and insight they need to thrive in the field.
What makes us different? We’re not just checking boxes for certification. We’re a team of people in long-term recovery ourselves, and we’ve walked the walk. That lived experience—combined with our hands-on work providing peer services across Minnesota—informs every part of our curriculum.
More Than a Curriculum
Our training is:
Culturally-informed and trauma-sensitive, built with inclusivity and understanding at its core.
Evidence-based, incorporating knowledge from substance use medicine, neuroscience, and the recovery community.
Designed for success beyond the classroom—covering not just what’s on the Certification exams, but includes what it really takes to be effective and fulfilled in this work.
More Than Certification
You’ll learn:
The foundational knowledge needed to pass the CPRS exam in Minnesota
How to navigate real-world peer support scenarios with confidence
Professional skills for success in diverse recovery settings
What to look for in a healthy and supportive employer
Organizational tools and techniques to sustain long-term success as a CPRS
Need-Based Scholarship Process for Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Amethyst Recovery Solutions provides financial assistance to individuals with lived experience of addiction recovery who are committed to becoming Peer Recovery Support Specialists but lack the financial means to pay the full training fee. We typically award one or two full or partial scholarships for each training cohort. Scholarships are based on financial need and commitment to peer recovery support.
Scholarship applications will be reviewed by a small committee consisting of one Amethyst director, one board member, and one member of the Amethyst peer community.
Scholarship applications must be submitted with your full application to be considered.