FOR-NY Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) Paid Internship Program

The CRPA Paid Internship Program offers hands-on experience for students completing their CRPA certification. Interns work with individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) under professional supervision to gain practical skills aligned with the CRPA scope of practice.

Intern Objectives

Interns must demonstrate competency in all four CRPA domains:

  • Advocacy
  • Mentoring & Education
  • Recovery / Wellness Support
  • Ethical Responsibility

Eligibility

You ARE Eligible If:

  • You have completed 50 hours of CRPA foundational training
  • You have NOT completed 50+ role experience hours

You are NOT Eligible If:

  • You have not completed the initial 50 hours of CRPA training
  • You already have 50+ role experience hours

How To Apply

This applies to both scholarship and non-scholarship applicants.

Step 1 — Find an Internship Site

Visit the OASAS Support Services directory to find potential internship locations:
https://oasas.ny.gov/support-services
On that page:
Scroll down to view providers

Filter by county or service type

Contact locations that interest you

If your desired site is not listed, you can still include it on your application

**Eligible internship sites receive two $600 payments:
  • After the intern completes 125 hours
  • After the intern completes 500 hours
If a site wishes to participate but is not listed, email [email protected].**

Step 2 — Apply to the Friends of Recovery–NY Paid Internship Program

Apply Here
**If you did not apply for the Friends of Recovery-NY CRPA Training Program also apply**
**If you applied for the Friends of Recovery–NY CRPA Training Scholarship, please email [email protected] to receive a copy of your application.**

Step 3 — Wait up to 3 weeks for staff to contact you

After submitting your application, please allow up to 3 weeks for a staff member to review your information and contact you with next steps.
You may be asked to confirm your training, internship site details, or documentation.

Stipend Information

Intern Pay Structure:

  • $2,312.50 for every 125 hours completed
  • Up to $9,250 total for all 500 hours
  • Stipends are untaxed, but must be reported as income

Check-In Requirements:

Interns must meet with Sarah for two brief check-ins:
  • At 250 hours
  • At 500 hours
**Required 25 supervision hours do not count toward the stipend.**

For questions or document updates, contact:

If you do not yet have your CRPA-Provisional Certificate, upload your CRPA training certificates instead. Once you receive the provisional certificate, email it to [email protected].

If you cannot afford the CRPA-Provisional fee, contact [email protected] for assistance.