What Peer Academy does

Peer Academy is a Texas-based training and certification organization that prepares individuals to work as peer specialists in behavioral health settings. Founded in 2015 and operating as part of the Form Communities network, it delivers HHSC-approved curricula — including CORE Training, Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS), Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS), and Peer Support Specialist (PSS) — via live, instructor-led Zoom sessions, supplemented by Spanish-language programming under the Apoyo En Pares brand.

The company's product surface centers on individual certifications priced from $300 to $800 per student, a PAIR Network package that bundles certification with supervision and continuing education for organizational buyers, and $125 CEU workshops for ongoing professional development. Curriculum is delivered by facilitators with lived experience as peer specialists, which is both a quality signal and a requirement to maintain authenticity under Texas's peer specialist framework.

Commercially, Peer Academy generates revenue from individual course fees, organizational training contracts with Texas state hospitals, supervision engagements for working peer specialists, and recurring CEU workshop sales. Distribution is driven by direct-to-learner marketing, partnerships with PeerHubTX and the Texas Council of Behavioral Health, and the underlying Form Communities ecosystem. To date, the company has certified more than 100 individual peer specialists and trained more than 500 participants through organizational programs, operating with a small team of 1–10 employees and a single-state (Texas) footprint.

Name

Peer Academy

Legal name

Peer Academy

Website

https://peeracademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Peer Academy is a Texas-based, HHSC-approved training organization that certifies peer specialists in behavioral health through live Zoom courses, serving individual learners and Texas state hospital organizational accounts as part of the Form Communities network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Certification

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL), Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Peer specialist training
• Mental health certification
• Substance use recovery
• Continuing education units
• Peer supervision services

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Training Programs: One-time fee training programs including CORE Training ($300), MHPS Supplemental ($800), RSPS Supplemental ($800), and PSS Training ($300). Revenue is generated through direct participant payments, employer payments, or scholarship funding.
2. Supervision Services: Ongoing supervision fees for certification support including Group Supervision ($400 total), 1-on-1 Supervision ($75/week), and PACE 1 comprehensive program ($1,800 one-time or $200/month for 12 months).
3. Continuing Education Units: CEU workshop fees including full-day workshops ($125), Peer Cafe evening sessions ($25 each), and PAIR Network recertification packages ($1,800 one-time or $200/month for 12 months).
4. Scholarships: Need-based scholarships covering full or partial training costs, funded through partnerships and grants. Operates on first-come, first-served basis with limited availability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Peer Academy provides state-approved training, certification, supervision, and continuing education services for individuals pursuing peer specialist careers in mental health and substance use recovery in Texas. Programs are delivered live online via Zoom and span the full certification pathway from CORE Training through Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS), Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS), and Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS) credentials. The organization also sells organizational team training packages to Texas healthcare providers.

Product overview

Peer Academy is a Texas-based training and certification organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs for peer specialist careers. The core pathway consists of CORE Training (foundational prerequisite), followed by specialized supplemental certifications: Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) for mental health recovery support and Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) for substance use recovery support. Advanced certification includes Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS) training for those supervising peer specialists. Supporting services include Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Supervision Programs (Group, 1-on-1, PACE 1), PAIR Network recertification package, need-based Scholarships, and Organizational Training Programs for healthcare teams. All programs are delivered live online via Zoom with state approval from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Apoyo En Pares: The Spanish-language home of Peer Academy. All peer specialist training programs are available fully in Spanish with the same quality and support.

Products and services

• CORE Training Foundational 24-hour, 3-day intensive prerequisite training covering peer support principles, ethics, trauma-informed approaches, communication skills, and crisis response. Required before MHPS or RSPS supplemental training. Cost is $300 per participant, with scholarships available.
• Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) Supplemental Training 40-hour, 5-day supplemental certification training for individuals pursuing Mental Health Peer Specialist certification. Covers storysharing, crisis support, advocacy, documentation, and the Texas certification process. Requires CORE completion. Cost is $800 per participant with scholarships available.
• Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) Supplemental Training 40-hour, 5-day supplemental certification training focused on substance use recovery support, harm reduction strategies, multiple recovery pathways, and community resource connection. Requires CORE completion. Cost is $800 per participant with scholarships available.
• Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS) Training 16-hour, 2-day certification training for qualified behavioral health professionals seeking to provide supervision to certified peer specialists. Covers recovery-oriented practices, role clarity, ethical decision-making, and organizational change leadership. Cost is $300.
• Continuing Education Units (CEUs) Ongoing continuing education programs for certified peer specialists, including full-day workshops ($125 each, 6 General CEU hours; topics include Enhancing Optimism, Emotional Wellness Workshop, Whole Health Action Management), Peer Cafe evening sessions ($25 each, 2 General or 2 Ethics CEU hours), and INFORM on-demand modules. Provides required CEU hours for two-year recertification including ethics training.
• Supervision Programs Three supervision options for completing the required 250 supervised work experience hours: Group Supervision ($400 total for weekly virtual group sessions), 1-on-1 Supervision ($75/week for individual virtual sessions), and PACE 1 comprehensive career package ($1,800 one-time or $200/month for 12 months). Also includes free Compliance Supervision for certified peers maintaining certification.
• PAIR Network Package 6-month all-inclusive recertification package bundling 21 CEU hours (17 INFORM modules plus 4 Peer Cafe hours), monthly supervision, and on-demand Thinkific access. Designed to meet all recertification requirements including 3 ethics hours. Cost is $1,800 one-time (25% discount) or $200/month for 12 months.
• Scholarships Need-based scholarships covering full or partial training costs for CORE, MHPS, RSPS, PSS certifications, supervision hours, and CEU programs. Awards determined based on financial need, commitment level, and a 30-minute interview; covers up to 100% of training costs.
• Organizational Training Programs Comprehensive team training solutions for healthcare organizations, including state-approved certifications, group supervision, flexible scheduling, team discounts up to 25%, and team ticket transferability. Includes a dedicated organizational liaison and compliance tracking. Used by Texas state hospitals and behavioral health organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64% reduction in hospital readmissions when peer support specialists are integrated into care teams
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Form CommunitiescoreOthersParent organization of Peer Academy. Peer Academy is part of the Form Communities network that includes Form Communities, SA Clubhouse, Connection Center, Apoyo En Pares, Clubhouse TX, Divine Women, Houston Peer Success, and Flourish organizations across Texas providing peer support services.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas state agency that recognizes Peer Academy's training programs for Medicaid-billable peer support services. HHSC sets certification requirements and standards for Mental Health Peer Specialists (MHPS) and Recovery Support Peer Specialists (RSPS) in Texas.
• Texas Certification Board (TCB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState certification body that processes peer specialist certifications using the Certemy digital application system. Peer Academy helps candidates navigate the TCB application process including background checks and documentation requirements.
• PeerHubTXmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTraining voucher program partnership providing financial support for individuals seeking peer support certification. PeerHubTX vouchers offer limited availability funding for training costs at Peer Academy.
• Apoyo En ParesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish-language peer support training program affiliated with Peer Academy. All peer specialist training programs available fully in Spanish - same quality, same support - serving Spanish-speaking individuals in Texas.
• Texas State Hospitals and Healthcare OrganizationsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizational partnerships with Texas healthcare organizations including Austin State Hospital, San Antonio State Hospital, Big Spring State Hospital, Kerrville State Hospital, Rusk State Hospital, Terrell State Hospital, North Texas State Hospital, Waco Center for Youth, El Paso Psychiatric Center, and others who refer employees for Peer Academy training programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS): iNAPS is the professional association for the peer support workforce, offering credentialing standards, training-of-trainers programs, and conferences that sit adjacent to Peer Academy's facilitator certification pipeline.
• Faces & Voices of Recovery: Faces & Voices of Recovery is a national recovery advocacy organization that promotes peer support workforce development through training resources and policy advocacy, indirectly shaping Peer Academy's regulatory environment and pipeline.
• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): SAMHSA is the federal agency that sets peer support practice standards, training guidelines, and Medicaid billing frameworks underpinning all state-level peer specialist certifications including Texas MHPS/RSPS—defining the regulatory context Peer Academy operates within.

Direct peers

• CCAR (Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery): CCAR is a nationally recognized peer recovery coach training provider offering the Recovery Coach Professional training and Ethical Considerations curriculum—the de facto standard for substance use peer support training and a direct alternative to Peer Academy's RSPS training.
• McShin Foundation: McShin Foundation operates a state-approved Recovery Coach and peer support training program serving Virginia, offering comparable certification pathways, supervision, and continuing education to Peer Academy's RSPS track.
• Recovery International: Recovery International provides peer-led mental health training programs (peer-run groups, training for facilitators) closely aligned with Peer Academy's MHPS model of leveraging lived experience for credentialed training delivery.
• Appalachian Consulting Group: Appalachian Consulting Group provides peer support specialist training and certification programs across multiple states, directly competing with Peer Academy's core training offering in a similar live-online format with comparable certification pathways (CPRS, CPRSS).

Broad incumbents

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): DBSA offers peer specialist training and support specialist certification for mood disorder populations, overlapping with Peer Academy's MHPS specialization but operating nationally as a large, established incumbent.
• Mental Health America: Mental Health America is a large national mental health advocacy and education organization that offers peer specialist training, certification resources, and continuing education—overlapping with Peer Academy's MHPS track but serving a broader mental health portfolio across all 50 states.
• Recovery Innovations (RI International): RI International is a national behavioral health services provider that operates peer support training programs and crisis services, offering overlapping certification pathways with Peer Academy but with much broader geographic reach and integrated service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookweb.facebook.com/PeerAcademyTX/?_rdc=1&_rdr
• Instagraminstagram.com/peeracademytx
• Xx.com/peer_academy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peer-academy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Peer Academy