Professional Credential

Sober Companion Certification

Q: What if I don't pass?

Your purchase includes two attempts. If you don't pass the first time, you'll see your score by content area and can retake the exam at no extra cost.

Earn the Certified Sober Companion (CSC) credential. One online exam covers what professional sober companions and sober coaches do, the ethics and boundaries that guide the work, and how to respond when a client is in danger.

Online, on your schedule Certificate available right after you pass Valid in all 50 states

Verify a credential →

Certification exam fee

$149.99 one-time

65-question exam
Two attempts included
Downloadable PDF certificate
Unique certificate number with public verification
Credential valid for two years

Begin certification

Payment is required before the exam opens.

The role

What a sober companion does

A sober companion (also called a sober coach) gives one-on-one, non-clinical support to someone in recovery. The work can be a few hours a week or a live-in arrangement, and it is often used in early recovery or when someone comes home from residential treatment. Companions help clients keep a structured routine, prepare for high-risk situations, get to recovery meetings and appointments, and stay in touch with their treatment team. They also know how to act fast when someone's safety is at risk.

A companion is not a therapist, a doctor, or a sponsor. Knowing where the role ends, and following the ethical standards that protect clients, is what separates a professional companion from a well-meaning friend. The CSC exam tests exactly that.

Exam content outline

What the exam covers

The questions are written in the style of addiction-professional credentialing exams. Each one is multiple choice with a single best answer.

	Content area	Questions
I	Role, Scope & Professional PracticeWhat a sober companion does and doesn't do, service agreements, working with treatment teams, referral, self-disclosure, and recovery capital.	11
II	Ethics & Professional BoundariesDual relationships, gifts, conflicts of interest, paid referrals and patient brokering, competence, honesty, nondiscrimination, and informed consent.	13
III	Confidentiality, Law & Documentation42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, releases of information, exceptions to confidentiality, mandated reporting, and writing objective notes.	9
IV	Substances, Withdrawal & OverdoseDangerous withdrawal, opioid overdose signs, naloxone, fentanyl, medications for opioid use disorder, tolerance, and PAWS.	10
V	Recovery Support & Relapse PreventionWarning signs, HALT, motivational interviewing (OARS), stages of change, multiple pathways, enabling, CRAFT, and person-first language.	13
VI	Crisis Response & Safety988, suicide risk, overdose response, Good Samaritan laws, de-escalation, impaired driving, and incident documentation.	9
	Total	65

How it works

From enrollment to certificate

Enroll & pay

Enter your name as it should appear on your certificate, then pay the $149.99 exam fee through secure Stripe checkout.

Read the directions

The exam opens with its directions. Read them and confirm before your first question appears.

Take the exam

Answer 65 questions across six sections. Your answers save on your device as you go.

Download your certificate

Score 60% or better and your CSC certificate is ready to download right away. We also email you a copy.

Exam directions

The exam has 65 multiple-choice questions in six sections. Choose the single best answer for each.
You need 60% or better (39 correct) to pass. Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect.
There is no time limit. Most candidates finish in 60 to 90 minutes.
The exam is closed-book and must be your own work. Don't copy, share, or publish exam questions.
Your answers save on the device you're using. You can move between sections and change answers until you submit.
Before submitting, a review screen shows any questions you haven't answered. Once you submit, that attempt is final.
Your fee includes two attempts. If you don't pass the first time, you'll see your results by section and can retake the exam.

Sample Certified Sober Companion certificate showing the candidate's name, the CSC credential, a certificate number, issue date and expiration date — Sample certificate. Yours shows your name, a unique certificate number, and your issue and expiration dates. Tap to view full size.

Enroll

Start your certification

After payment you'll go straight to the exam. We'll also email you a link so you can come back to it later.

Candidate terms

The exam must be completed by the person named on the enrollment, without help from others.
Exam questions are confidential. Sharing or publishing them may lead to your certificate being revoked.
The CSC is a professional certificate, not a state license. It does not authorize counseling, diagnosis, or medical treatment, and it does not replace CADC, RADT, or other state-regulated credentials.
Refund policy: All certification exam fees are final. Once payment is completed, the $149.99 fee is non-refundable, including if you do not pass or do not complete the exam. Your fee includes two attempts.

Candidate information

Exam fee: $149.99, paid securely through Stripe.

Already paid? Email me my exam link

Credential verification

Verify a credential

Employers, families, and treatment providers can confirm that a Certified Sober Companion (CSC) credential is genuine and current. Enter the certificate number printed on the certificate.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Who should take this exam?

Anyone who works, or wants to work, as a sober companion or sober coach: people starting out in the field, experienced companions who want a credential to show clients and families, and sober living staff or peer supporters who provide one-on-one recovery support.

Is this a state license?

No. Sober companion work is not a state-licensed profession. The CSC is a professional certificate showing you passed a competency exam on the role, ethics, and safety standards of the work. It isn't limited to any one state, but it is not a state license, it is not a substitute for CADC, RADT, or other state-regulated credentials, and it does not authorize counseling, diagnosis, or medical treatment.

What score do I need to pass?

60% or better: at least 39 of the 65 questions correct.

What if I don't pass?

Your fee includes two attempts. If you don't pass the first time, you'll see your score for each content area so you know what to review, and you can retake the exam at no extra cost.

Is there a time limit?

No. Most people finish in 60 to 90 minutes. Your answers save on your device, so if you lose your connection you can pick up where you left off on the same device.

When do I get my certificate?

Right after you pass. You can download the PDF from your results screen, and we email you a link to it.

Can I get a refund?

No. All certification exam fees are final and non-refundable once payment is completed. This applies whether or not you start, finish, or pass the exam. Your fee includes two attempts, so if you don't pass the first time you can retake the exam at no extra cost.

How long is the certificate valid?

Two years from the date of issue. The expiration date is printed on your certificate and shown on the verification page.

Can an employer or family confirm my certificate?

Yes. Every certificate has a unique number that anyone can check on the verification page.

Who issues the certificate?

Sober Living Companion, a program of Empower Next Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds free tools for people in recovery and the homes that support them.