The Next Step After Foundational

Advanced Certification

Everything in the 4-day training, plus additional training formats and a complete tech stack to build a professional practice.

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On this pageWhat's included Who it's for How it works Tuition FAQ

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Detailed Schedule

Advanced Training Agenda

See the module-by-module breakdown of all 18 hours of self-paced training. Includes a downloadable PDF.

What Advanced Adds

Everything in Foundational, with five additional offerings to help grow your business

18 hours of additional self-paced training

On-demand video training that goes deeper into all four lesson plans. Unlocks right after your 4-day training ends. Watch on your own schedule and come back to it any time you need a refresher.

5 additional online-specific lesson plans

Scripts and facilitation guides built specifically for online delivery, so your Zoom sessions feel just as personal and structured as your in-person work.

12 months of the Build tier of My Business Hub

A complete tech stack for running your specialist practice: website, CRM, scheduling, email, payments, and client management. Built from specialist feedback asking for real business tools to match the quality of the Grief Recovery Method. A $349+ value, included.

The Advanced Specialist badge

Displayed on your public directory profile so grievers searching for Specialists with the highest level of training can find you immediately.

149 marketing coaching videos

A library of Grief Recovery specific marketing coaching videos that teach you how to grow your own practice — strategies, ideas, and approaches you can apply to your own marketing.

Everything in Foundational, included

The 4-day live training, all 5 books (US only), directory listing, 1 year of support, and your Certified Grief Recovery Specialist credential are all part of Advanced.

Who Chooses Advanced

Three kinds of people end up here

You want the highest level of training

People who want more in-depth training, a broader reach, additional lesson plans, and the business resources to grow a real practice.

You want a full business suite

You're already planning to run a real practice — and you don't want to start by juggling five different tools, logins, and subscriptions just to get your business running. Bundling Advanced includes 12 months of the Build tier of My Business Hub: a website where grievers can find you, a way to schedule sessions, a place to track your clients, automated email reminders, and a built-in way to take payments — all in one system. A $349/year value, included with your training. Specialists who add this on later pay separately.

You already completed Foundational

You can add Advanced later — but the upgrade runs $295, and the Build tier of My Business Hub is $349 for the first year. That's around $650 of value that's free when you bundle Advanced at enrollment instead. Many specialists who decide later wish they'd bundled at the start.

What you get for your first 12 months

Every certified specialist gets a year of business tools included. The level you choose determines how much.

L1 Foundational specialist

Be Findable

$79/year value · included with your certification

✓Listing on the public Specialist Directory
✓Your specialist profile, visible to grievers searching for help
✓The Certified Grief Recovery Specialist credential

Advanced bundled at enrollment

Build tier

$349/year value · included for 12 months

✓Everything in Be Findable
✓Your own specialist website
✓Schedule sessions with clients
✓Track and manage your clients
✓Automated email reminders
✓Built-in way to take client payments

The Smart Path

Bundle Advanced with your Foundational training

Lock in everything at enrollment for a single bundled price. The moment your 4-day Foundational training wraps, you log in to the 18 hours of self-paced Advanced content, the additional lesson plans, and your 12 months of My Business Hub Build tier all activate.

Best Value • Recommended

Bundle at enrollment

✓One bundled price — the most cost-effective way to get Advanced
✓Self-paced training unlocks the moment your 4-day Foundational training ends
✓12 months of My Business Hub Build tier starts on day 1, not later
✓Advanced Specialist badge on your directory profile from the start
✓0% interest 3-payment plan available

Tuition

From $1,332/mo for 3 months

or $3,995 today · 0% interest

Includes the 4-day live training, all 5 books (US only), directory listing with the Advanced Specialist badge, 1 year of unlimited support, 18 hours of additional self-paced training, 5 online-specific lesson plans, the full marketing video library, and 12 months of the Build tier of My Business Hub. 0% interest payment plans available.

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Advanced Certification FAQ

Do I have to start with Foundational before Advanced?

No. You can start at Advanced. You'll still complete the same 4-day live training as Foundational students, then work through the additional 18 hours of self-paced material on your own time.

Should I bundle Advanced now or wait?

We recommend bundling at enrollment. Bundling locks in the lowest total cost, and your Advanced content + 12 months of My Business Hub start the moment your Foundational training ends, instead of later. If you have specific questions about your situation, schedule a call with our team.

How is Advanced different from Foundational?

The live training itself is identical — same 4-day Zoom format. Advanced adds 18 hours of self-paced training afterward, additional lesson plans, the marketing video library, and 12 months of the Build tier of My Business Hub.

Is the 4-day Premium in-person training different from the online Zoom training?

The Foundational and Advanced curricula are identical whether taken online via Zoom or in-person at our Premium event. The Premium in-person experience is taught directly by Cole James and Sandi Derby with small-group coaching and live roleplay practice. Premium automatically includes the Advanced curriculum — you can't enter Premium at the Foundational level.

Can I deliver programs online without Advanced?

Foundational specialists can offer online support as well. What Advanced adds is the online-specific lesson plan scripts, the extra facilitation training, and the Advanced Specialist badge that signals to clients you've completed the deeper training.

How does pricing work?

Advanced is from $1,332/mo for 3 months (or $3,995 today). 0% interest payment plans via Stripe, and many employers, churches, and VA programs cover the cost. Compare all tiers on the main certification page.

What do we mean by "recovery"?

Recovery means feeling better. Recovery means claiming your circumstances instead of your circumstances claiming you and your happiness. Recovery is finding new meaning for living, without the fear of being hurt again. Recovery is being able to enjoy fond memories without them precipitating painful feelings of regret or remorse. Recovery is acknowledging that it is perfectly alright to feel sad from time to time and to talk about those feelings no matter how those around you react. Recovery is being able to forgive others when they say or do things that you know are based on their lack of knowledge about grief. Recovery is one day realizing that your ability to talk about the loss you've experienced is indeed normal and healthy.

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Ready to reach more grievers?

Pick an upcoming cohort and enroll, or talk to our team about whether Advanced is the right starting point for you.

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