How to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Arizona

Recovery coaches help people overcome addiction by offering non-clinical support to those seeking it.

As a recovery coach, your role involves assisting individuals undergoing addiction treatment either at a rehabilitation facility or within their local communities.

You will provide support to patients, motivating them to persevere until they achieve freedom from substance dependency.

In this article, you’ll learn more about this occupation, especially salary, and the steps you’ll take if you want to become such a professional.

Professional Recovery Coach Job Description

Recovery coaches are distinct from therapists as they do not engage in diagnosing or treating individuals.

Instead, their primary focus is on providing support to clients to help them enhance their lives and overcome addiction.

These professionals can work with individuals in various settings, including:

• Those addicted to substances
• Alcoholics
• Those addicted to food
• Those addicted to sex, shopping, gambling
• Other addicts

Their most common duties are:

• Teach clients life skills, like cooking and cleaning
• Discuss the client’s goals and create an action plan
• Complete safety and wellness checks
• Monitor progress and provide accountability
• Provide access to other recovery resources
• Maintain privacy and meet HIPAA guidelines
• Meet with clients and family members

Becoming a Professional Recovery Coach in Arizona

If you want to know the steps to becoming a professional recovery coach in Arizona, look no more!

1. Earn A High School Diploma

Obtaining a high school diploma is a requirement for pursuing a career as a recovery coach.

For individuals who did not complete their high school education, earning a General Education Development (GED) diploma is an acceptable alternative.

A GED diploma demonstrates the basic skills necessary for the position.

Fortunately, there are numerous alternative educational facilities available in most areas that offer GED programs.

2. Sign up for training

In this state, the mustng has to be made of 500 paid or volunteer work hourssupervised hoursupervised.

These hours must be in a field related to one of the professional recovery coaches.

Candidates must also complete 46 hours of a course approved by the state.

These hours must cover the following topics:

• 10 advocacy hours
• 10 education/mentor hours
• 10 recovery and wellness support hours
• 16 ethical responsibility hours

3. Become certified

In Arizona, peer support or recovery support specialists must hold a certification.

This diploma is earned after the training is completed and after passing an exam.

The test is recognized by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).

It is also administered by the Arizona Board for Certification of Addiction Counselors (ABCAC).

To take the exam you’ll need:

• To complete the application for taking the test
• To pay the application fee – $50
• To pay the exam fee – $150
• To sign the ABCAC Peer Recovery Specialist Code of Ethical Conduct once you pass the test

Arizona requires for the certification be renewed every 2 years.

Renewal requires:

• Paying the fee – $100
• Completing 20 hours of continuing education that include:
  • 6 hours of ethics
  • 3 hours of cultural diversity

Those who don’t recertify on time and more than a year passes from the renewal date will have to re-certify.

4. Be clean or sober

Those who opt for a career as recovery coaches usually have personal experiences and a successful journey of overcoming addiction.

However, in this state personal recovery coaches must recover from their own addiction.

Helping family members on this journey is not taken in consideration.

Professional Recovery Coach Training Options in Arizona

These next institutions offer training for future peer support or recovery support specialists.

Recovery Empowerment Network

This institution trains those in recovery by first helping their journey in recovery.

The certification at the end of the program is valid worldwide.

The training program comprises:

• Mandatory orientation
• 12 days of classroom education
• 5 practicum days

These classes are organized every month.

Individuals can also train for:

• Advanced Peer Support
• CPR
• First Aid and AED
• Forensic Peer Support
• Mental Health First Aid
• Opioid Use Disorder Support

University of Arizona

This university offers the approved certification program called the Arizona Division of Behavioral Sciences.

Its Integrated Healthcare Recovery Support Specialist Institute program has a duration of 10 days.

This program offers help to those with mental health challenges or substance abuse issues.

Upon completion, students get a certificate.

Another option is the Peerworks apprenticeship program that lasts for 6 months.

This apprenticeship is a paid one and completes with a certification.

After this period, you can search for a full-time job.

Salaries for Professional Recovery Coaches in Arizona

Before delving into the specific salary information, it is important to note that several factors can influence the earnings of a professional recovery coach, including:

• Experience
• Qualifications
• Geographic location
• The type of organization they work for

In Arizona, the average annual salary for a recovery coach is approximately $33,552.

However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that this figure represents an average, and individual salaries may vary.

Here is a table showcasing some cities in Arizona where recovery coach salaries tend to be higher.

Regional Salary in Arizona

Professional Recovery Coach by State