How to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Colorado

Recovery coaches play an essential role in providing non-clinical assistance to individuals striving to overcome addiction.

Your responsibility is to offer guidance and motivation to patients, empowering them to persevere until they attain freedom from substance dependency, whether at a rehabilitation facility or within local communities.

This article explores the occupation of recovery coaching, highlighting some key aspects and the steps to becoming a certified recovery coach in Colorado.

Professional Recovery Coach Job Description

Their primary focus is to provide support and guidance to help clients enhance their lives and overcome addiction.

Some of the job duties include:

• Teaching clients essential life skills, such as cooking and cleaning
• Engaging in discussions about clients’ goals and creating action plans
• Conducting safety and wellness checks
• Monitoring progress and offering accountability
• Facilitating access to other recovery resources
• Maintaining client privacy and adhering to HIPAA guidelines
• Conducting meetings with clients and their family members

Becoming a Professional Recovery Coach in Colorado

These are the steps to becoming a recovery coach in Colorado.

1. Earn a High School Diploma

Obtaining a high school diploma is mandatory for this occupation.

Alternatively, individuals who dropped out of school can earn their GED, from various alternative educational facilities.

A high school diploma or GED demonstrates the basic skills required for the position.

2. Enroll in Training

To work as a recovery coach, you need 500 hours of volunteer experience.

These hours can be either paid or unpaid.

You also need to:

• Finish 25 hours of supervised work experience in the field
• 100 hours of state-approved training and education
• Pass the IC/RC Peer Recovery Exam

3. Obtain Certification

To get certified, you have to meet the requirements of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) and the Colorado Behavioral Health Council.

You will also need to pass an exam first and be overseen by a licensed professional while you work.

Of course, future recovery coaches need to have their application process approved.

4. Maintain Clean or Sober Status

Numerous people choose this occupation based on their own personal journeys and triumph over addiction.

For aspiring recovery coaches, it is crucial to have a minimum of one year of sobriety, preferably two years, as a prerequisite.

Even if you haven’t personally faced addiction challenges, it is important to uphold the same expectations and standards as your clients.

This entails refraining from engaging in the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

5. Gain Experience

Gaining practical experience can greatly enhance your qualifications as a recovery coach, in addition to your training and certification.

One effective way to acquire hands-on experience is by volunteering at a recovery center.

This allows you to engage directly with individuals seeking recovery and apply your knowledge in a practical setting.

Another option is to become a sponsor for individuals in recovery.

For that, you need at least a year of abstinence and two recommendations from trusted sources.

This demonstrates a personal commitment to sobriety and the ability to provide guidance and support to others on their recovery journey.

Professional Recovery Coach Training Options in Colorado

Here are some training options in this state.

Advocates for Recovery Colorado

This school concentrates on peer recovery coaching.

Their definition of a peer recovery coach involves identifying an individual’s recovery capital, setting goals, and taking necessary actions to achieve those goals while building a positive social support network in the community.

If you want to learn about the training at this school, contact them directly as they do not publish their training guidelines online.

Embark Peer Coach Academy

It offers training programs that cost $975 for residents and $1175 for those from other jurisdictions.

This registration fee covers:

• 30 hours of CCAR’s Recovery Coach Academy program
• 16 hours of ethical consideration training
• 12 hours of professionalism and coaching training
• 12 hours of spirituality and coaching training.

It also provides these courses:

• Continuing Accredited Education – 28 hours
• Recovery Coaching Basics course – 6 hours
• Recovery Coaching in the Emergency Department – 12 hours
• Advanced Recovery Coaching course – 24 hours

They also offer training available in Spanish and English.

After completing the training programs, students need to get 500 hours of experience, with 25 hours directly supervised.

They must also pass a written exam and pay an application fee.

CHOICES Training

This school is approved by COPA, CPFS, and NAADAC for NCPRSS.

It includes 60 hours of Accredited Education in:

• Peer Recovery Coach training (30 hours)
• Ethical Foundations (12 hours)
• Motivational Interviewing (six hours)
• Suicide Prevention for Non-Clinical Settings (six hours)
• HIV & Bloodborne Pathogens (six hours)

Colorado Mental Wellness Network

It offers a highly competitive peer recovery coaching program.

Applicants need to submit a comprehensive application demonstrating their dedication to the concept of peer recovery coaching.

CMWN emphasizes passion and excellence in its application guidelines.

The application process involves:

• Meeting specific requirements,
• Finding a suitable training date,
• Submitting a written application with thoughtful answers online,
• Obtaining a third-party letter of reference

Applicants who have already worked or volunteered in peer support are given priority.

Applications are reviewed within two to three weeks of the deadline.

If accepted, applicants will be required to pay a deposit and provide sponsorship from a recovery organization or Colorado’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Salaries for Professional Recovery Coaches in Colorado

Before concluding the mentioned prerequisites, it’s natural to have questions about the potential earnings as a professional recovery coach in Colorado.

On average, individuals in this profession earn around $35,671 per year in the state.

Remember that some factors can influence your earnings, like your level of experience and location.

For information on cities where salaries may be higher, please refer to the table below.

Regional Salary in Colorado

Professional Recovery Coach by State