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Recovery coaches play a vital role in providing non-clinical support to individuals striving to overcome addiction.
As a recovery coach in Florida, your primary objective is to offer assistance to individuals undergoing addiction treatment.
You do this by providing guidance and motivation, empowering patients to persevere until they achieve freedom from substance dependency.
This article explores the field of recovery coaching for the State of Florida.
Article Table of Contents
Job Description of a Professional Recovery Coach
Recovery coaches do not diagnose or treat individuals as they are not therapists.
Their main focus is to offer support and guidance to help clients enhance their lives and overcome addiction.
Recovery coaches can work with individuals struggling with substance abuse, alcoholism, food addiction, sex addiction, shopping addiction, or gambling addiction.
Some of the job duties include:
- Teaching clients essential life skills, such as cooking and cleaning
- Discussing clients’ goals and creating action plans
- Conducting safety and wellness checks
- Monitoring progress and providing accountability
- Providing access to other recovery resources
- Maintaining client confidentiality and adhering to HIPAA guidelines
- Meeting with clients and their family members
Steps to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Florida
To become a recovery coach in Florida, follow the steps below.
1. Obtain a High School Diploma
Having a high school diploma is a prerequisite for this occupation.
Alternatively, individuals who have not completed high school can earn a GED from an alternative educational institution.
A high school diploma or GED demonstrates the foundational skills necessary for the role.
2. Sign up for training
In Florida, certification is necessary if you want to work as a recovery coach.
Certification is provided by the State of Florida Certification Board.
If you check out their official site, you will also see a list of programs once you create an account.
You do need some experience before getting into the program.
You also need to pass an exam once the program is finished.
Certification requirements can vary depending on the area of expertise within the field of recovery coaching.
Programs may ask aspiring peer specialists to verify their lived experience.
For those who haven’t directly experienced addiction but still want to assist individuals struggling with addiction and affected community members, the title “recovery coach” is commonly used.
In this particular career path, personal life experience is not mandatory, but proper training and certification are still required.
The Florida Board of Certification outlines the specific requirements for each certification:
- Peer Specialist:
- Completion of 40 hours of training
- Annual completion of 10 Continuing Education hours
- Accumulation of 500 hours of supervised work or volunteer experience
- Recovery Coach/Recovery Specialist:
- Completion of 75 hours of training
- Annual completion of 10 Continuing Education hours
- Accumulation of 1000 hours of formal work or volunteer experience
Furthermore, there are associated fees for certification:
- Certification application fee: $100
- Manual application processing fee: $25
- Certified Recovery Support Specialist Exam fee: $65
- Annual renewal fee: $75
3. Maintain sobriety
Many individuals choose to pursue a career as recovery coaches based on their personal journeys of overcoming addiction.
It is essential for these individuals to maintain a minimum of one year of sobriety, preferably two years.
It includes refraining from the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
4. Acquire practical experience
While obtaining training and certification can enhance your qualifications, gaining practical experience is invaluable.
One effective approach to gaining hands-on experience is by volunteering at a recovery center.
This allows you to directly engage with individuals seeking recovery and apply your knowledge in a real-world setting.
Another option is to become a sponsor for individuals in recovery. However, this requires at least one year of abstinence from the substance of abuse and two recommendations from trusted sources.
Professional Recovery Coach Training Options in Florida
So, what are the training options?
Let’s have a look!
Addictions Training Institute
To address the growing demand for substance abuse counseling professionals, the Addictions Training Institute (ATI) offers training programs in most jurisdictions.
Their Certified Recovery Support Specialist program provides 75 hours of education, 1000 hours of paid or volunteer experience, and 24 hours of supervised work experience.
Successful completion of the IC&RC Peer Recovery Examination is required for certification.
NET Training Institute
The NET Institute provides an online, self-paced training program approved by the Florida Certification Board for individuals aspiring to become recovery coaches.
The program offers the advantage of flexibility, allowing students to customize their study schedule according to their lifestyle.
On average, students can complete the training in eight weeks, dedicating approximately 9.5 hours of study per week.
While lived experience is valued in this program, it is differentiated from a “peer” experience.
Lived experience encompasses firsthand encounters with addiction, whether through personal connections with loved ones or community members facing addiction challenges.
The training course offered by NET Institute comprises 8 courses that cover:
- Recovery management
- Authentic recovery
- Co-occurring disorders
- Addiction counseling practices
- Street drugs overview
- Recovery support services.
Two textbooks are required for the program.
The Academy for Addiction Professionals
The Academy for Addiction Professionals recommends their CRSS course to everyone wanting to provide support in the addiction field.
This program aligns with the Florida Board of Certification’s recommendation.
It consists of 75 hours of training.
The program is exclusively available online.
Financial aid and tuition reimbursement programs are available for eligible students.
The course covers:
- Risk/crisis management
- Active care coordination
- Documentation
- Social development
- Addiction and brain chemistry
- Lapse/relapse prevention
- HIPAA/confidentiality
Students should provide three professional letters of recommendation, sign an agreement to abide by the FCB’s Code of Ethics, and take extra classes.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Addictions Training Institute | 304 Indian Trace Suite 816, Weston, FL 33326 |
| NET Training Institute | 4767 New Broad St, Orlando, FL 32814 |
| The Academy for Addiction Professionals | 12716 NW 67th Dr, Parkland, FL 33076 |
Salaries for Professional Recovery Coaches in Florida
It is common to wonder about the potential salary of a recovery coach in Florida.
On average, individuals in this profession earn approximately $33,542 per year in the state.
It’s important to note that several factors can influence individual earnings.
To gain a better understanding of cities where salaries might be relatively higher, please refer to the provided table.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Boca Raton | $34,751 |
| West Palm Beach | $34,438 |
| Coconut Creek | $34,287 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $34,287 |
| Miami | $34,267 |
| Hialeah | $34,107 |
| Hollywood | $34,065 |
| Pembroke Pines | $34,065 |
| Saint Petersburg | $33,613 |
| Orlando | $33,539 |
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 160 | $61,370 | $29.5 | $96,320 | $40,720 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 30 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 120 | $59,600 | $28.65 | $93,800 | $31,300 |
| Gainesville, FL | 90 | $48,090 | $23.12 | $76,600 | $32,140 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 230 | $48,360 | $23.25 | $82,640 | $23,400 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 50 | $55,950 | $26.9 | $96,390 | $34,380 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 710 | $59,930 | $28.81 | $103,890 | $35,560 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 40 | $48,030 | $23.09 | $64,940 | $33,130 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 100 | $53,110 | $25.54 | $83,510 | $33,910 |
| Ocala, FL | 60 | $55,880 | $26.86 | $92,080 | $33,490 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 380 | $62,590 | $30.09 | $98,740 | $31,970 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 70 | $46,880 | $22.54 | $65,450 | $30,980 |
| Panama City, FL | 30 | $41,100 | $19.76 | $63,130 | $29,990 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 80 | $52,700 | $25.34 | $91,770 | $27,370 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 40 | $56,000 | $26.92 | $82,540 | $33,990 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 100 | $52,340 | $25.16 | $97,680 | $28,020 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 550 | $64,380 | $30.95 | $102,590 | $34,650 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Florida can I find work as a professional recovery coach?
For starters, you’ll work either in rehabilitation facilities or local communities.
How is the income for recovery coaches in Florida compared to the salary at the national level?
The salaries in Florida for professional recovery coaches are lower than those at the national level for the same position.
What’s the outlook for people who work as professional recovery coaches in Florida?
There’s an increased number of people who struggle with addiction in Florida.
This can only mean there’s a steady need for such professionals in this state.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Professional Recovery Coach
Professional Recovery Coach by State