How to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Illinois

Recovery coaches play a crucial role in providing invaluable non-clinical support to individuals on their journey to come out of addiction.

The primary objective of a recovery coach in Illinois is to offer guidance and assistance to individuals undergoing addiction treatment.

For this, they motivate and empower patients, equipping them with the necessary tools to overcome substance dependency and achieve long-lasting recovery.

This article explores the field of recovery coaching, so let’s delve into it.

Job Description of Professional Recovery Coaches

Recovery coaches provide unwavering support and guidance to clients, helping them improve their lives and successfully overcome addiction.

Recovery coaches can work with individuals struggling with various forms of addiction, including:

• Substances
• Alcohol
• Food
• Sex
• Shopping
• Gambling

Some of the key responsibilities of a recovery coach include:

• Educating clients on essential life skills, such as cooking and cleaning
• Collaborating with clients to establish goals and develop actionable plans
• Conducting regular safety and wellness checks
• Monitoring clients’ progress and holding them accountable
• Facilitating access to additional recovery resources
• Ensuring client confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA guidelines
• Meeting with clients and their families to provide comprehensive support

Steps to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Illinois

If you aspire to become a recovery coach in Illinois, here are the necessary steps to follow.

1. Obtain a High School Diploma

Having a high school diploma is a fundamental requirement for pursuing this profession.

Alternatively, individuals who haven’t completed high school can obtain a General Education Development certificate, for it is also accepted.

2. Become Certified

The Illinois Certification Board, also known as the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, offers the CRSS and CRPS certifications.

Alternative certifications are available for individuals pursuing careers in addiction counseling or mental health, apart from the CRSS and CPRS certifications.

You’ll need to undergo some supervised training and gain some work experience.

Finally, passing a certification exam is necessary.

It is common for professionals in these fields to hold multiple certifications.

One option is the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Certificate Program, a non-degree program offered at various community colleges and vocational schools.

This program focuses on assisting individuals in their recovery from mental illnesses and disorders.

Another certification similar to CRSS and CRPS is the National Certified Recovery Specialist (NCRS).

For those interested in becoming a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, specific education and training, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree are required.

This certification enables professionals to directly counsel individuals in recovery.

The Associate Addictions Professional (CAAP) certification is designed for those specializing in drug addiction counseling.

A Certified Veteran Support Specialist undergoes specialized training to provide counseling services to veterans.

Additionally, individuals seeking to work with youth can pursue an Adolescent Treatment Endorsement.

3. Be clean or sober

Some people pursue a career as recovery coaches based on their journeys of overcoming addiction.

In Idaho, these individuals must have a minimum of one year of sobriety.

Even if you haven’t personally struggled with addiction it is important to adhere to the same expectations and guidelines as your clients.

Getting practical experience is valuable in addition to training and licensing.

Volunteering at a recovery center is the easiest way to get practical experience.

Additionally, two recommendations are needed to further enhance your qualifications.

Professional Recovery Coach Training Options in Idaho

The ICB provides a list of 26 accredited programs in alcohol and drug counseling training across Illinois.

Many of these programs are funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, enabling students to take the courses tuition-free.

In addition to formal training programs, attending conferences, workshops, or equivalent educational activities can fulfill the training requirement.

However, it is important to adhere to strict guidelines regarding the number of hours and types of courses.

The CRSS and CPRS training programs offer a range of courses, including:

• Recovery management
• Addiction studies
• Motivational enhancement
• Life skills
• Co-occurring disorders
• Social development
• Domestic violence
• Crisis management
• Ethics and confidentiality

The requirements differ slightly between the CRSS and CPRS training models while passing the certification exam is mandatory for both certifications.

The training for the Certified Recovery Support Specialist diploma has this structure:

• 40 hours in CRSS with 10 hours in each domain,
• 54 hours in Core Functions
• 6 hours in Ethics

The training for the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist diploma has this structure:

• 40 hours in CRPS with ten hours in each domain,
• 44 hours in Core Functions
  • 5 hours in family counseling
  • 5 hours in Youth
• 16 hours in Ethics

Ed2Go

Ed2Go provides a fully online course that is available at 100% capacity.

The course fee amounts to nearly $1,700 and offers the option of paying in installments.

It spans over six months, with a total duration of 60 hours.

The course is divided into three main sections, namely:

• The Neuroscience of Joyful Recovery
• Part 1 of Professional Recovery Coach Competencies
• Part 2 of Professional Recovery Coach Competencies

Salaries for Professional Recovery Coaches in Illinois

You are also probably wondering about your future income.

In Illinois, you are expected to make about $35,281 per year.

If you want to find cities that provide higher salaries, check out the table below.

Regional Salary in Illinois

Professional Recovery Coach by State