How to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Louisiana

Recovery coaches play a crucial role in providing essential non-clinical support to individuals who are striving to overcome addiction and achieve long-lasting recovery.

This is done through empowering and motivating patients, equipping them with the necessary tools to overcome substance dependency.

In this article, I aim to explore the field of recovery coaching, highlighting how to pursue a rewarding career in this profession.

Job Description of a Professional Recovery Coach in Louisiana

It is important to note that recovery coaches do not engage in diagnosing or treating individuals, as their role differs from that of therapists or healthcare professionals.

Recovery coaches can work with individuals struggling with a variety of addictions, ranging from illegal substances to shopping, to alcohol, and more.

The key responsibilities of a recovery coach include:

• Educating clients on essential life skills, like cooking, budgeting, or cleaning
• Establishing realistic goals and developing actionable plans to achieve them
• Conducting regular safety and wellness checks
• Monitoring clients’ progress and holding them accountable
• Facilitating access to additional recovery resources based on individual needs
• Maintaining client confidentiality
• Adhering to HIPAA guidelines
• Meeting with clients and their families to address any challenges or concerns that may arise.

Steps to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Louisiana

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a recovery coach in Louisiana, here are the steps to take:

1. Obtain a High School Diploma

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

If you have not finished high school, you can pursue a General Education Development (GED) certificate.

2. Seek Relevant Education

You are required to undergo a comprehensive 2-week training program consisting of 76 hours of instruction.

This training is designed to provide participants with the necessary skills to offer effective services.

During the training, participants will learn more about topics essential to their role

These topics include:

• Recovery principles
• The recovery process
• Cultural competency
• Trauma-informed care
• Effective communication techniques
• Community psychiatric support
• Ethical considerations

3. Become Certified

Upon successful completion of the training program, individuals are eligible to take the certification exam.

To maintain their certification as peer support specialists in Louisiana, individuals are required to engage in ongoing education.

This means completing a minimum of 10 Continuing Education Units (CEU) each year.

These CEUs are divided into specific categories:

• 3 units dedicated to ethics
• 7 units focused on peer support services.

4. Be Clean or Sober

In Louisiana, you need one year of sobriety to work as a recovery coach.

Practical experience holds immense value in developing the skills and knowledge needed to be effective in this role.

Volunteering at recovery centers and similar organizations provides aspiring coaches with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience.

Additionally, recommendations from professionals in the field can greatly enhance one’s qualifications as a recovery coach.

Options for Professional Recovery Coach Training in Louisiana

There are a variety of organizations that offer peer support specialist training programs in Louisiana.

Ed2Go

Ed2Go offers a training program with a duration of 3 months.

There is a total of 40 hours in this course and these are delivered as 3 hours per week.

Those who enroll can complete the course at their own speed and they will receive a certificate when finishing.

They will be able to work as Recovery Peer Specialists or Recovery Peer Support.

The main topics covered in this course, are:

• Peer Specialist Overview
• Recovery and Resiliency
• Legal Issues and HIPAA Overview
• Stigma Issues
• Interpersonal Communication

Louisiana Healthcare Connections

The class offered by this corporation has a duration of 2 weeks and the total number of hours included is 76.

This course is offered multiple times throughout the year and it takes place completely online.

To apply for the class offered by Louisiana Healthcare Connections, candidates must meet the requirements set by the Louisiana Department of Health.

Louisiana Peer Action Advocacy Coalition

This organization also offers a course with a duration of 2 weeks and made of 76 total hours.

Recovery Opportunity Center of Arizona is the developer of this training course.

The classes take place every quarter of the year and at different locations throughout the state.

A class can hold only 20 students.

They’ll have to pass a mid-term exam as well as a final exam.

The mid-term test is a written one while the final one has a written part as well as a practical part.

Those seeking to complete their annual CEUs can ask this organization for more details.

Salaries for Professional Recovery Coaches in Louisiana

When contemplating a professional journey, it is natural to have a curiosity about the financial prospects that come with it.

In the state of Louisiana, recovery coaches can anticipate an annual income of around $32,648.

Various factors such as experience, qualifications, location, and the specific organization or setting can influence individual income levels.

Therefore, it is advisable to consider this projection as a general guideline rather than an exact representation of potential earnings.

Regional Salary in Louisiana

Professional Recovery Coach by State