How To Become A Certified Recovery Coach In Mississippi
Recovery coaching is a critical component of addiction treatment and supports people as they navigate their journey toward sobriety. If you’re passionate about helping others overcome substance abuse and addiction in Mississippi, then becoming a certified recovery coach could be the perfect career for you.
It also provides a great opportunity for people who have gone through the recovery process to give back and help others like they were once helped. We will explore the steps you need to take to become a certified recovery coach in Mississippi.
This piece will interchangeably use the terms recovery coach, peer recovery supporters, and peer support.
Recovery Coach Certification, Mississippi
Mississippi has several certification boards to choose from. We will look at the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) as an example throughout.
The other certification boards are:
- The Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
- The Addiction Coach Academy (ACA)
- The Addiction Professional(TAP)
Once you have chosen a board, the next step is to go through the training and certification process.
Training And Certification Requirements
Mississippi’s training and certification requirements vary depending on the certification board or organization you align yourself with.
The International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) requires:
- Training: You are required to finish an IC&RC-approved peer recovery course.
- Examination: After completion of your course, there will be an assessment to test your knowledge of the recovery process, ethics, coaching principles, and other relevant topics.
- Eligibility Requirements: You will also be required to meet some eligibility requirements, such as being in recovery yourself, passing a background check, and having a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Ongoing Education: Maintaining your certification may require you to renew your certification or take continued education courses periodically.
No matter the certification board you choose, research and ensure you’re fully prepared when applying.
Applying For Certification
After meeting the training requirements, you can apply for certification. This includes submitting the following along with your application:
- Proof of Training: You will need documentation of completing a peer recovery course. This could be a certificate of completion or a transcript from the training program.
- Your Exam Results: You will need to provide proof of passing all your tests during your course.
- Documentation of Eligibility: This could be your high school diploma or proof of your recovery.
- Work Experience: You will need proof of your work experience as a professional recovery coach, such as a letter of reference.
- Application Fee: You might be required to pay a fee for your application.
Working as a Recovery Coach
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job opportunities in counseling for substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental health are on the rise and growing faster than the national average! This presents a unique opportunity for those passionate about helping others overcome addiction and mental health challenges.
The Bureau states that the average annual salary of a peer recovery coach starts at $37,330 and rises based on someone’s qualifications, years of experience, and the area they work in.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is expected to grow by 23% between 2019 and 2029. This could lead to a rise in demand for peer recovery coaches in Mississippi.
When looking for employment, peer recovery coaches can find jobs in Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers, providing Individual and Family Services, and also in Hospitals (State, local and Private).
Continuing Your Education
Continuing education is essential for recovery coaches in Mississippi to stay up-to-date with the latest addiction and mental health treatment developments and maintain their professional competencies. Continuing education can also help recovery coaches improve their skills and effectiveness in working with clients.
Some of the ways that recovery coaches in Mississippi can pursue continuing education include:
- Attending conferences and workshops
- Taking online courses and webinars
- Participating in support groups and peer networks
- Reading professional journals and books
Besides the benefit of helping you increase your knowledge, some certification boards require you to attend additional education courses. Your certification will be deemed inactive if you don’t fulfill the continuing education criteria or don’t renew it.
However, If you have to take a leave of absence, you can also ask for inactive status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do professional recovery coaches do?
A certified peer recovery counselor provides recovery support services. They use the knowledge from peer recovery coach training and their own experience to help others.
A professional recovery coach deals with the following:
- Behavioral Health
- Mental Health
- Substance Abuse
What is professional recovery coaching?
Professional recovery coaching is a support and guidance service provided by a trained and certified coach to individuals seeking to overcome substance abuse and addiction.
What is recovery capital?
Recovery capital is the amount and quality of internal and external resources that may be utilized to start and maintain an addiction recovery program.
What is known to significantly impact client outcomes?
Cognitive behavioral theory can be very beneficial as until we know what triggers us it can be tough to avoid the things that make us relapse.
Conclusion
Like the road that patients walk during the recovery process from addiction, your journey to certification will be filled with complex challenges. However, like anything worthwhile, the difficult times will be worth it as you join millions of coaches worldwide, providing coaching services and life recovery to patients in need.