How to Become a Certified Recovery Coach in Montana
Recovery coaching is an extremely important line of work in this day and age. Substance use disorders and mental illness are becoming increasingly common due to a number of external factors affecting the world. However, recovery coaching offers a way to help these people get through these issues and lead healthy lives again.
In this piece, we’ll discuss how can you can become a certified recovery coach in Montana. This will bring you one step closer to being able to help people that are in need of behavioral health services.
What Are The Requirements To Receive Recovery Coach Certification In Montana?
While it is possible to practice as a recovery coach in Montana without certification, it will definitely be beneficial. Clients will often prefer to complete their recovery process with a certified recovery coach.
In this section, we will detail what you need to do to become a certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist.
Minium qualifications
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or college transcript.
- Must identify as having a behavioral health condition.
- Must have been in recovery from this condition for two years.
- Must not have been hospitalized for this condition for more than 72 hours.
- Must not have been incarcerated.
- Must have at least 40 hours of training in Montana Board Of Behavioral Health-approved courses.
Application process
To apply for behavioral health peer support training in Montana, you will need to do the following:
- Fill in the Montana Peer Network 40-hour Peer Support 101 training application.
- Pay the $125 application fee.
- Pass a background check.
- Fill in the supervision forms.
Training
The Montana Peer Network training course is quite similar to many of the programs in other states. It consists of 40 hours of in-person classes, and you will need to score at least 80% on the exam to pass the class.
To pass the course and receive your certificate, you will also need to participate in class and complete your course homework. The course is, unfortunately, not free, but it is covered by the cost of your application fee.
Your application fee will only cover the cost of your training and will not go toward any of your travel, food, or lodging expenses.
A few of the competencies the course will cover include:
- Recovery talks
- Clinical supervision
- The importance of self-care
- Addiction
- Communication skills
- Recovery and crisis planning
- Boundaries and ethics
- Providing support
- Emotional intelligence
- One-on-one session skills
- Best practices
This training course is held around four times a year by the Montana Peer Network, and space is limited, so be sure to book in advance.
If you fail the exam, you will be allowed to retake the class, but you will likely need to pay another application fee.
Recovery coach certification Montana
When you have completed your training course, submitted your application, paid the fee, and been subjected to a background check, then you will be eligible to receive your certificate.
This will then make you a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist.
Renewal of certification
To renew your certificate, you will need to pay a fee of $110 every year to do so. Previously you had to submit 20 hours worth of continuing education units to get recertified.
However, there isn’t a minimum hourly requirement for continuing education units anymore. You will now only need an approved supervisor to confirm that you have completed a post-certification course.
One of the best places to earn these units is by doing a course through NAADAC (The Association for Addiction Professionals.)
Other education options
Montana Peer Network is the main organization in the state that provides certification. However, you can also complete online training with an international organization and then approach the state board.
The board may be able to grant you certification if your online training course is recognized in Montana.
What Job Opportunities Are In The Peer Support Services Sector?
When you have gone through the process of completing your training and getting your certificate, you can start looking for a job as a recovery coach.
There are many jobs in the industry that will allow you to help support people in recovery.
Types of jobs and their earning potential
- Peer Support Worker – $31,000 to $39,500 per annum
- Peer Partner – $24,500 to $49,000 per annum
- Peer Support – $27,500 to $33,000 per annum
- Peer Recovery Specialist – $30,500 to $41,500 per annum
- Peer Review Specialist – $40,000 to $100,000 per annum
- Mental Health Peer Support Specialist – $31,000 to $37,000 per annum
- Certified Peer Specialist – $29,000 to $37,500 per annum
- Family Peer Support Specialist – $31,000 to $39,000 per annum
FAQs
What is the difference between a recovery coach and a sponsor?
Recovery coaching is a more generalized sector, as recovery coaches offer non-clinical help with both addiction and mental health issues.
Sponsors focus more on addiction and substance abuse. They are often there to help people get through the 12-step programs relating to narcotics and alcohol.
What are the responsibilities of a recovery coach?
Recovery coaches help provide people with the skills and knowledge to get through substance abuse and mental health disorders.
They do this by helping people create recovery plans and helping them create their own recovery pathways. These plans are customized to each person’s strengths and need to ensure success.
Final Thoughts
If you are interested in becoming a recovery coach, you should know that this will not be an easy job. Every day you will be mentoring people who are struggling with mental illness or substance problems.
This can be taxing but also very rewarding when you achieve success with a client.
Sources
https://mtpeernetwork.org/peer-support-101/#el-5847c4a1
https://copelandcenter.com/content/montana
https://careertraining.ed2go.com/cot/training-programs/professional-recovery-coach/
https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/bbh/training-courses.pdf
https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/bbh/bhpss-app-checklist.pdf
https://mtpeernetwork.org/what-is-peer-coaching/
https://www.naadac.org/entering-recovery-coach-workforce-webinar
http://sites.utexas.edu/mental-health-institute/files/2016/08/Montana-Application.pdf