How To Become A Certified Recovery Coach In Oklahoma

The peer recovery support services sector is filled with job roles that help people through the recovery process. The recovery process can relate to either mental health disorders or substance use disorders. This, therefore, makes these jobs an integral part of society as they help people get back on their feet.

What Are Peer Recovery Support Services?

Peer support services recruit people who have previously suffered from either mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or a combination of both. These peer supporters help people who are currently suffering from these conditions. However, they are first trained in order to learn how to help people deal with these difficulties.

The reason why peer recovery support programs recruit former addicts, and those who have suffered from mental health disorders, is that they have successfully dealt with these issues themselves. This provides them with the tools to understand the situations that the people they are helping are in.

What Are The Requirements To Receive Recovery Coach Certification in Oklahoma?

If you want to become a recovery coach, you will need to meet certain requirements in order to qualify. This is because not every former addict or mental health sufferer will be able to help others with their journey.

Minimum qualifications

To become a recovery coach in Oklahoma, you will need to meet the requirements listed below:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have recovered from a substance use disorder, mental health diagnosis, or both.
Be willing to disclose personal information relating to your own recovery journey.
Educational requirements: Have a high school diploma, General Equivalency Diploma, or a college transcript.
Be a volunteer, or be employed by the state, an advocacy agency contracted by the state, or a behavioral service provider.
Must not be currently engaged in any conduct/practices that would cause your certification to be revoked, denied, or suspended.
Have good moral character.
Observe and respect the PRSS code of ethics, which must be signed and sent with your application form.
Pass an exam, and then share your recovery story in line with the standards promulgated by ODMHSAS after the completion of your training.

Application process

To become a Peer Recovery Support Specialist in Oklahoma, you will first need to apply with the state of Oklahoma. To complete the application process, you will need to do the following:

Fill in the Application Inventory form.
Read and sign the PRSS code of ethics.
Fill in the PRSS Verification of Employment form with your supervisor.
Pay the $25 application fee.
Submit your high school diploma, GED, or college transcript along with your other forms.

Training

The training process you go through to become a certified PRSS doesn’t actually take all that long to complete. The training process is also completely free once your application has been accepted. You will get access to any resources that you will need to complete your training for free.

The training facility is located in Oklahoma City, and you may run into some costs if you don’t live in the area. You will need to make your way there out of your own pocket and pay for any lodgings you will need to stay in while completing the training. Lunch is also not provided, so you will need to make sure to bring some with you.

The training program will provide you with:

An understanding of the skills you will need to provide recovery support services to peers.
An understanding of the recovery process and how you can use your own recovery story to help others
The ability to establish and understand healing relationships.
An understanding of the importance and ability to take care of yourself.

When you have finished your training after 5 days, you will be required to write and pass the exam with a score of at least 75%. In order to be allowed to take the exam, participants will need to attend all of the modules over the 5-day period.

If you do not pass the exam, you may be offered tutoring and a review. Thankfully, you will be allowed to retake the exam.

Recovery coach certification, Oklahoma

Once you have completed your training and passed the exam, you will receive an official certificate stating that you are now a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist. This will give you the freedom to use evidence-based practices to help people.

Renewal of certification

When you have received your certificate and begun practicing, you will need to renew it every year after that. To be able to renew your certification, you will need to have 12 hours’ worth of continuing education units.

This means you will need to participate in 12 hours of further relevant training each year to renew your certificate. You will also need to complete the online renewal process.

What Job Opportunities Are In The Peer Support Services Sector?

There are quite a few jobs in the Peer Support Specialist sector, and most of these jobs will allow you to make a decent living.

Types of jobs and their earning potential

Peer Recovery Specialist – $30,500 to $41,500 per annum
Peer Review Specialist – $40,000 to $100,000 per annum
Certified Peer Specialist – $29,000 to $37,500 per annum
Mental Health Peer Support Specialist – $31,000 to $37,000 per annum
Peer Support – $27,500 to $33,000 per annum
Family Peer Support Specialist – $37,330 per annum
Peer Partner – $24,500 to $49,000 per annum
Peer Support Worker – $31,000 to $39,500 per annum

FAQs

What qualities do you need to become a recovery coach?

If you want to enter the world of recovery coaching, you should have empathy, experience with mental illness and substance abuse, and be empowering to others. If you have these qualities, you should make the cut.

Where do recovery coaches work?

Recovery coaches and other peer support specialists often work at recovery support centers or recovery community organizations. However, it is possible for peer support specialists to create their own private practices.

Final Thoughts

A career in the peer recovery support sector can be very challenging and mentally draining, as your days will be filled with helping others who have often lost all hope.

However, by helping these people turn their lives around, you are offering an invaluable service to society, which can be incredibly rewarding when things go right.