If you’re passionate about helping others find their way along the route to recovery by providing supportive counseling and motivational support, a career as a Professional Recovery Coach may be right for you!
Online Professional Recovery Coach training programs are specifically designed for prospective coaches who have a strong desire to support community members who struggle with mental health disorders like addiction.
The best programs educate students on the foundational and practical skills of recovery coaching and follow national certification preparation standards for credentialing.
Page Navigation
- Best Online Professional Recovery Coach Training Programs
- #1. San Diego State University – Global Campus
- #2. Ashworth College
- #3. University of Tennessee at Martin
- #4. CERTiFi by Mercy College
- #5. Georgia Southern University – Continuing and Professional Education
- #6. Pitt Community College
- #7. University of Illinois at Springfield
- #8. Gateway Technical College
- #9. Middlesex Community College
- #10. Minnesota State College
- What Courses Are in an Online Professional Recovery Coach Training Program?
- Can You Earn Online Professional Recovery Coach Certification Completely Online?
- How Long Does it Take to Earn Online Professional Recovery Coach Certification Online?
- How Much Does an Online Professional Recovery Coach Certification Cost?
- Final Thoughts
Best Online Professional Recovery Coach Training Programs
The guide below is for aspiring recovery coaches and working coaches who want to be a part of the solution by gaining the required knowledge, education, and skills to provide coaching services to others.
#1. San Diego State University – Global Campus
About the Program
SDSU’s Global Campus offers a comprehensive online Professional Recovery Coach program.
Their web-based training program equips students with the practical skills and knowledge required to help clients achieve their goals and permanently break the addiction cycle.
Their 6-month program is self-paced and provides students with a combination of online coursework, interactive exercises, and real-world case studies to help them gain an in-depth understanding of addiction, recovery, and mental health as a qualified recovery coach.
Courses Offered
- Recovery Coaching Overview
- Whole Life Recovery, Five Life Elements, and Recovery Capital
- Coach Skills and Competencies
- Motivation to Change
- Quantum Change
- Communication, Fear, Enmeshment
- Relapse Prevention Plans
Contact Information
- Address: 5250 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California – 92182
- Website: Link
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Program Costs: $1,848.00
#2. Ashworth College
About the Program
Ashworth College operates its online Social Services Assistant – Substance Abuse Program from its main campus in Norcross, just outside of Atlanta.
Their web-based program equips students with the skills and competencies needed to function as a professional recovery coach and to complete national certification exams.
The online Social Services Assistant program at Ashworth provides students with flexible alternatives for completing their education at their convenience and at their own pace.
Students who enroll in Ashworth’s program will learn the principles of addiction recovery, mental health, and the duties required to work as a certified recovery coach.
Courses Offered
- Professional Ethics and Standards of Behavior
- Collaborating with Clients and Healthcare Teams
- Creating Treatment Plans and Screening Reports
- Substance Disorder Screening and Assessment
- Communicating with Clients, Family, and Community
- Professional Recovery Coaching Certification Preparation
Contact Information
- Address: 5051 Peachtree Corners Circle, Suite 200, Norcross, Georgia – 30092
- Website: Link
- Phone: 770-729-8400
- Program Costs: $799.00-$1200.00
*This program offers special discounts for families and alumni.
#3. University of Tennessee at Martin
About the Program
The University of Tennessee at Martin has flexible online learning opportunities for prospective and aspiring recovery coaches in its 60-credit-hour online training program.
This web-based program operates in partnership with online education provider Ed2Go.
It allows them to learn the role of a recovery coach at their own pace in an open enrollment format.
Students who take this online program will learn how to identify the signs of addiction, develop treatment plans for clients, and implement effective motivational strategies to help offset addictive behavior patterns.
Courses Offered
- International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches (IAPRC) Code of Ethics
- Professional Recovery Coaching Skills
- Strengths-Based System for Changing Addictive Behavior
- Reconnecting to One’s Joyful Identity
- How to Overcome and Break the Cycle of Addiction
- Recovery Coach Skills, Traits, and Competencies
- Ethical Issues in Professional Recovery Coaching
Contact Information
- Address: 110 Gooch Hall, Martin, Tennessee – 38238
- Website: Link
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Program Costs: $1,695.00
#4. CERTiFi by Mercy College
About the Program
Mercy College operates its online professional recovery coach training program in partnership with CERTiFi.
Their web-based training program introduces students to the concepts required to work as professional recovery coaches in America’s hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and sober living homes.
They teach students assessment techniques that help them identify signs of addiction and develop treatment and coping strategies to help free their clients from the clutches of substance abuse and addiction.
Students who take this program will learn the fundamentals of recovery coaching, how to conduct substance use disorder screenings, and how to facilitate effective client-counselor communication to help their clients stay on the path to recovery.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Recovery Coaching
- Effects of Addiction on the Brain
- How to Identify Addictive Cravings and BEEPS
- Applying Cognitive Behavior Strategies
- Ethical and Legal Standards of Behavior for Recovery Coaches
- Nonverbal Communication Skills
- Developing Strength-Based Solutions and Strategies
- Recovery Coach Competencies and Best Practices
Contact Information
- Address: 555 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, New York – 10522
- Website: Link
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Program Costs: $1,695.00
*Monthly payment plans available.
#5. Georgia Southern University – Continuing and Professional Education
About the Program
Students who take classes via Georgia Southern University’s Continuing and Professional Education Department learn the fundamentals of professional recovery coaching and how to apply their skills in a professional environment.
This web-based program emphasizes teaching students how the brain functions during addiction, the nonverbal sharing of joy, and the social, emotional, and physical factors that contribute to ongoing substance abuse and addictive behaviors.
Program graduates should be prepared to sit for national certification exams and feel confident about providing addiction-based community services and support to clients struggling with mental health issues like addiction and substance abuse.
Courses Offered
- Certification Prep
- 60 credit hours of online instruction
- Continuing Education Credits
- Effects of Addiction on the Brain
Contact Information
- Address: Statesboro, Georgia – 30460
- Website: Link
- Phone: 800-520-6806
- Program Costs: $1,795.00
#6. Pitt Community College
About the Program
Pitt Community College gives aspiring professional recovery coaches the chance to learn how to support members of the community suffering from mental health, substance use, and addiction disorders by training them on related topics and techniques in an online format.
This online recovery coach training places heavy emphasis on the link between addiction and the brain and teaches students how to identify non-verbal addictive cues.
Students who take classes at PCC online will also learn the legal aspects of recovery coaching to remain compliant with local, state, and federal regulations while providing community-based services to clients.
Courses Offered
- Strengths-Based Recovery Counseling and Support Techniques
- How to Break the Cycle of Addiction
- The Effects of Addiction on the Brain
- The Foundational Role that Joy Plays in Recovery
- The Role of the Professional Recovery Coach
- Tools to Elicit Client Motivation
Contact Information
- Address: Highway 11 South, Greenville, North Carolina – 27835
- Website: Link
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Program Costs: $1,695.00
#7. University of Illinois at Springfield
About the Program
UIS online readies professional recovery coaching students for success in the field by providing educational training, coaching, and student support in a web-based format.
Students who take classes at UIS will begin their program by exploring the elements of recovery, which provides a solid foundation for learning how to contribute to sustainable recovery efforts by clients.
This program teaches coaches how to become effective at understanding the underlying environmental and emotional factors that underly recovery and trains them on how to provide addiction recovery support in compliance with mandatory law and local regulations.
Courses Offered
- Neuroscience of Joyful Recovery
- How Does the Control Center Learn?
- Strengths-Based Recovery Coaching
- Coach Skills and Competencies
- Solution Focused Questions
- Right Thinking in Recovery
- Self-Talk Analysis, Consequence, and Logic
- Setting Boundaries
Contact Information
- Address: One University Plaza, Springfield, Illinois – 62703
- Website: Link
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Program Costs: $1,695.00
#8. Gateway Technical College
About the Program
The Gateway Technical College Community Education Department gives online students the opportunity to complete their sixty-hour Professional Recovery Coach Program from the comfort of home.
Students who take this online training program spend an average of six months completing this self-paced program.
Gateway’s program has open enrollment for web-based access year-round.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Brain, Addiction, Recovery, and Joy
- Recovery Coaching Overview
- Recovery Coach Competencies
- Establishing Trust
- Motivational Interviewing
- Self-Talk Analysis, Consequences, and Logic
- Boundaries and Relapse
- Establishing Cultural Relationships
Contact Information
- Address: 108 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona – 85034
- Website: Link
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Program Costs: $1,695.00
*This program has monthly payment plans.
#9. Middlesex Community College
About the Program
Middlesex Community College allows students to complete their 75-hour professional recovery coach training from the comfort of their homes.
This self-paced program provides foundational knowledge on recovery-based topics like community building, community resource management, and increasing client motivation.
Their web-based program aligns with the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification as a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach.
It readies students to sit for national recovery coach certification exams.
Courses Offered
- Motivational Interviewing
- Exploring Culture through a DEI Lens
- Recovery Coach Academy
- Mental Health and Wellness
- Accelerated Coursework
Contact Information
- Address: 591 Springs Road, Bedford, Massachusetts – 01730
- Website: Link
- Phone: 800-818-3434
- Program Costs: $1,999.00
*This program has grant funding available for qualified Massachusetts residents.
#10. Minnesota State College
About the Program
Professional recovery coach students who take online coursework at Minnesota State College can earn a 60-credit-hour degree and prepare for state certification.
This web-based program gives students six months to discover the foundations of professional recovery coaching and learn how to provide person-centered services and certified addiction therapy to clients in need.
MSC’s program heavily emphasizes client-driven factors like understanding client motivation and belief systems to implement the best treatment plan and provide effective addiction care.
Courses Offered
- Recovery Coaching
- Trust Building
- Cognitive Behavior Theory and Cognitive Restructuring
- Ethical Conduct Standards
- Effects of Addiction on the Brain
- Identifying Cravings and BEEPS
Contact Information
- Address: 308 Pioneer Road, Red Wing, Minnesota – 55066
- Website: Link
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Program Costs: $1,695.00
*This program offers monthly payment plans.
What Courses Are in an Online Professional Recovery Coach Training Program?
While the course description and names of online PRC courses may vary from program to program the concepts taught for these online programs are generally based on national certification standards.
Students who take online recovery coach training will learn the fundamentals of how to identify addictive behaviors, how to develop and implement effective treatment strategies, and how to remain compliant with US laws and regulations when providing ethical counseling services.
Below are a few common examples of courses found in online PRC training programs.
- Introduction to Recovery Coaching
- Cognitive Behavioral
- Trust Building
- Motivation Building
- Ethical Conduct and Standards for Recovery Coaches
- Identifying Addictive Cravings and BEEPs
- Effects of Addiction on the Brain
- Mental Health and Wellness Techniques
- Cultural Competencies
- Self-Talk Analysis, Consequences, and Logic
- Boundaries and Relapse
Can You Earn Online Professional Recovery Coach Certification Completely Online?
Most components of Professional Recovery Coach Certification Programs can be completed online.
The primary coursework students will need to learn about the complex roles and responsibilities that can be delivered to online students in live video sessions, discussion forums, and webinars.
Some online PRC programs that follow national certification standards may require students to complete an in-person or hands-on component of their training.
Prospective students should talk to their program advisors to learn more about the specifics of the online program they are interested in taking prior to enrollment.
How Long Does it Take to Earn Online Professional Recovery Coach Certification Online?
Most online Professional Recovery Coaching Programs offer flexible learning and self-paced options for students.
While the time it takes to complete the program will vary between students, many online programs will only take between six and twelve months for full-time students to complete.
How Much Does an Online Professional Recovery Coach Certification Cost?
The cost of online Professional Recovery Coach Training Programs can differ depending on the educational institution’s fees, the length of the program, and the course materials included in the cost of tuition.
*The average cost of most online programs falls right around $2,000.00 for US students.
Final Thoughts
Prospective students who want to become certified professional coaches to help people suffering from mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and addiction disorders can find some of the best online Professional Recovery Coach training programs from the list above.
Students who are ready to help their fellow community members develop long-term coping strategies and resilience in the fight against addiction can begin their careers online!
