How to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Colorado

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If you have a desire to help people, you should consider a career as a recovery coach.

This job will allow you to help people who have struggled with alcohol and drugs and are now trying to stay sober.

You will have many responsibilities as a recovery coach, such as connecting with clients regularly to talk about their struggles and progress.

You will also help connect clients with psychiatrists and therapists and provide information on family support.

You will also help them get into a 12-step program and encourage them to keep going back.

As a recovery coach, you are the clients’ lifeline.

If you are a recovering addict, you must have been in recovery for at least one year before entering a program.

You can also become a recovery coach if you have a lived, personal experience with recovery, such as helping a close family member through recovery.

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How To Become a Recovery Coach In Colorado

If you’re serious about becoming a recovery coach, several things must be done.

Before you can begin training, you must earn a high school diploma or equivalent.

First, you must participate in an accredited training program, essential to qualify for credentials set by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium.

After receiving the credentials, you must pass a written exam on the information you learned in training.

After completing the application process and being approved, you must participate in supervised work hours before you can start working independently.

If you want to become a recovery coach, there are a few excellent programs in Colorado where you can receive the necessary training.

Recovery Coach Schools In Colorado

There are a few excellent schools that offer recovery coach programs in Colorado.

Embark Peer Coach AcademyEmbark Peer Coach Academy

Embark Peer Coach Academy offers a recovery coach program where you can earn your certification, and you must complete the following courses to become certified.

  • Complete 30 hours of training from the International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals.
  • Complete 16 hours of Ethical Consideration
  • You must choose two of the following courses based on your interests:
      • Professionalism & Coaching 12 hours
      • Spirituality and Coaching 12 hours
      • Coaching in Justice Setting 12 hours

You must take a 12-hour Credential CCAR Professionalism course and a 16-hour CCAR Ethical Consideration course to earn the necessary credentials.

  • Embark Peer Coach Academy offers a few optional courses, including:
  • Recovering Coaching Basics, which is a 6-hour course costing $125
  • Recovery Coaching in the Emergency Department, which is a 12-hour course costing $250
  • Recovery Coaching in a Justice Setting, which is a 12-hour course costing $250
  • Advanced Recovery Coaching, a 24-hour course, which costs $500.

Before becoming certified, you must complete 500 work or volunteer hours and 25 hours of supervised work.

The basic course costs $775, or $1,175 for all available courses, and you can apply for scholarships.

Peer Recovery Coach Training AcademyPeer Recovery Coach Training Academy

The Recovery Coach program is COPA and NAADC-approved.

You can receive a well-rounded education by completing the following courses:

  • Peer Recovery Coach Academy: This is a 30-hour course, and you will learn to promote recovery and remove the obstacles that can prevent clients from being successful in their recovery. Upon completion, you will be able to be a personal guide and mentor for people seeking help or who are already in recovery.
  • Ethical Considerations: This is a 16-hour program where you will learn the ethics required for recovery coaches.
  • Essential Skills: This 16-hour course provides techniques involving people and communication necessary to give clients the care and help they need to stay sober.

You must pass the core training and then work under supervision for a set amount of hours to become certified.

You can also take advanced training courses, including:

  • Justice Involved Peers- 16 credit hours
  • Healthcare-Based Settings- 16 credit hours
  • Veterans Training- 16 credit hours
  • Supervision Training- 16 credit hours

You can take classes in person or on Zoom, and the core training costs $975.

If you choose to take advanced training courses, each has a different cost, and you can apply for a scholarship.

AR Adventure RecoveryAR Adventure Recovery

AR Adventure Recovery offers an Adventure Recovery Coach training course.

The program is designed to provide you with the foundational tools and skills necessary to help people in recovery, and you’ll also learn to lead others in basic outdoor adventures.

This program is different because you won’t have to attend school for weeks, as this is a 5-day, 4-night course.

In the program, you’ll learn the following:

  • The Power of Story and Use of Metaphors
  • Nature as Teacher and Healer
  • Mentorship: The Art of Connection
  • Recovery Coaching: The Adventure Perspective
  • Personal and Professional Goal Setting
  • Outdoor Leadership 101
  • Navigation
  • Outdoor Risk Management
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Narcan Administration

Upon completion of the course, you will be eligible to coach clients through Adventure Recovery, as an independent coach, or with a recovery organization.

You should expect long days and nights of training and cold, rain, snow, and harsh terrain should be expected.

The cost of the program is $1,750.

Recovery Coach Representative Schools in Colorado – Summary Table

Top 3 Schools in Colorado

School NameAddress
Embark Peer Coach Academy411 S Cascade Ave #100, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, United States
Peer Recovery Coach Training Academy 7091 W Emerald Street Boise, Idaho 83704, United States
AR Adventure Recovery

How Much Does a Recovery Coach in Colorado Make?

The average starting salary for a recovery coach in Colorado is $34,337 per year, and if you take advanced courses, you can earn $38,404 to start.

The facility where you land the job can also affect your starting salary.

Annual Salary Range:
$31K
$34K
$38K

Average Salary of Professional Recovery Coachs in Colorado

City NameSalary
Denver$34,897
Colorado Springs$34,176
Aurora$34,874
Loveland$33,632
Fort Collins$33,678
Arvada$34,897
Pueblo$32,222
Westminster$34,897
Boulder$35,209
Thornton$34,897
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in Colorado

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Boulder, CO360$68,540- NA -$136,030$30,960
Colorado Springs, CO390$74,150- NA -$107,640$31,430
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO1,830$73,870- NA -$95,540$31,250
Fort Collins, CO210$57,750- NA -$100,240$30,920
Grand Junction, CO100$51,490- NA -$78,980$29,990
Greeley, CO110$57,820- NA -$75,900$31,300
Pueblo, CO70- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Coaches and Scouts, OCC Code 27-2022, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a recovery coach and a counselor?

An addiction counselor can diagnose addictive behavior and provide treatment, while a recovery coach offers the help and encouragement necessary for clients to reach their recovery goals.

Do I need natural skills to become a recovery coach?

Yes.

You can be much more effective if you have the following skills:

  • Communication skills
  • Empathy
  • Resilience
  • Collaborative skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Active-listening
  • Problem-solving

What Are the Four Roles of a Recovery Coach?

As a recovery coach, you will provide peer support to clients, personal assistance, education regarding community resources, and other supportive services for individuals in recovery.

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