How to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Mississippi

People who’ve recovered from a debilitating addiction often find themselves compelled to help others with their treatment.

For example, you may become a professional recovery coach in Mississippi to provide hands-on support for people who need it the most.

This career option doesn’t require a lot of training and is a great option for individuals who want to help others.

Steps to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Mississippi

Becoming a professional recovery coach in Mississippi requires a few simple steps that most people should feel comfortable performing.

While these processes will include some hands-on training, they don’t require a college degree or advanced learning to begin.

Step One: Finish High School

Professional recovery coaches in Mississippi must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school degree or equivalent.

If you dropped out of high school, don’t worry!

You can take the GED test instead.

This test takes the place of your high school diploma and can help you when you start your professional recovery coach career.

Step Two: Complete the CPSSP Discovery Guide

Anyone in Mississippi interested in this career must fill out the Certified Peer Support Specialist Professional (CPSSP) Discovery Guide.

This simple questionnaire (on page five of this PDF) is a self-screening test that examines how well you’re suited for this profession.

It asks you questions about sharing your stories, providing hands-on services, and other unique support needs.

Typically, it includes about 10-16 yes-or-no questions and can be completed in about 10-20 minutes, depending on your preparation.

Once you’re finished, you count up the number of “no” questions on the test.

If you said “no” to half or more of the questions, the state asks that you either attend further training or reconsider your career options in this field.

Step Three: Complete Your CPSSP Application

After completing the Discovery Guide form, you can complete the rest of your training application.

This in-depth form may take a few days to finish and requires extensive details about your life and your addiction recovery.

Once completed, you can submit it, and, once approved, you’ll begin your training to become a certified peer support specialist professional.

In your application, you need at least 100 hours of formal or voluntary work in addiction recovery.

These hours can include facilitating 12-step meetings, working in Recovery for Life and Wellness Recovery Acton PLan programs, volunteering for mental health advocacy organizations, or working with public service organizations, like Red Cross and Girl/Boy Scouts.

You’ll also need to include two reference forms (one personal and one professional) that attest to your skills and abilities to meet the requirements of this position.

Furthermore, you’ll also provide a verification of employment form, a professional assurance and release form, principles of ethical and professional conduct form, and a scope of activities form.

After completing these forms, you should make a copy of everything for your records.

Then, you send them to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to begin your training.

During your training program, you’ll get experience in this field and get prepared for the certification exam.

This exam covers important information from your training and certifies you for work in the state.

Step Four: Looking for Jobs

Now that you’ve completed your training and earned your certification, you can begin looking for work in this field.

You may find part-time work at many facilities at first or even volunteer opportunities.

Get whatever experience you can to improve your chances of finding a job.

Many facilities want and expect a coach who’s worked for years with people who have addictions.

Eventually, you should find an open position at either an addiction treatment center or hospital near you.

There is, unfortunately, a high addiction rate in Mississippi, which means professional recovery coaches are in heavy demand.

Keep looking through job boards, newspapers, and online forums to identify potential work opportunities, and keep sending out your application.

Schools in Mississippi

While you don’t need a college degree to become a professional recovery coach in Mississippi, there is at least one training option available.

This course isn’t required to become a professional recovery coach, but will help you cover at least 60 of your 100 training hours.

That makes it a good option for someone with limited career experience in this field.

Mississippi State University Extension

MSU provides a six-month professional recovery coach program that takes place over 60-course hours and costs $1,695 to complete.

During this program, you’ll learn about how addiction affects the brain and ways you can help your clients recover from drug abuse.

Other subjects include identifying cravings and how to apply cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.

Recovery Coach Representative Schools in Mississippi – Summary Table

Salary

Mississippi has a much lower cost of living than the rest of the nation, which makes its average professional recovery coach salary of $30,622 a little easier to handle.

That said, the national average for this career is $34,337, though the low costs and short period of training make it a good option for many people interested in helping with addiction recovery.

Regional Salary in Mississippi