A certified peer recovery specialist helps people with mental health issues and substance abuse disorders.
The peer recovery specialist, or recovery coach, works one on one with people and helps them stay on the road to recovery.
The specialist has also had addiction issues, or mental health issues, and has been in recovery for at least a year.
In this position, you would help people in many areas of their lives on the road to recovery.
Steps to Become a Recovery Coach in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has several requirements and steps you must take in order to become a recovery coach.
The state combines mental health with drug addiction, as the two are often related.
The most important requirement is that you have recovered from substance abuse or have worked through a mental health diagnosis.
Before taking the training, you must be employed by, or be a volunteer, by a related state agency, advocacy group, or behavioral service provider.
Those two qualifications will limit the field of people eligible to become a recovery coach, and the state narrows the field even further as not all recovering addicts are able to help others as this program is designed to do.
Other basic requirements are rather straightforward:
- At least 18 years old
- Possess a high school diploma or GED.
- You must not be engaged in any conduct that would get your certificate suspended.
- Have a good moral character, and observe the organization’s code of ethics.
Getting certified
The state offers a five-day training course every month in Oklahoma City.
You must apply two weeks before the training, and not everyone who applies is accepted.
There is a $25 fee to apply for the program and you must fill out an application that is available on the state’s website.
You may keep applying if you are not accepted for training the first time.
Training is offered once a month and space is limited.
It may take more than one application to get accepted.
The training itself is free, but you will have to pay for your own travel expenses for your own meals.
Once you complete the course, you have to take an exam and score at least a 75 on the test.
If you do not pass, tutoring help is available and you may retake the test.
Once you pass the test, you will get an official certificate.
Renewing certification
Continuing education is required.
You must renew your license each year, and you will need to take 12 hours of further relevant training during the course of the year.
Salary
The average salary for a recovery coach in Oklahoma is $31,748.
This ranges from $28,000 to $35,000.
The Tulsa area has the highest-paying jobs for this kind of work, slightly above the state average.
The Oklahoma City area is at the state average.
The average salary for this job nationwide is $35,000.
The cost of living is lower in Oklahoma than in many states, and the pay is in line with neighboring states.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Professional Recovery Coachs in Oklahoma
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $31,367 |
| Tulsa | $32,703 |
| Norman | $31,161 |
| Lawton | $29,221 |
| Broken Arrow | $32,600 |
| Edmond | $31,264 |
| Midwest City | $31,058 |
| Enid | $31,058 |
| Muskogee | $32,393 |
| Stillwater | $31,058 |
Regional Salary in Oklahoma
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton, OK | 40 | $39,740 | - NA - | $66,240 | $16,980 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,000 | $55,120 | - NA - | $99,630 | $21,140 |
| Tulsa, OK | 580 | $47,120 | - NA - | $79,490 | $21,350 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for Oklahoma?
Nationwide, the job outlook for recovery coaches is very good.
It is projected to grow by 22 percent per year over the next 10 years.
Oklahoma is expecting to get its share of those new jobs.
Last year, Oklahoma trained more than 1,000 career coaches, and the training continues.
What will I learn during the certification program?
One of the most important things you will learn is how to use your own story to help others.
Recovery coaches are themselves in recovery and can use their own experiences to help others on the road to recovery.
Understanding how to go about this in the best way will help you and your clients benefit the most.
In addition, you will learn about and develop the skills necessary to provide general support services to clients.
Learning about healing relationships is another important aspect.
Understanding the recovery process itself is also an important thing taught during classes.
Where will I be able to get a job?
There are several state agencies, and private mental health and abuse recovery facilities that hire recovery coaches.
This could include community centers, recovery residences, the criminal justice system, or anything similar.
Private recovery centers also use recovery coaches at times.
In Oklahoma, you may also start your own business and work on a contractor or freelance basis.
Some examples might include a substance abuse treatment center, a mental health facility, or a public health organization.
What is the difference between a recovery coach and a counselor?
The major difference is one of focus.
A counselor will have advanced degrees, like a master’s or beyond.
The counselor may make a diagnosis and recommendations for medication.
The counselor also delves into the past to help the person heal from previous incidents which affect the present.
The counselor’s attention is on the past and the present.
The recovery coach focuses more on the present and future, and the focus of this work is helping the client create their own future.
The recovery coach may not have advanced education.
Their expertise is more about their own experiences in having dealt with recovery themselves.
How much does it cost to get trained to be a recovery coach?
The certification classes in Oklahoma are free.
There is a five-day class in Oklahoma City that prepares a person to take the test to get certified.
While the classes are free, you will have to pay for your living and travel expenses to take the course.
How is a recovery coach different than a life coach?
The two are very similar, as both seek to help a person make better choices and plan a better future.
The main difference is that a recovery coach focuses on recovery from addiction, or on dealing with mental illness the client may have.
A life coach takes a more general approach to helping the client get his or her life in order and work towards a better future.
Addiction, or mental illness, affects every area of a person’s life, in addition to the person’s family and community.
While the recovery coach works toward helping the person on their journey to recovery, the life coach takes a more general approach.
