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Recovery coaches play a crucial role in providing non-clinical support to individuals seeking to overcome addiction.
As a recovery coach in California, your primary role is to assist individuals undergoing addiction treatment, whether at a rehabilitation facility or within local communities.
Your responsibility is to provide support and motivation to patients, empowering them to persevere until they achieve freedom from substance dependency.
This article delves into the occupation of recovery coaching, highlighting aspects such as salary information and the steps to becoming a professional recovery coach in California.
Article Table of Contents
Professional Recovery Coach Job Description
Recovery coaches do not diagnose or treat others, as they are not therapists.
Their main objective is to offer support and guidance to help clients improve their lives and overcome addiction.
Recovery coaches can work with individuals addicted to substances, alcohol, food, sex, shopping, or gambling.
Some job duties include:
- Teaching clients essential life skills, such as cooking and cleaning
- Discussing clients’ goals and creating action plans
- Conducting safety and wellness checks
- Monitoring progress and providing accountability
- Providing access to other recovery resources
- Maintaining privacy and adhering to HIPAA guidelines
- Meeting with clients and their family members
Becoming a Professional Recovery Coach in California
Outlined below are the steps to becoming a professional recovery coach in California:
1. Earn a High School Diploma
Obtaining a high school diploma is mandatory for this occupation.
Alternatively, individuals who dropped out of school can earn their GED, as it is also accepted.
A high school diploma or GED demonstrates the basic skills required for the position.
Various alternative educational facilities in the area offer GED programs.
2. Enroll in Training
To become a recovery coach, individuals are required to have 500 hours of volunteer experience, whether paid or unpaid.
Additionally, applicants must fulfill certain criteria, including:
- Completing 25 hours of supervised work experience in the field
- 100 hours of state-approved training and education
- Take and pass the IC/RC Peer recovery test
The initial step is to complete 100 hours of education and training.
The typical program may cover the following areas:
- Level One
- Acquiring coping and life skills
- Professional training techniques
- Understanding active and passive listening
- Accessing community support resources
- Emphasizing relapse prevention strategies
- Setting goals effectively
- Knowledge of pharmacology and street drugs
- Focus on nutrition
- Defense mechanisms
- Coping strategies
- Learning withdrawal techniques
- Legal and ethical considerations
- Level 2:
- Familiarity with relevant terminology from the DSM V
- Understanding mental health terminology
- Recognizing different learning styles and motivating change
- Knowledge of the stages of change
- Dealing with clients involved in criminal activities
- Working with clients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds
You must also finish 46 hours of courses such as:
- 10 hours of Advocacy training
- 10 hours of mentoring and peer education
- 10 hours of recovery and wellness education
- 16 hours of ethical conduct and responsibility training
Furthermore, applicants must complete 25 hours of supervised work experience within their chosen area of specialization.
They must also commit to adhering to the code of conduct and ethics of either a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist or a Certified Peer Recovery Mentorship.
As part of the application, two letters of recommendation are requested.
One of these has to be signed by a licensed professional.
3. Obtain Certification
Certification is not required in this state.
However, getting certified will greatly improve your chances of getting hired.
A good idea would be to pursue a degree of your choice that is relevant to the field.
To earn it, you must successfully pass the IC&RC peer recovery test.
4. Maintain a Clean or Sober Status
Many individuals pursue a career as recovery coaches due to their personal experiences and successful recovery from addiction.
For those individuals, having a minimum of one year of sobriety, ideally two years is essential.
Even if you don’t have personal struggles with addiction, it is prudent to adhere to the same expectations and guidelines set for your clients.
These include abstaining from illicit drug consumption, alcohol, and tobacco.
5. Gain Experience
While training and certification enhance your qualifications, additional experience can be beneficial.
Volunteering at a recovery center is an excellent way to gain practical experience in the field.
Some former addicts choose to become sponsors, but this requires at least one year of abstinence from the substance abused, along with two recommendations.
Professional Recovery Coach Training Options in California
Here are some institutions in California that offer training for aspiring recovery coaches:
In the state of California, there are several training programs available to help you begin your journey as a recovery coach. Here are a couple of examples:
Simi Institute for Careers and Education
This institution provides a course called Neuroscience of Joyful Recovery and Recovery Coach Competencies Part 1 and 2.
The International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches
This school offers several courses, including:
- Neuroscience and Recovery
- Addiction Roots
- Alcohol and Its Effects
- Recovery Coach Competencies Part 1
- Recovery Coach Competencies Part 2
- Family Issues Within Recovery
- Certified Professional Coach
- Life Skills in Practice
The International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches (IAPRC) offers three options for the course curriculum.
The Professional Recovery Coach Credential Program dual program is self-paced and designed for those who want to earn two credentials.
The CPRC Single program focuses on addiction recovery specialization and also benefits those interested in pursuing further training to become clinicians.
The CPC life coaching essentials class is specifically tailored for individuals interested in life coaching.
This class serves as a foundation for those starting their work as a life coach or planning to establish their own life coaching businesses.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Simi Institute for Careers and Education | 1880 Blackstock Ave, Simi Valley, CA 93065 |
Salaries for Professional Recovery Coaches in California
Before finalizing the requirements mentioned earlier, it’s common to wonder about the potential income as a professional recovery coach in California.
Typically, the average annual earnings for these professionals in the state range around $38,945.
Various factors can affect individual earnings, including your level of experience and geographical location.
To gain insights into cities where salaries may be comparatively higher, please consult the table provided below.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose | $44,311 |
| Santa Clara | $44,311 |
| Fremont | $44,198 |
| San Francisco | $44,135 |
| Daly City | $44,135 |
| Berkeley | $43,076 |
| Oakland | $43,076 |
| Hayward | $42,991 |
| $ | |
| $ |
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 140 | $60,030 | $28.86 | $101,550 | $38,110 |
| Chico, CA | 40 | $50,300 | $24.19 | $73,680 | $37,590 |
| Fresno, CA | 200 | $58,110 | $27.94 | $99,880 | $37,860 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,240 | $75,400 | $36.25 | $110,060 | $42,390 |
| Merced, CA | 40 | $56,230 | $27.03 | $81,670 | $34,950 |
| Modesto, CA | 110 | $62,090 | $29.85 | $108,590 | $39,400 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 100 | $65,120 | $31.31 | $100,200 | $39,830 |
| Redding, CA | 30 | $67,820 | $32.61 | $132,100 | $29,120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 550 | $66,220 | $31.84 | $104,080 | $41,670 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 690 | $74,630 | $35.88 | $108,100 | $46,070 |
| Salinas, CA | 60 | $65,800 | $31.64 | $102,850 | $46,600 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 530 | $65,200 | $31.35 | $103,010 | $38,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 1,690 | $85,470 | $41.09 | $124,190 | $43,900 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 590 | $97,280 | $46.77 | $142,520 | $50,310 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 40 | $58,750 | $28.25 | $78,850 | $45,110 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 60 | $72,160 | $34.69 | $111,030 | $39,440 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 80 | $63,620 | $30.59 | $87,780 | $43,640 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 150 | $68,170 | $32.77 | $106,480 | $46,240 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 110 | $63,270 | $30.42 | $105,270 | $40,730 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 110 | $78,700 | $37.84 | $97,690 | $47,740 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 100 | $60,840 | $29.25 | $101,280 | $37,420 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I work as a professional recovery coach in California?
Here are a couple of the institutions needing such professionals:
- Hospitals
- Rehab clinics
- Community centers
How Promising Are The Employment Opportunities For Professional Recovery Coaches in California?
California is a large state and there will always be a demand for recovery coaches.
How does the salary for professional recovery coaches in California compare to the national salary?
In California, salaries are higher than the ones calculated at the national level.
In this case, the national average salary for professional recovery coaches is around $35,000.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Professional Recovery Coach
Professional Recovery Coach by State