A recovery coach is called a peer support professional in Kansas.
The job involves helping and supporting people who are recovering from addiction with help that goes beyond standard medical care.
Peer support professionals are former addicts themselves, with a long history of recovery.
You must be certified, and that is free, but there are some steps involved to get the certificate.
Page Navigation
- Steps to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Kansas
- Salary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the job outlook for a recovery coach in Kansas?
- Where can you get a job as a recovery coach?
- What is the difference between a professional counselor and a recovery coach?
- Where does a recovery coach get training?
- What is the ultimate purpose of a recovery coach?
- What are some things you must learn in training to become a recovery coach?
- How much does it cost to become a recovery coach?
- What is the difference between a recovery coach and a life coach?
Steps to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Kansas
Recovery coaches must be certified by the Kansas Dept. for Aging and Disability Services, which is a part of the state’s behavioral health services department.
This organization also does the training for the certificate.
Here are the steps involved in getting this certificate:
- You must be at least 18 years old, and be in full recovery from substance abuse for at least one year.
- Complete a two-part training program by the Kansas Dept for Aging and Disability Services. The first part is taken online at your own pace. The second part is a two-day program that must be done in person.
- You must pass a final exam with a score of at least 70 percent.
- Sign the state code of ethics for peer mentors.
You may start working as a peer support person after completing the first part, though it must be supervised and you can only work 20 hours per week.
You must do this for 90 days before taking the second part of the training.
Once you finish the second part and pass the test, you can apply for and receive an official certificate.
You will also need a recommendation from the supervisor you worked with.
Salary
In Kansas, the pay for a recovery coach ranges from $27,000 to $36,500.
The average would be $32,696. Kansas City, and that part of the state, has the highest levels of pay for this type of work.
Nationwide, the average pay for a recovery coach is $34,337.
Kansas is a little lower, but Kansas is also below the national average in cost of living.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Professional Recovery Coachs in Kansas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Wichita | $32,380 |
| Overland Park | $33,568 |
| Kansas City | $33,667 |
| Topeka | $31,758 |
| Olathe | $33,476 |
| Lawrence | $32,434 |
| Shawnee | $33,568 |
| Salina | $32,036 |
| Manhattan | $31,415 |
| Hutchinson | $32,036 |
Regional Salary in Kansas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, KS | 210 | $78,590 | - NA - | $178,300 | $22,460 |
| Manhattan, KS | 170 | $107,940 | - NA - | $176,200 | $17,010 |
| Topeka, KS | 330 | $46,920 | - NA - | $74,990 | $21,990 |
| Wichita, KS | 590 | $40,210 | - NA - | $68,550 | $18,840 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for a recovery coach in Kansas?
The U.S. Dept of Labor Statistics, there should be an increase of eight to 10 percent in the demand for this type of job in Kansas through 2028.
Nationwide, that projection is at 12 percent.
Most recovery-type jobs are in larger cities like Kansas City or Wichita.
Where can you get a job as a recovery coach?
Recovery coaches are needed to help the work of therapists and other professionals working in the addiction recovery area.
Here are some areas where you might find a job.
These jobs are more available in larger cities, and not so much in rural areas of the state.
- Substance abuse treatment centers.
- Mental Health Facilities.
- Health organizations
- Criminal justice system
- Public health
What is the difference between a professional counselor and a recovery coach?
A professional counselor has psychiatric training and a degree of some kind.
A recovery coach is more of a helper, or coach, to the recovering person, and does not have any medical training.
Counselors deal with making diagnoses and can make recommendations for medication.
Counselors help the patient deal with the past and the present.
Recovery coaches are involved in the present and the future.
Recovery coaches are former addicts, and can relate to the client on a very personal level.
Where does a recovery coach get training?
The training comes from the state, and the first part is taken online.
The second part is a two-and-a-half-day course that must be taken in person.
It is offered four times per year at different locations around the state.
What is the ultimate purpose of a recovery coach?
The recovery coach is like a friend and comes from the viewpoint of having had the same struggles that the addict has.
The job involves working closely with the client, creating and developing their recovery plans.
A recovery coach is assigned when a person in treatment leaves a facility and continues the work of helping them recover from addiction.
The goal is to help people who are new to trying to overcome addiction.
The recovery coach helps them with various barriers they face, access community resources, and create a more healthy lifestyle.
What are some things you must learn in training to become a recovery coach?
As a recovering addict yourself, you will naturally have the skills needed to relate to the person that is battling addiction.
You are part of a support system that is the foundation of the program.
Being an addict gives you special insight into the struggles the client faces, and it gives you credibility with the client who realizes you have experienced what they are experiencing.
There are still some professional skills you can develop in training.
There is training for how to go about mentoring individuals and groups, and how the two differ.
The training also involves how to work with the addicts’ families and the community at large.
You will learn in more detail what the differences are between a mentor and a licensed counselor, beyond just the medical aspects.
Confidentiality, ethics, and working with supervisors are also important parts of the training.
How much does it cost to become a recovery coach?
There is no cost for the course itself.
You must pay your travel expenses for the second part of the course that must be taken in person, but other than that, there is no cost to become a certified recovery coach.
What is the difference between a recovery coach and a life coach?
A recovery coach is essentially a life coach but specializes in the addiction area.
Both life coaches and recovery coaches rely on their own experiences a lot, and that is part of how they relate to the client.
A recovery coach does a lot of the same things that life coaches do, but battling addiction is their focus.
Addiction is difficult to overcome.
One must address nearly every issue of their life in recovery.
To properly address addiction, one must address many areas of the person’s life, and that is where life coaching enters the picture.
