Ohio offers options for becoming a certified Peer Recovery Supporter without having to complete a lengthy degree program.
The program to become certified will likely appeal to prospective participants who have an interest in helping people in Ohio who need the benefit of a Professional Recovery Coach.
Embrace your own recovery experience and gain a valued role in helping others who have mental health or addiction issues.
Page Navigation
- Steps to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Ohio
- Schools in Ohio
- Recovery Coach Representative Schools in Ohio – Summary Table
- Salary for Peer Recovery Supporter in Ohio
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Ohio using the title Peer Recovery Supporter mean that there are no options for me to get a job or to have a career as a Professional Recovery Coach in Ohio?
- How do I become a Peer Recovery Supporter Supervisor in Ohio?
- Can I complete an online Professional Recovery Coach program and become certified in Ohio?
- Where can I work after becoming a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter in Ohio?
Steps to Become a Professional Recovery Coach in Ohio
Ohio uses a single term to describe what some states may list as separate career titles.
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services explains that the title Peer Recovery Supporters (PRS) is an “all-inclusive term” that consists of recovery coaches, peer supporters, and peer specialists.
The reason that the state uses the all-inclusive term is for “uniform consistency.”
So, what does this mean for people who want to become a Professional Recovery Coach in the State of Ohio?
You must complete the required training and meet other requirements for the Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter certification before applying for certification.
The state offers three pathways to becoming a certified Peer Recovery Supporter, including:
- Completing the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (Ohio MHAS) 40-hour Peer Recovery Supporter training
- Completing a 40 hour Peer Recovery Supporter training program through an outside organization, which offers a training model approved by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Have three or more years of formal and verifiable experience providing behavioral health peer services
If you have the required work experience, have your employer complete the work verification form, which is submitted directly to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Individuals interested in the exciting opportunity to become an Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter must also meet the following requirements:
- Must have a high school diploma or have completed a GED program
- Must complete the required 11 online eBased Academy Courses
- Complete a certification application in eLicense
- Must pass the online Peer Recovery Supporter Certification Exam with a score of 70% or higher
- Applicants must complete a Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) background check
- Must complete a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal records check within one year of submitting the Peer Recovery Supporter application
- Applicants must not have a record of a disqualifying offense and must not be on probation, parole or on any court sanction.
You may complete your Peer Recovery Supporter training while you are on supervision but wait until you are released before applying for your certification.
Schools in Ohio
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services lists several acceptable training models that the state has approved to meet the requirement for completing the 40-hour live training to become a certified Peer Recovery Supporter.
Clark State College 
Clark State College, located in Springfield, also has several branch locations.
Students must complete the SWK 1110 Peer Support Fundamentals I course to satisfy the requirement for the Ohio 40-hour live training.
The course is a four-credit hour course.
Students have options to improve their opportunities for employment and to gain additional skills if they complete one of the two short-term technical certificate programs.
The Peer Recovery Support Short-Term Technical Certificate consists of field placement co-operative learning experiences.
Clark State indicates that these field placement experiences occur at addiction and mental health treatment agencies that the school partners with through affiliation agreements.
Students also complete a seminar course which meets for one hour each week.
It is a 10-credit-hour program.
The Peer Support/Addiction and Recovery Short-Term Technical Certificate program provides Peer Recovery Supporters with the opportunity to earn clinical credentials by completing the program.
Completion of the certificate program allows students to obtain the Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) State of Ohio certification.
It is a 26-credit-hour program.
The total per credit hour tuition is $170.33.
Financial aid may be available.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) 
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance program is four weeks long and prepares students to become a Peer Specialist.
Students complete the course through a series of individual learning and group sessions, role-playing, and presentations.
The program provides people who are interested in becoming a Peer Recovery Supporter in Ohio with the opportunity to complete the 40-hour live training requirement.
Tuition is $1,500.
RI International 
RI International considers itself to be a “worldwide leader of mental health and substance-use crisis service design delivery as well as peer-delivered care.”
The Peer Certification Class meets the Ohio training requirements.
Students develop the unique skills needed for success as Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter.
The cost for the program is $1,295.
Recovery Coach Representative Schools in Ohio – Summary Table
Top 3 Schools in Ohio
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Clark State College | 570 E Leffel Ln, Springfield, OH 45505, United States |
| Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) | 32901 Station St suite 207, Solon, OH 44139, United States |
| RI International | 199 S Central Ave Door 1, Columbus, OH 43223, United States |
Salary for Peer Recovery Supporter in Ohio
The salary for a Professional Recovery Coach varies among the various states.
The average salary for a Peer Recovery Supporter in Ohio is $33,677, as of May 2023.
The salary range is $30,192 to $37,666.
Individuals with more experience may earn a higher salary.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Professional Recovery Coachs in Ohio
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Columbus | $33,714 |
| Cleveland | $33,896 |
| Cincinnati | $33,578 |
| Toledo | $33,180 |
| Akron | $32,967 |
| Dayton | $33,310 |
| Lima | $32,414 |
| Youngstown | $32,339 |
| Canton | $32,293 |
| Lorain | $33,537 |
Regional Salary in Ohio
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 910 | $51,850 | - NA - | $84,450 | $23,360 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 650 | $52,420 | - NA - | $107,090 | $23,290 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,280 | $76,480 | - NA - | $106,130 | $23,880 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 2,420 | $49,970 | - NA - | $84,240 | $23,360 |
| Columbus, OH | 2,530 | $61,240 | - NA - | $109,630 | $24,640 |
| Dayton, OH | 1,030 | $50,690 | - NA - | $81,250 | $22,820 |
| Lima, OH | 150 | $59,610 | - NA - | $107,100 | $23,530 |
| Mansfield, OH | 110 | $43,410 | - NA - | $77,320 | $22,840 |
| Springfield, OH | 110 | $48,410 | - NA - | $83,950 | $23,530 |
| Toledo, OH | 830 | $49,920 | - NA - | $86,050 | $23,010 |
| Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA | 460 | $48,360 | - NA - | $80,670 | $22,240 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ohio using the title Peer Recovery Supporter mean that there are no options for me to get a job or to have a career as a Professional Recovery Coach in Ohio?
No, search on reputable job sites and you will see that there are several job openings for Peer Recovery Supporters, and some of them list their job as Professional Recovery Coach.
How do I become a Peer Recovery Supporter Supervisor in Ohio?
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services lists the easy requirements to become an Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter Supervisor.
Requirements include completing eBased Academy courses and a four-hour, in-person training.
Can I complete an online Professional Recovery Coach program and become certified in Ohio?
Contact the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services before enrolling in any online program not listed on the site.
You do not want to pay for an educational or training program that does not meet state certification requirements.
Where can I work after becoming a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter in Ohio?
Peer Recovery Supporters work in a variety of settings.
You may work with addiction and recovery service agencies, mental health agencies or in other community settings.
Keep in mind that unless you complete additional training, such as the Clark State Peer Support/Addiction and Recovery Short-Term Technical Certificate, you will not have clinical credentials.
