Who are Recovery Coaches?
A Recovery Coach (RC) is an individual with lived experience of substance misuse who is living well in recovery. A Recovery Coach uses their lived experience and recovery story to instill hope. They discuss recovery issues from a peer perspective and support adult peers in reaching and maintaining their own personal recovery goals. In addition, a RC may serve as an advocate, guide peers on accessing resources, and model competency in recovery and wellness. Recovery Coaches promote skills for improving mental and physical wellbeing and increasing resiliency. They promote self-determination, recognize there are multiple pathways of recovery, and help peers become and stay engaged in their own recovery.
Where do Recovery Coaches work?
Recovery Coaches are employed in substance use treatment facilities, social service agencies, peer-run recovery centers, peer-run respites, community-based organizations, hospitals, prisons, law enforcement agencies, mobile crisis teams, and other healthcare organizations. Recovery Coaches may also serve on a variety of advisory boards and committees at local, state, and national levels.
Information You Need Before Applying to Recovery Coach Training
To apply for this training, through the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative, you must:
- be at least 18 years old,
- have a GED or high school diploma,
- have a substance use disorder and be living well in recovery, OR be a family member of a person in recovery from a substance use disorder.
The Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative (IPWC) will cover the cost of the Peer Recovery Coach training provided by Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) Recovery training ONLY when all of the following steps are completed.
Applicant applies for Peer Recovery Coach training class listed on the IPWC website.
We only cover trainings listed on the IPWC site, including the specific scheduled training dates and times, to qualify for payment by IPWC.- Applicant meets training criteria AND completes the application for the Peer Recovery Coach Training available through the link on the website
If accepted into training, the applicant receives a training acceptance email from IPWC.
This email will confirm your spot in the specific CCAR training to which you applied.The applicant follows registration instructions in the acceptance email.
You must respond and complete all steps outlined by the due date to finalize your registration.
If the above steps are not completed, then the IPWC will NOT pay for a CCAR training.
If you have questions about this process, please contact us at IowaPeerSupportTraining@uiowa.edu
Recovery Coach Training March 2026
Applications: Applications for this training are closed.
Training Dates and Time: Monday, March 2nd - Friday, March 6th, 2026, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Central
Location: Virtual training via Zoom through Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery
In-Person Recovery Coach Training April 2026
Applications: When applications open, a link to apply will be posted here.
In-Person Training Dates and Time: Monday, April 27th - Friday, May 1st, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Central
Location: This in-person training will be in Council Bluffs (location TBD)
In-Person Training Information: This in-person Recovery Coach Training is being offered through Full Circle Recovery. Full Circle Recovery has authorized CCAR Recovery Coach Professional Facilitators (RCPF) who train the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) Recovery Coach Academy© curriculum.
Training Details
Lodging Information
You must arrange and pay for your own lodging (if applicable). If you are currently employed as a Recovery Coach, check with your employer about covering these expenses.
Cost
This training is FREE, however, trainees must pay for their own lodging, food and travel costs. If you are currently employed as a Recovery Coach, check with your employer about covering these expenses.
Meals
You must make arrangements for your own food. There are many food options near the training sites. Most training locations do not allow outside food to be brought into the venue.
Accommodations
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this training, please call us at 319-467-4296 or email us at: lauren-vorwald@uiowa.edu
Recovery Coach FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of education do I need to take the training?
You must have a high school diploma or GED.
What skills do I need to be a Recovery Coach?
The training will provide you with in-depth knowledge and skills. However, in general the role involves the ability to:
- Model effective coping and self-help techniques.
- Work with individuals from diverse socio economic and cultural backgrounds.
- Attend workplace meetings and complete agency requirements.
- Assist people with finding community and natural supports and teaching them how to utilize these services.
- Advocate for someone’s needs and accompany them to meetings as needed.
- Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team focusing on each person’s choices for recovery.
- Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Adhere to confidentiality and understand protected health information.
- Maintain records and provide accurate documentation.
- Use computers (e.g. basic computer skills-email, web searches, word processing).
- Maintain a part-time or full-time work schedule.
- Share your own personal story of living in recovery.
Are there age limits to take the training?
You must be 18 years of age to take the Recovery Coach training.
How do I apply?
When applications are open there will be a link above to click and apply for Recovery Coach Training.
- Applications will be screened when the application process closes.
- At this time, Recovery Coach training is being prioritized for individuals currently employed as a RC. Those with a pending employment opportunity will also be considered.
- Training acceptance notifications will be sent via email. Applicants can expect to receive a notification around 4 weeks before the start of training.
For questions, please email us at: IowaPeerSupportTraining@uiowa.edu
Pathways To Become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
More information about how to become certified can be found on the Iowa Board of Certification's website.
Peer Support Specialist Training
In-person training: 40 hours
+
Ethics training: 6 hours
= 46 hours of training approved by IBC
Recovery Coach Training
Recovery Coach Academy: 30 hours
+
Ethical Considerations for Recovery Coaches: 16 hours
= 46 hours of training approved by IBC
Iowa Board of Certification Requirements
Application
+
Hours
+
Supervision hours
+
Exam
Peer Recovery Specialist
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) Requirements
Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) certification is administered by the Iowa Board of Certification (IBC). For detailed information, please refer to the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) Handbook and PRS Application at https://iowabc.org/prs/. If you have questions about certification, contact the IBC office at 515-965-5509 or email info@iowabc.org.