Peer Recovery Coach
A career ladder exists in Michigan’s addiction field with three levels.
Balanced Hope Trains CCAR
A person interested in becoming a Peer Recovery Coach should look at CCAR training (below). This is open to anyone with six months sobriety as well as community members and recovery allies. It is a low-cost, entry-level certification that allows someone to initially start work for an employer. It is a national certification.
MDHHS Certification
Once a person is employed in the field, the next step often is Michigan Department of Health and Human Services certification. (https://mipeers.org)
MDHHS certification requires employment with a recovery organization and has other requirements. The cost must be born by the employer and the certification applies to Michigan coaches.
Peer Coaching
The last level is to become a licensed peer coach. An individual may obtain a licensed through McBap, which is also the organization that licenses counselors, etc. (https://mcbap.com) This can lead to or run parallel with becoming a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC).
As a person progresses through the development plan with McBAP, they become a CADC. The next step would be additional time and hours and to become a CAADC.
There is also a path to becoming a CCS, which is a clinical supervisor in the drug and alcohol field. This license requires a Masters degree.
Join The List!
Balanced Hope is a registered training organization for CCAR. You can connect via email to be on the list for the next training.
For general information about CCAR, go to their website: https://ccar.us