"How long does recovery coach in Virginia training take?"

"Most paths into the recovery coach field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"How much do recovery coaches earn in Virginia?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), recovery coaches in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,910 (using the related \"Community Health Workers\" BLS category, since recovery coach wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Virginia is roughly 0.38 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

"What apprenticeships are available for recovery coaches in Virginia?"

"In Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

"What is the job outlook for recovery coaches in Virginia?"

"Virginia currently employs approximately 620 workers in the related \"Community Health Workers\" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

How to Become A Recovery Coach in Virginia

Q: "Do recovery coaches need a license in Virginia?"

"Yes. Virginia requires state-level licensing or registration for recovery coaches, administered by the Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Counseling. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Virginia community health workers earn a median annual wage of $48,910 ($23.52/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 620 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.7% below the national median of $51,850 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,910 ($23.52/hr)
25th percentile: $43,460 per year
75th percentile: $60,590 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $79,990 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $34,440 per year
Workers employed in Virginia: 620
Versus national median: -5.7% below the U.S. median of $51,850
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.38 - this occupation is less concentrated in Virginia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia employs approximately 620 workers in the related “Community Health Workers” category (SOC 21-1094), with a median annual wage of $48,910 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 11.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a recovery coach in Virginia, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track recovery coach salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Community Health Workers (SOC 21-1094). Actual recovery coach earnings may vary.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Recovery Coach in Virginia

How to become a recovery coach in Virginia? Virginia requires credentials such as Peer Recovery Specialist, Registered. The licensing authority is the Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Counseling ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Virginia? Yes. Virginia has licensing or registration requirements for recovery coachs. The Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Counseling oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do recovery coachs earn in Virginia? The BLS does not track recovery coach wages separately. Based on the related “Community Health Workers” category, the median annual wage in Virginia is $48,910, with entry-level wages around $34,440 and experienced workers earning $79,990 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Counseling
Median wage (Virginia): $48,910 per year (based on related “Community Health Workers” category) ¹
Exam requirement: No exam required

Recovery Coach License Requirements in Virginia

The Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Counseling oversees recovery coach licensing in Virginia ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Peer Recovery Specialist, Registered	The General Assembly authorized the Board of Counseling in 2017 to register Peer Recovery Specialists (RPRS).

Additional Requirements

Exam: No exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Recovery Coach Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

Note: The BLS does not track recovery coach wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Community Health Workers (SOC 21-1094).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), community health workers wages in Virginia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	1,600	$58,790	$60,340	$38,980	$87,750
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	120	$44,930	$45,700	$29,540	$60,240
Richmond	N/A	$51,420	$54,840	$37,140	$73,750

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Top Metros for Recovery coaches in Virginia

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest recovery coach employment within Virginia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	120	$44,930

Explore More Trades in Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for recovery coachs in Virginia? Virginia employs approximately 620 workers in the related “Community Health Workers” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 11.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a recovery coach in Virginia with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Counseling for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Virginia.

How much do recovery coachs earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for recovery coachs in Virginia is $48,910 (based on the related “Community Health Workers” category), which is $2,120 below the national median of $51,030 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Counseling - Licensing Information: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Counseling/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)