How to Certify a Sober Living Home in Texas with TROHN: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
This article provides a complete, detailed guide to help you understand and navigate the certification process for sober living homes in Texas.
On this page
- Why Certification Matters in Texas
- Who Certifies Sober Living Homes in Texas?
- Overview of the TROHN Certification Process
- NARR Certification Levels Explained
- Sober House Certification Fees, Timeline and Renewal
- Maintaining Recovery Residence Certification
- What If My Sober Home Doesn’t Pass?
- Benefits of Sober House Certification in Texas
- Conclusion
Why Certification Matters in Texas
Before diving into the process, it’s important to understand why sober house certification is so valuable:
- Required for state-funded programs: As of 2023, any sober home receiving state funding or referrals must be certified by TROHN or Oxford House.
- Preferred by referral sources: Treatment centers, probation programs, and healthcare providers increasingly require certification when referring residents.
- Liability protection: Certification helps demonstrate adherence to best practices and protects operators from legal risk.
- Enhanced credibility: Certification reassures families, residents, funders, and partners that the home meets rigorous safety, ethical, and operational standards.
Who Certifies Sober Living Homes in Texas?
Texas recognizes two certifying organizations for recovery housing:
- Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN) — the Texas affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), certifying Level 1–4 homes.
- Oxford House, Inc. — certifying Oxford House peer-run recovery homes through its internal charter process.
This guide focuses on TROHN certification, which applies to the vast majority of non-Oxford sober living homes in Texas.
Overview of the TROHN Certification Process
Step 1. Prepare Your Home and Documentation
Before you apply, ensure your home is fully operational and that your policies, procedures, and safety standards meet NARR requirements.
You’ll need to gather:
- Resident handbook and house rules
- Intake and discharge procedures
- Emergency plans and fire safety protocols
- Staff qualifications (if applicable)
- Proof of insurance coverage
- Good Neighbor policies
- Grievance policies
- Drug and alcohol testing protocols
- Compliance with Fair Housing and ADA rules
Step 2. Submit an Online Sober House Certification Application
Applications are submitted through TROHN’s online certification portal at trohn.org.
The application will require you to:
- Enter business and property information
- Upload all policies and supporting documents
- Complete legal attestations about your operations, ethics, and compliance
- Specify your intended NARR Level (Level 1–4)
You can save your progress and return to the application as needed.
Step 3. Pay the Sober Living Certification Fee
As of the current fee schedule:
- Base fee: $500
- Plus: $10 per bed
For example, an 8-bed home would pay $500 + $80 = $580.
Fees cover document review, interviews, the site visit, and a 2-year certification period.
Step 4. Document Review by TROHN
After submitting your application, TROHN’s certification team will carefully review your documentation to ensure you meet the NARR standards.
During this phase, TROHN may:
- Request clarification or additional documentation
- Ask follow-up questions about policies or procedures
- Offer technical assistance to help you correct minor deficiencies
Step 5. Virtual Recovery Housing Operator Interview
TROHN will schedule a virtual interview with the operator and key staff (if applicable). This interview assesses:
- The home’s recovery culture
- Daily operations and resident engagement
- House governance and accountability systems
- Compliance with recovery residence best practices
The interview also helps TROHN verify the correct NARR Level for your home.
Step 6. Recovery Residence Certification Inspection
TROHN will conduct a comprehensive on-site review to verify that the home’s physical environment aligns with certification standards.
During the visit, TROHN will check for:
- Clean, safe, and well-maintained living spaces
- Fire safety equipment (smoke detectors, fire extinguishers)
- Emergency evacuation plans
- Occupancy compliance (proper space per resident)
- Evidence of peer support (chore charts, house meetings, posted rules)
- Documentation files (resident agreements, emergency contacts, meeting logs)
Inspectors may speak with residents (with permission) to confirm the recovery-supportive atmosphere.
Step 7. Sober House Certification Decision by TROHN
Following the site visit, TROHN will:
- Approve full certification (usually valid for 2 years), or
- Issue provisional certification pending minor corrections, or
- Request additional compliance steps if deficiencies are identified
Once certified, your home will be listed in TROHN’s directory of certified recovery residences — a valuable tool for referrals, partnerships, and funding eligibility.
NARR Certification Levels Explained
During the application, you’ll specify which level your program operates under:
| NARR Level | Type of Support | Typical Staffing |
| Level 1 | Peer-run home | No staff; self-managed |
| Level 2 | Monitored residence | House manager (live-in or on-call) |
| Level 3 | Supervised residence | Staff-supervised with structured programming |
| Level 4 | Service-provider model | Licensed treatment program |
Most non-clinical sober living homes fall into Level 2 or Level 3.
Sober House Certification Fees, Timeline and Renewal
| Item | Details | Timeline | Fees & Costs |
| Recovery Housing Administrator Training (Prerequisite) | Required TROHN curriculum completed before you can access the Recovery Residence Self Assessment and Certification Management platform. | Approx. 15 hours of coursework; most operators complete over 1–4 weeks while preparing policies and procedures. | ~$400 per Recovery Housing Administrator (course fee) as of 2025, plus staff time. |
| Recovery Residence Certification – Online Application & Self-Assessment | Self-guided, online certification application where you upload policies, procedures, house rules, staffing plans, resident agreements, and program/property profiles and complete attestations. | Estimated 25 hours of work to complete the application; most homes spend 3–8 weeks preparing and refining documents before submission. | $1,000 base certification fee + $15 per bed for homes included in the application (paid when you submit for review). |
| Document Review by TROHN | TROHN staff review your submission against NARR and TROHN standards and may request clarifications, corrections, or additional documents. | Varies by caseload; commonly several weeks from submission and payment to initial feedback, longer if multiple revision rounds are needed. | Included in the certification fee; budget separately for any internal work (policy updates, compliance fixes). |
| Virtual Interview | Virtual conversation with TROHN to discuss your program’s culture, social model, and level of support beyond what appears on paper. | Typically scheduled after document review; allow 1–3 weeks to coordinate and complete. | Included in the certification package; no separate TROHN fee expected. |
| Onsite Property Review | Onsite review of each property to visually confirm housing quality, safety, and other standards that cannot be verified from documents alone. | Scheduled after the interview and document review; often completed within several weeks depending on availability of both the provider and reviewer. | Included in the certification fee; homes should budget for any repairs or upgrades required to meet standards. |
| Initial Certification Decision & Directory Listing | When all standards are met, TROHN issues certification and lists your residence in the statewide directory used by funders and referral sources. | From starting the application to certification, many operators experience a 2–6 month total timeline, depending on readiness, number of homes, and revision cycles. | No additional TROHN fee at the decision stage; internal costs may include ongoing quality improvements and compliance work. |
| Certification Term & Renewal Cycle | TROHN, as the Texas NARR affiliate, follows a model in which homes pay for initial certification and again for recertification to maintain status and access to funding and referral opportunities. | Recertification is generally required every 2 years under the NARR-based process used in Texas; homes should track their expiration date closely. | A recertification fee is required at each renewal; exact amounts may be similar to current certification pricing but should be confirmed with TROHN at the time of renewal. |
| Recertification / Renewal Application | Recertification uses the same online Recovery Residence Certification application platform, with updated self-assessment, documents, and review to verify continued compliance. | Best practice is to begin 3–6 months before your current certification expires to allow time for application, review, onsite visit, and any corrections. | Plan for a new certification/recertification fee at each 2-year cycle, plus any additional training or remediation costs identified in the process |
| Pricing Notes & Budget Planning | TROHN’s pricing and course fees can change; always verify current amounts on TROHN.org. Certification costs are in addition to standard operating expenses (insurance, fire/safety upgrades, staffing, etc.). | Review TROHN pricing and requirements at least annually and before each new home launch or recertification cycle. | As of 2025, example costs include: $400 Recovery Housing Administrator curriculum; $1,000 base Recovery Residence Certification fee + $15/bed; optional courses typically $100–$200 each. |
Maintaining Recovery Residence Certification
Certification requires ongoing compliance:
- Certification is valid for 2 years
- Renewal includes updated documentation, possible site re-inspection, and renewal fees
- TROHN may conduct periodic spot checks or respond to grievances
- Operators must notify TROHN of significant changes (location, capacity, ownership)
What If My Sober Home Doesn’t Pass?
TROHN works collaboratively with applicants. If deficiencies are identified:
- TROHN will issue specific correction requests
- You may receive provisional approval pending compliance
- Outright denial is rare unless major, unresolved issues exist
Benefits of Sober House Certification in Texas
Certified recovery residences in Texas gain:
- Access to HHSC funding programs (Be Well Texas, Project HOMES, TTOR)
- Priority referrals from treatment centers, courts, and state agencies
- Enhanced liability protection
- Increased visibility in public directories
- Higher occupancy rates through increased public trust
- Eligibility for private grants and contracts
📍 Starting a Recovery Home in Texas? Start with Confidence.
Starting a Recovery Home in Texas means navigating strict recovery housing laws, local codes, and evolving best practices. Our guide helps you start strong—with clarity, compliance, and compassion. How to Open a Recovery Home in Texas is an essential 120-page guide that walks you step-by-step through zoning, business registration, neighbor relations, and legal compliance, tailored specifically to Texas’ complex regulatory landscape.
Conclusion
Certification through the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN) is more than just a credential — it’s a commitment to excellence in recovery housing. While the process requires careful preparation, the long-term benefits for both operators and residents are significant.
If you’re ready to pursue TROHN certification, contact us today for expert assistance navigating the process. Our team can help you prepare your documentation, policies, and home to meet NARR standards with confidence.