Industry Accreditations & Affiliations​

Selecting an addiction treatment center for yourself or a loved one can be a complex process. It can be challenging to differentiate high quality treatment services from more suspect organizations. When seeking treatment for substance use disorders, it is vital that consumers know what to look for in a rehab provider.

Reputable facilities who demonstrate continued dedication to improved outcomes and patient care may earn accolades and associations that signify this. Accreditations, licenses, and affiliations serve as indicators of treatment center quality.

Accrediting Bodies

CARF

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, abbreviated as CARF, is an independent, nonprofit organization devoted to advancing the quality of rehabilitation services, from substance use treatment to retirement living. Their accreditation process is exceptionally rigorous, and includes a consultation with a designated CARF resource specialist, a detailed self-evaluation, and a survey from CARF’s hand-selected team. Surveyors are chosen by their relevant experience and conduct an onsite inspection to determine providers’ adherence to all applicable standards. Based on their findings, CARF then renders an accreditation decision: three-year, one-year, provisional, or non-accreditation.

After receiving accreditation, treatment centers must submit a Quality Improvement Plan and Annual Conformance to Quality Report. This demonstrates a continued commitment to high caliber treatment and improved patient outcomes.

The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (Joint Commission) is a not-for-profit, independent organization responsible for the accreditation and certification of over 21,000 health care programs nationwide. The Joint Commission’s standards for behavioral health care providers are developed by experts and informed by scientific data and industry best practices. After accreditation is earned, it must be continually maintained.

Areas of evaluation include the environment of care, leadership, continuing education, care, evidence-based treatment, services, medication safety, assessment, consumer rights, background checks, and screening procedures.

Certifying Bodies

State Licensing (Clinical Certification)

In the past, drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities were permitted to create their own standards of treatment. This changed in the year 1970 when states created a State Alcohol Authority and a Single State Authority for drug misuse. These organizations oversaw care provided throughout the state and crafted operating standards to ensure quality treatment. Because each state has unique standards, the path to licensure varies by physical location. Receiving a license to operate is required for many states, while others make the process completely voluntary. For this reason, consumers should be wary if a center has made no effort to apply for state licensure.

State Licensing Agencies

Alabama	Alabama Public Health
Alaska	Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Arizona	Arizona Department of Health Services
Arkansas	Arkansas Department of Health
California	California Department of Public Health
Colorado	Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Connecticut	Connecticut Department of Public Health
Delaware	Delaware Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health
District of Columbia	District of Columbia Department of Health
Florida	Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
Georgia	Georgia Department of Community Health
Hawaii	Hawaii Department of Health - Office of Health Care Assurance
Idaho	Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Illinois	Illinois Department of Public Health
Indiana	Indiana State Department of Health
Iowa	Iowa Health Facilities Division
Kansas	Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Kentucky	Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Louisiana	Louisiana Department of Health
Maine	Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Maryland	Maryland Department of Health
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Health and Social Services
Michigan	Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Minnesota	Minnesota Department of Health
Mississippi	Mississippi State Department of Health
Missouri	Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
Montana	Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Nebraska	Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
Nevada	Nevada State Board of Examiners
New Hampshire	New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
New Jersey	New Jersey Department of Health
New Mexico	New Mexico Department of Health
New York	New York State Department of Health
North Carolina	North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
North Dakota	North Dakota Department of Health
Ohio	Ohio Department of Health
Oklahoma	Oklahoma State Department of Health
Oregon	Oregon Health Authority - Public Health Division
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Department of Health
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Health
South Carolina	South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
South Dakota	South Dakota Department of Health
Tennessee	Tennessee Department of Health
Texas	Texas Department of State Health Services
Utah	Utah Department of Health
Vermont	Vermont Division of Licensing and Protection
Virginia	Virginia Department of Health
Washington	Washington State Department of Health
West Virginia	West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Wyoming	Wyoming Department of Health

State Counselor Licensure Boards

Alabama	Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
Alaska	Alaska Board of Professional Counselors
Arizona	Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners
Arkansas	Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling
California	California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Colorado	Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners
Connecticut	Connecticut Department of Public Health Professional Counselor Licensure
Delaware	Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals
District of Columbia	District of Columbia Board of Professional Counseling
Florida	Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
Georgia	Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division
Hawaii	Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional & Vocational Licensing Mental Health Counselor Program
Idaho	Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
Illinois	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Indiana	Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board
Iowa	Iowa Bureau of Professional Licensure
Kansas	Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Kentucky	Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors
Louisiana	Louisiana LPC Board of Examiners
Maine	Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Maryland	Maryland Department of Health Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions
Michigan	Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Minnesota	Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health & Therapy
Mississippi	Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors
Missouri	Missouri Division of Professional Registration
Montana	Montana Department of Labor & Industry
Nebraska	Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
Nevada	Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors
New Hampshire	New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
New Jersey	New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee
New Mexico	New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department
New York	New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions Division of Professional Licensing Services, Certification and Verification Unit
North Carolina	North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors
North Dakota	North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners
Ohio	Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board
Oklahoma	Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure
Oregon	Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Health Marriage, Family and Mental Health Therapy
South Carolina	South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
South Dakota	South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
Tennessee	Tennessee Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Pastoral Therapists
Texas	Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors Texas Department of State Health Services
Utah	Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
Vermont	Vermont Secretary of State Board of Allied Mental Health
Virginia	Virginia Board of Counseling
Washington	Washington State Department of Health Licenses, Permits and Certificates
West Virginia	West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Wyoming	Wyoming Mental Health Profession Licensing Board

Licensing requirements generally include:

• A formalized intake process for each new applicant
• Proof of liability insurance
• Certificate of occupancy
• Fire safety inspections
• Operational plans for the facility
• Food safety inspections
• Americans with Disabilities Act compliance
• Electrical, water, and other utility inspections
• Qualifications to distribute medications on-site, if applicable
• Licensure and certification of qualifying staff members

In order to achieve licensure, facilities must adhere to building codes and fire laws, provide proof of ownership and insurance, and create an organizational chart. They may also be required to provide detailed accounts of treatment practices and staffing allocations.

LegitScript (Marketing Certification)

Any website or application that provides information about in-person addiction treatment, mutual support groups, or crisis hotlines must receive LegitScript certification in order to run ads on all major digital platforms. Founded in 2007, LegitScript currently monitors over 2.3 million websites and merchants. Their certification service for drug and alcohol addiction treatment providers is the only one accepted by Google, Bing, and Facebook, and is considered necessary after numerous deceptive and misleading ads resulted in Google’s suspension of addiction treatment advertising on the platform.

Recovery residences, non-clinical environments, and lead generators are not eligible for certification. Once a facility receives LegitScript’s approval, ongoing monitoring is required. Steps to LegitScript certification include passing criminal background checks, providing proof of licensure, showing proof of insurance, and submitting written policies and procedures demonstrating a commitment to industry best practices. Once these standards have been met, treatment centers may advertise their recovery services online.

Affiliations

NAATP

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) is a nonprofit professional society of top treatment providers throughout the continuum of care, which provides clinical and operational resources as well as law and policy advocacy to its members. NAATP’s service as a convening body brings the industry together to promote collegiality and best practices. With the founding purposes to provide industry leadership and support the addiction treatment provider, NAATP membership carries many benefits. Members receive education and training opportunities, networking opportunities, awards and recognition, and industry-wide outcomes data.

In order to become a member of NAATP, applicants must apply and attest that they agree to the NAATP Values, Membership Conditions, and NAATP Code of Ethics. If there is a failure to adhere to these values, disciplinary action may include denial of application or revocation of membership.