What does it mean that a program is licensed, certified or accredited, and how can I check?

Why checking is worth a few minutes

You may be choosing quickly, perhaps for someone you love, and a professional website can look reassuring. A license does not tell you whether a program is the right fit, but it does tell you that a state agency oversees it and that there is somewhere to take a complaint.

Some states also have laws against misleading claims. California, for example, bars licensed and certified programs from making false or misleading statements about their services. Checking is simply a way to confirm what a program says about itself.

What a license means

Rules vary by state. In the states cited here, a state agency licenses programs that provide treatment services, sets standards and can investigate complaints. Three examples show how that works.

In California, the Department of Health Care Services says on its facility licensing page that it licenses residential facilities providing nonmedical recovery or treatment services to adults, and that a license is required when a facility provides services such as detoxification or individual, group or educational sessions.

In Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission says on its page on chemical dependency treatment facilities that it is responsible for licensing and regulating those facilities. It notes that some faith-based programs offering only nonmedical methods, such as prayer or spiritual counseling, are exempt from licensing and register for that exemption instead.

In Pennsylvania, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs says on its licensing page that any freestanding facility providing drug and alcohol treatment must be licensed by the department.

What certification can mean

Certification means different things in different places. In California, DHCS says many licensed facilities are also certified, and that certification identifies facilities that exceed minimum levels of service quality and substantially comply with state program standards. Under a California law explained in DHCS's certification FAQ, many nonresidential programs in the state must now hold certification.

DHCS also says licensed adult residential facilities in California need a level-of-care designation from the state or a level-of-care certification based on ASAM's criteria, which describes the intensity of care they are approved to provide.

Elsewhere, “certified” may refer to a certification from a private organization, or to a staff member's professional certification. Ask the program: “Certified by whom, and for what?”

What accreditation can mean

Accreditation generally refers to a program being reviewed by an independent organization against its standards. The state pages cited here do not describe accreditation bodies, so this guide does not explain any particular one. If a program says it is accredited, ask which organization accredited it, when, and for which services and locations. Then check with that organization.

Accreditation is not a substitute for a state license where a license is required.

How to check a license

Start with the program's exact legal name and address. Programs sometimes use a brand name that differs from the name on the license.

In California, DHCS publishes a list of licensed and certified recovery and treatment facilities on the state's open data portal.

In Texas, HHSC's chemical dependency treatment facilities page includes a section on finding or verifying a license through the state's online licensing system.

In Arizona, the Department of Health Services says you can verify a licensed facility's information through AZ Care Check, including inspection and enforcement history.

In Pennsylvania, DDAP publishes inspection results for licensed drug and alcohol treatment facilities; its licensing page is the place to start.

In other states, look for the state agency that licenses substance use treatment programs and ask how it lets the public verify a license.

What to look for when you find it

Check that the name and address match the place you would attend. Check that the license is current, and that it covers the services you are being offered, such as residential care, outpatient care or withdrawal management. Some lists show whether a program is licensed, certified or both, and which populations or levels of care it serves.

If you cannot find the program, ask it for its license number and the agency that issued it, then check again. A program that cannot tell you, or whose answer does not match the state's records, deserves more questions before you go.

When a license is not required

Some places that help people in recovery do not need a treatment license, such as sober living homes in some states, peer support groups or certain faith-based programs. That does not make them bad, but it does mean they are not providing licensed treatment. The guide to sober living and treatment explains that difference.