Addiction Treatment Certification

FAQs

The LegitScript Addiction Treatment Certification process helps you understand and align with compliance requirements. Earning LegitScript Certification allows you to advertise on some of the world's largest online platforms so you can connect with the people who need your services.

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Eligibility Application Process Pricing Certified Websites

Eligibility

What entities are eligible for LegitScript's Addiction Treatment Certification?

In-Person Addiction Treatment: Any website, application, or merchant that provides information about in-person drug or alcohol addiction treatment or facilitates in-person or online drug or alcohol treatment, other than at a private residence or non-clinical setting.
Mutual Support Groups: Any website, application, online forum, or merchant that does not offer treatment for drugs or alcohol, but that facilitates interactions between non-professional members engaged in recovery.
Crisis Hotlines: Any website, application, call center, chat feature, or telephone number that provides or purports to provide remote assistance or information to individuals who are in recovery or who are seeking information about addiction or addiction treatment, or to any person associated with such individuals, that does not identify particular treatment facilities or entities on the site itself.

For Canadian providers, this certification currently applies only to advertising on Google.

Are lead call generators or sober living homes eligible for certification?

Lead generators and sober living homes (recovery residences) are currently not eligible for LegitScript's Addiction Treatment Certification Program.

An applicant is a lead generator if:

The website is not owned, operated or commonly controlled by the entity that owns or operates the addiction treatment provider to which it refers internet users, and
It refers potential clients to third party addiction treatment providers, irrespective of whether those addiction treatment providers independently meet LegitScript certification criteria.

We define a sober living home as a facility that is not providing clinical services or addiction treatment, but that instead provides a cooperative living environment and is typically located in a private residence or similar setting and is not part of a larger treatment program offered by an addiction treatment provider. We understand that there are legitimate recovery residences; in the future, we may grow the certification program to encompass recovery residences, but we don't have a timeline set for that.

Were any programs exempt or grandfathered in?

No programs were exempted or grandfathered into LegitScript Addiction Treatment Certification.

Why can't international providers get certified? Will this ever be an option?

At this point, our program is open only for providers of drug and alcohol addiction treatment services within the United States and Canada. Google allows advertising for addiction treatment services in the United States and Canada. Currently Microsoft Bing and Meta allow ads in the United States. For more information about these advertising policies, please contact Google, Bing, and Meta directly. In the event these advertising policies change, LegitScript will re-evaluate the reach of its certification services.

Application Process

Is there publicly available information explaining the criteria for certification?

The Addiction Treatment Certification page of our website gives eligibility and qualification information for our certification program. Our Certification Standards provide in-depth information about what information LegitScript researches and requires during the certification process.

How long does the certification process take?

The length of time it takes to complete a review depends on the order in which an application has been received, the complexity of the application, applicant responsiveness, and the sufficiency and transparency of the answers provided. Because each application review is unique, we are unable to give time estimates.

Who can I speak to about my application?

If you have questions or concerns about an application that you've already submitted, please contact us at [email protected]. Our customer success team responds to queries in the order in which they are received. We're happy to give general information and help answer questions about your supporting documentation; however, we are unable to give estimates regarding the timeline of your application's review.

What is the process for renewing my certification? How long does the certification last?

Certification lasts one year. Certification renewal is a review of all documentation, staff information, and licensure, as well as a review of the applicant's online marketing practices. This may include requests for additional information or documentation. The renewal process tends to be more streamlined than the original certification. Applicant response time plays a large role in the speed of certification renewal.

Will the certification process change and evolve?

To support the continuous improvement and accountability of this process, we've formed an advisory committee that comprises a diverse range of leaders and certified providers within the Addiction Treatment industry.

Pricing

How does pricing work?

There is separate pricing for each facility: certification is intended to be on a facility-by-facility basis, even if those facilities are under common ownership. However, we understand that some addiction treatment providers operate many related facilities, and in these cases, we may be able to offer volume discounts for single corporate applicants with multiple facilities.

LegitScript also supports independent practitioners who have no affiliation with a larger addiction treatment organization and want to get certified. See our Addiction Treatment Certification page for pricing details.

Certified Websites

Is there ongoing monitoring of compliance with the Certification Standards?

LegitScript performs ongoing monitoring throughout an addiction treatment provider's certification period to ensure compliance. The LegitScript seal displays "LegitScript Monitored" to reflect ongoing monitoring.

Are certified websites required to use the LegitScript seal?

Certified addiction treatment providers are encouraged to display their custom LegitScript seal on their websites, but they are not required to do so. The LegitScript seal uses custom code to display the date, which shows customers that you are current and active in your certification.

What happens when a website is reported through LegitScript's reporting function?

We take website reporting seriously and make reasonable attempts to investigate the veracity of the claims. If we determine that a company needs to be reported to the appropriate authorities, we promptly do so.
If you see a potentially problematic website, we encourage you to report it here.

Is it a violation of LegitScript certification criteria for an addiction treatment provider or other entity to "bid" on competitors' trade names on paid advertising platforms?

No. This type of keyword bidding is normal competitive behavior, and it doesn't violate our standards, unless it's done in a way that is misleading or appears to be an intentional or knowing violation of someone else's trademark rights.

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