Ask the program for its legal name, street address and state license number. Then look the license up yourself on your state licensing agency’s website and make sure it is current and covers the level of care at the address where your loved one will stay. Accreditation you can check in The Joint Commission’s and CARF’s directories.
SAMHSA lists “licensed and accredited” among the signs of quality treatment.1 Checking it yourself costs nothing, and it matters because the Federal Trade Commission warns that some search ads use real treatment centers’ names but connect callers to a different business.4
What’s the difference between a license and accreditation?
They answer different questions, so check both.
| State license | Accreditation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gives it | A state agency | A national body such as The Joint Commission or CARF |
| What it tells you | The program may legally offer specific services at a specific site | An outside organization reviewed the program against its standards |
Neither one tells you the care is good or the right fit. Quality also depends on proven therapies, medication where it fits, family involvement and help with needs like housing.1
What do we need from the program first?
Get these details from the admissions team; a legitimate program hands them over without fuss. Keep one list per program so you can compare them side by side.
License and accreditation check
- From the program
- What I confirmed myself
Be specific on the phone. “Are you licensed?” always gets a yes. “What’s your license number, and what does it cover at this address?” gets you something to check. A caller who won’t name the facility is a warning sign.
How do we check the state license?
Use the agency in the state where the program operates, even if you live elsewhere. FindTreatment.gov lists every state’s substance use agency, and that office can explain how licensing works there.3
Search by legal name or license number and check the status and expiration date, then the levels of care. A license for outpatient care at an office doesn’t cover detox, or a house across town where your loved one would sleep. If your state posts complaints or enforcement actions, read them. If you can’t find the record online, call the agency.
FindTreatment.gov itself is a reasonable first filter: every facility it lists has been licensed, certified or otherwise approved by the state substance use or mental health authority, though a listing isn’t an endorsement.2
How do we check accreditation?
Ignore the logo on the website and search the accrediting body’s own directory: The Joint Commission’s search for substance use treatment providers5 or CARF’s provider search.6 The name and location should match the program your loved one would actually attend. If the program names a different accrediting body, check that body’s site.
Methadone for opioid use disorder can only be dispensed through a SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment program.8 These programs must also be accredited by a SAMHSA-approved body, licensed by their state and registered with the DEA, though a new program can operate under temporary certification for up to a year while it gets accredited.7 Ask the clinic to confirm each one. More on medications for opioid addiction.
How do we check the people who will provide care?
Ask for the names and license types of the medical director and the clinicians who would treat your loved one, and look them up on that state’s licensing board websites. SAMHSA’s quality guidance applies to a program’s health care professionals as well as the program.1 Doctors and nurses are licensed by the state where they practice. Counselor requirements vary more; NIAAA notes that most states require some form of certification for alcohol counselors.9
What if the details don’t match?
Ask the program to explain in writing before anyone signs. Some gaps are innocent, like a recent move, and the state agency can confirm that.
What do our results mean?
InteractiveDid you find a current state license under the program’s legal name?
See possible outcomes
- Look at other programs for now Ask the state agency whether the program is licensed under another name. Until the state confirms a current license, keep looking.
- Ask where care actually happens Get the program’s explanation, then confirm it with the state. Be wary if free housing somewhere else is tied to enrolling.
- The license may not fit the care that was recommended Ask what the program is licensed to provide. If it can’t offer the recommended level of care at that site, look for one that can.
- Ask for proof Ask which body accredits the program and search that directory again. A claim you can’t confirm is a warning sign.
- The paperwork checks out Next, compare the care each program actually offers.
If a program is operating without a license or misleading families, report it to the state licensing agency. Deceptive ads can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.4
Frequently asked questions
Does accreditation mean our insurance will pay?
No. Coverage is a separate question. Call your plan yourself to confirm network status and benefits for that level of care, and read what a verification of benefits does and doesn’t promise.
Should we check again later?
Yes, whenever your loved one moves to a new level of care or a new location.
What if our loved one is already in a program that doesn't check out?
Don’t pull them out on impulse. Line up a verified program first, and talk to a clinician before any move, because stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines suddenly can be dangerous. Our red flags page covers what to do when a program worries you.
Sources
- SAMHSA — Quality Treatment for Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol (last updated 2023). samhsa.gov/find-support/learn-about-treatment/finding-quality-treatmen… — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA, FindTreatment.gov — Frequently Asked Questions. findtreatment.gov/faqs — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA, FindTreatment.gov — State Agencies. findtreatment.gov/state-agencies — accessed Oct 2026
- Federal Trade Commission — How to avoid scams when looking for drug treatment (August 2025). consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/08/how-avoid-scams-when-looking-… — accessed Oct 2026
- The Joint Commission — Search for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Providers. jointcommission.org/en-us/accreditation/behavioral-health-care-and-hum… — accessed Oct 2026
- CARF International — Find a Provider. carf.org/find-provider/ — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA — Become an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/opioid-treatment-program/become-otp — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA — Methadone (updated December 2025). samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options/methadone — accessed Oct 2026
- NIAAA — Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help (updated February 2025). niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol… — accessed Oct 2026