With the opioid crisis still grinding along, now is a great time to open an addiction treatment center. But navigating the licensing requirements of each state is tricky—they are all different and each plays by its own rules. Because there are no federal guidelines for addiction treatment center licensure, every state’s regulatory body is unique. 

Today, let’s look at the top 9 states to open an addiction treatment center and learn how to get licensed in each state. If you don’t see your state listed in this blog post, be sure to stay tuned for part 2 where we’ll cover even more states!

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in California 

The state of California’s addiction treatment center licensure is handled by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). You can view their licensing page here and check out their application form and fees here. 

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in Arizona 

The state of Arizona’s Department of Health Services handles all addiction treatment center licensing in the state. They have an initial checklist for people wanting to license their treatment center that is helpful for getting started. You can find the initial residential application form for Arizona here. 

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in Florida 

The state of Florida’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program is responsible for all licensure and regulation of addiction treatment providers in the state. All the rules they play by are governed by Chapters 394 and 397 of the Florida Statutes, which cover everything from prevention, treatment, and detox services. Florida uses a system called the Provider Licensure and Designations System (PLADS) to register providers. 

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in Kentucky 

Kentucky has one of the highest concentrations of rehab facilities but it also has one of the highest overdose rates in the country. Licensure for substance abuse treatment centers is handled by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Office of the Inspector General. They have different applications and procedures for different types of facilities. You can find the application for their “non hospital-based alcohol and other drug treatment entities” here.  

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in Maine 

Along with Kentucky, Maine also has one of the highest concentrations of rehab facilities per capita, coupled with some of the highest overdose death rates in the country. Licensure for substance abuse treatment providers in Maine is governed by the Rule Chapters for the Department of Health and Human Services. Maine has a handy brochure, “Regulations for Licensing and Certifying of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs” here. 

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in North Dakota 

North Dakota handles all addiction treatment center licensure applications through the Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division. You can read about the process for getting certified in North Dakota, including step-by-step instructions, here. You can also access the Substance Abuse Treatment License Application here. 

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in Montana 

Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services serves addiction treatment centers with licensure through their Addictive and Mental Disorders Division and the Chemical Dependency Bureau. You can access their Chemical Dependency Treatment Services State Approval Application here. 

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in Wisconsin 

Wisconsin has a relatively high number of rehab facilities but actually has very few detox facilities per capita. The state handles addiction treatment center licensing through the Bureau of Quality Assurance. You can read about the process to open an addiction treatment center in Wisconsin here. 

Licensing an Addiction Treatment Center in West Virginia

West Virginia has a very high concentration of both detox and rehab centers but they still have the highest overdose rates in the country. West Virginia handles addiction treatment center licensing through the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification. On their site, you can find applications for opening a behavioral health center, opening an office-based medication assisted treatment center, and opening an opioid treatment center in West Virginia.  

Don’t Forget About the Details!

After you get your center certified, you’ll need a system to manage everything from referrals to intakes to billing to community partners to alumni. At BehaveHealth, we specialize in an all-in-one, cloud-based software solution designed especially for behavioral health providers. Get your free trial today and see how our system can simplify operations at your center and assure efficient profitability revenue cycle after revenue cycle. 

Stay tuned for more state licensure information in part 2 of this post!