Credential-building opportunity.

Official problem gambling treatment certification

The MA Problem Gambling Specialist Certificate is the official gambling treatment certificate of the MA Department of Public Health.

MA PGS Certificate Curriculum

All trainings offered through M-TAC and PBU are FREE of charge! Earning CEUs through M-TAC trainings, M-TAC online courses and Project Build Up (PBU) Learning Academies is preferred and recommended.

To ensure evidence-based information and best practices, trainings/CEUs submitted toward this certification must be approved and/or funded by DPH OPGS and aligned with the Practice Guidelines for Treating Gambling-related Problems of the Massachusetts Commonwealth. 

The MA PGS Certificate recognizes professional experience, training, and understanding of gambling disorder, as informed by the DSM-V, among clinicians who work in the field of addictions (social workers, medical providers such as physicians and nurses, licensed mental health counselors, case managers, and LADC counselors). It was created to build the capacity of these certified and licensed providers to identify, screen, assess, and treat gambling disorder among their clients. Providers are encouraged to meet the minimum requirements (described below) to receive a MA PGS Certificate so that they can address the needs of clients with gambling disorder.

MA PGS Certification General Requirements

First-time Application

(Application completion, uploading of documents, and payment are completed online)

• Resumé that meets specified education/work requirements (details below)
• 30 CEU hours of gambling-specific education.
  • External trainings: up to 6 CEUs will be considered toward the certification. The remaining 24 CEUs need to be earned from M-TAC/PBU trainings and/or online courses. External CEUs that are presented for consideration need to be accompanied by the Title and Learning Objectives from the course they came from and must be reviewed and approved.
  • Applicants cannot count repeated courses for credit.
  • CEUs should be earned within 2 years from the time of application. The field is changing rapidly, and it is important professionals have up to date information.
• Proof of continued clinical supervision regarding problem gambling (details below)
• $50 processing fee
• Ethical code of conduct affirmation, disciplinary history form, and consent to release of information

Maintenance and Renewal

(The certificate needs to be renewed every 2 years)

• 15 CEU hours of gambling-specific education.
  • External trainings: up to 4.5 CEUs will be considered toward the certification. The remaining 10.5 CEUs need to be earned from M-TAC/PBU trainings and/or online courses. External CEUs that are presented for consideration need to be accompanied by the Title and Learning Objectives from the course they came from and must be reviewed and approved.
  • Applicants cannot count repeated courses for credit.
  • CEUs should be earned within 2 years from the time of application. The field is changing rapidly, and it is important professionals have up to date information. 
• Proof of continued clinical supervision regarding problem gambling (details below)
• $25 processing fee
• Ethical Code of Conduct, Disciplinary History, and Consent to Release of Information

Additional detail about requirements:

Education/work Requirements

Master’s or doctoral degree with one year of addiction-related clinically supervised experience, or

a Bachelor’s degree with two years of addiction-related, clinically supervised experience, or

a High school diploma with an internship and three years of addiction-related, clinically supervised experience.

Supervision Requirements

Requirement for both first-time applicants as well as those renewing. This requirement is not necessary if you currently work as a clinical supervisor or an independent practitioner in private practice.

Provide a letter from your supervisor stating that you receive regular clinical supervision and that problem gambling issues will be discussed as they arise with clients. If you are not currently receiving clinical supervision on problem gambling treatment, you still need to submit a letter stating that you receive supervision on other addiction cases.

Please include:

• A description of the applicant’s direct contact with supervision regarding gambling disorder and/or addiction cases.
  • Group or individual supervision is allowed, but time spent in staff meetings or administrative meetings is not.
• A description of the supervised work position and work setting/program during the clinical supervision.
• The supervisor’s signature and/or sign-off on the supervision.
• The supervisor’s professional qualifications.

Ethical code of conduct and disciplinary history

Every clinician with a MA PGS certificate must affirm that they will adhere to the ethical code of conduct, outlined in the application. Additionally, they must complete a disciplinary history form.

List of fees

• $50 – Initial Certification
• $25 – Renewal
• $75 – Lapsed Renewal

Instructions

1. Complete online application form here

Solicitud disponible en español – por favor imprima la solicitud y envíela por correo con los documentos requeridos y el pago

2. Attach required documents online after completing the form

3. Complete payment (online payment options available)