Credential-building and free professional development opportunity.

Official problem gambling treatment certification of the MA Department of Public Health

The MA PGS certificate is funded by the MA Department of Public Heath, Office of Problem Gambling Services.

MA PGS Certificate Courses

All trainings and courses offered through M-TAC and PBU are free and count toward the MA PGS certificate! Becoming certified through M-TAC trainings, M-TAC online courses and Project Build Up (PBU) Learning Academies is preferred and recommended.

Additionally, a variety of CE credits approved by NASW, APA, NAADAC, and LADC is offered in various courses as an incentive to professionals with these licenses.

Instructions

1. Review the certification general requirements to confirm your eligibility to become a certified MA Problem Gambling Specialist.

2. Complete M-TAC or PBU trainings and/or on-demand courses to earn the required CE credits.

3. Complete online application form and attach required documents.

4. Complete fee payment (online payment option will be available after completion of application form).

You can contact our team at any time during your certification process at mtac@hria.org. We will be happy to answer any questions and support you during this process.

List of fees

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

The Massachusetts Problem Gambling Specialist (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).

The certificate gives credentials to mental health providers to identify, screen, assess, and treat gambling disorder among their clients. Providers are encouraged to meet the minimum requirements to become a MA Problem Gambling Specialist.

MA PGS Certification General Requirements

(Application completion, uploading of documents, and payment are completed online. Application link is available under “Instructions.”)

First-time Application

• Resumé that meets specified education/work requirements (details below)
• 30 CE credits of gambling-specific education
• Proof of continued clinical supervision regarding problem gambling (details below)
• Completion of the online application form
• $50 processing fee

Maintenance and Renewal

The certificate needs to be renewed every 2 years.

• 15 CE credits of gambling-specific education
• Proof of continued clinical supervision regarding problem gambling (details below)
• Completion of the online application form
• $25 processing fee

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 and renewals. 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 online application. Additionally, they must complete a disciplinary history form, which is also included in the application.

PLEASE BE ADVISED:

• To ensure evidence-based information and best practices, trainings/CE credits 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. 
• If you are planning to submit CE credits from external trainings (not offered by M-TAC/PBU):
  • Initial Certification: up to 6 CE credits will be considered toward the initial certification. The remaining 24 CE credits must be earned from M-TAC/PBU trainings and/or online courses.
  • Renewal: up to 4.5 CE credits will be considered toward the certification. The remaining 10.5 CE credits must be earned from M-TAC/PBU trainings and/or online courses.
    • External CE credits 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.
• CE credits 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.