What Certifications Do Alcohol Treatment Centers in NJ Need to Have?

Nationwide, alcohol treatment rehab centers are typically overseen by a state agency. However, not all states have the same level of licensing requirements. Some states are much more strict while others’ licensing requirements are somewhat mediocre. You should know that New Jersey has some of the most stringent licensing requirements of all. Read on to discover what certifications alcohol treatment centers in New Jersey need to have. Most states have mandatory basic licensing requirements that rehab facilities must follow. These include such things as:

  • Proof of adequate liability insurance
  • Passing a formal fire inspection
  • Passing a kitchen inspection, typically conducted by the health department
  • Passing a utility inspection
  • Installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Compliance with the ADA act for persons with disabilities
  • Proof of valid professional licensing for facility staff

How are Licensing and Certification Different? None of the above requirements have anything to do with drug and alcohol rehab treatment directly. For the best assurance of high quality alcohol rehab treatment, look for facilities that also hold certifications from independent review entities like CARF and The Joint Commission. Where state licensing is mandatory, all drug and alcohol rehabs in that state will be licensed according to the rules of that particular state. However, not all facilities will be independently certified. This is why state licensing and independent certification are not the same thing. New Jersey’s Comprehensive State Licensing Guidelines In addition to the above, New Jersey’s state licensing requirements include:

  • The facility’s medical director must be a New Jersey licensed physician holding a board certification in Addiction Medicine
  • The facility administrator should hold a master’s degree with certification in addiction medicine or a closely related field.

There are other requirements. These include, but are not limited, to the following: The director of counseling services must be a psychologist with no less than five years’ experience in the addiction medicine field. At least half of the counseling staff must be licensed by a national agency. The other counseling staff members must be actively pursuing certificates in substance abuse treatment and must complete their education within three years. Non-medical staff working at the rehab cannot be less than eighteen years old, and they must be high school graduates. All staff must pass a background check. New Jersey requires that all rehabs obtain a special license specifically intended to allow the operation of a residential substance abuse treatment facility. New Jersey is serious about providing high-quality alcohol and drug abuse treatment for everyone. Assistance is Available If you’d like help with alcohol dependency treatment, you can call us at ********** 24 hours a day. Please don’t try to withdraw from alcohol dependency on your own. It’s not safe. Our professional staff can explain more about that as they also help you find the best alcohol treatment facility for you.