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

Before starting your certification process or submitting your application, please reach out to the MA PGS Manager, Donn Young, at dyoung@hria.org

1. Confirm your eligibility to become a certified MA Problem Gambling Specialist.

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

3. When you are ready to (re)apply for your certification, gather the documentation needed for application (click here to see details).

4. Complete the online application form and attach required documents.

5. Complete fee payment (online payment options will be available in the last section of the 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.

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.

Eligibility

  • Clinical providers licensed in Massachusetts (social workers, medical providers such as physicians and nurses, licensed mental health counselors, case managers, and LADC counselors)
  • A minimum of one year of addiction-related clinically supervised experience
  • Receive continued clinical supervision regarding problem gambling (details below)

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

Supervision Requirements

(Documentation will be requested during the completion of the online application form)

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. If this is your case, you need to provide a letter from your place of employment certifying your position or a copy of your independent license showing you are in good standing.

Proof of continued clinical supervision: 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 an 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.

What does the MA PGS Certificate do for you?

  • It is a free professional development opportunity for you to learn more about problem gambling treatment.
  • It gives you the credentials to support clients experiencing problem gambling and demonstrate professional experience and understanding of gambling disorder.
  • It gives you the opportunity to have your treatment agency or private practice to be referred as a problem gambling treatment provider through the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline.
  • It gives you access to a community and discussion about gambling disorder treatment in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  • It ensures that you get up-to-date information from M-TAC on research and resources, free upcoming learning opportunities, and other free professional development events.

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. 
  • External courses and credits will no longer be accepted toward the fulfillment of certification requirements after June 30th, 2024.
  • If you are planning to submit CE credits from external trainings (not offered by M-TAC/PBU) to apply for the MA PGS certificate, you have until June 30th, 2024, to submit your application:
    • Initial Certification: up to 6 CE credits from external trainings 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 from external trainings 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.

Get the word out.

Order free materials.

Support your clients and build awareness about problem gambling with free materials in many languages. From wallet cards to workbooks, these resources help people understand the risks, how to make changes, and how resources like the Helpline can support them.

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