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Obtaining Certification



Be sure to check your scope of practice, granted by your license, against the rules and regulations of the State Department of Health in particular the Substance Abuse division. In Wyoming, private practices as well as agencies need a Substance Abuse certification issued by the state in order to actively treatment substance abuse disorders. In some states, if your practice has a national accreditation such as CARF or JCAHO, state certification is not also required. Professional licenses that may require additional agency certification in the private sector are

  • Licensed Addiction Therapist (LAT)
  • Certified Addiction Practitioner (CAP)
  • Certified Addiction Practitioner Assistant (CAPA)

Substance abuse certification is a process that often includes an application that focuses on your  understanding of the following areas of practice

  • Adherence to state standards of care
  • Documentation
  • Treatment plan requirements
  • HIPAA compliance
  • Levels of care
  • Assessment
  • Programming requirements including frequency
  • Client rights and handbook
Certifications expire so be sure to plan accordingly for their renewal. 


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