MASSACHUSETTS PROBLEM GAMBLING SPECIALIST (MA-PGS)
CERTIFICATE NOW AVAILABLE
The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling together with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, offers a Problem Gambling Specialist (MA-PGS) Certificate. Following are the requirements:
Education and Work Requirements:
Master’s or doctoral degree with 3 years of additions-related clinically-supervised experience, or a Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of addictions-related clinically-supervised experience, or a High School diploma with an internship and 5 years addiction-related clinically-supervised experience.
Problem Gambling Specific Training Requirements:
30-hours total of training approved by the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling (most trainings are available at no cost to the participants).
Clinical Supervision Requirements:
On-going documented clinical supervision regarding gambling-specific cases with a clinical supervisor*
Continuing Education:
7.5 hours of problem gambling-specific CEUs and proof of continued clinical supervision regarding problem gambling treatment annually.
Ethical Code of Conduct:
Every clinician with a Mass. PGS certificate must indicate that they will adhere to the ethical code of conduct set forth.
Immediate approval for the State certificate will be given to individuals with current and active national gambling-specific certifications. Other individuals who have met the above requirements and qualify for a certificate will fill out a separate application that will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Clinicians with a Mass Council certificate are encouraged to go on to receive the national certificate.
*Clinical Supervisors can attend a Mass. Council training for supervisors in order to gain greater expertise in gambling-specific supervision. The Mass. Council will have a list available of clinical supervisors with expertise in gambling.
Please download our application, learn about renewal requirements, or contact Council Intervention and Treatment Support Director, Victor Ortizat 617-426-4554 / victor@masscompulsivegambling.org with any questions.
