Diligence
How to look up a rehab license in five states
Before anyone wires a deposit, confirm the program on two public lists: FindTreatment.gov and the state license or certification list for the address where the person will sleep. This walkthrough covers California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Missouri. It is not a facility roster and it does not hold a bed.
Last reviewed 25 September 2026. Editorial desk. Who publishes this. Educational only.
What to write down first
- Legal name on the license, not only the marketing brand.
- Street address of the building used for overnight stays.
- Level of care they claim: residential, hospital inpatient, detox only, or outpatient sold as “inpatient.”
- License or certificate number if they will give it.
If the caller will not name the address until you read an insurance card, stop. Use FindTreatment.gov and the state page instead. More first-call questions live on how to choose.
The same three checks in every state
- Search the legal name and city on FindTreatment.gov. Filter to residential or hospital inpatient.
- Open the state body listed below. Match name, city, and — when the list shows it — the street address.
- If the brand and the certificate name differ, ask which legal entity takes the deposit. Do not invent a match.
Accreditation (Joint Commission or CARF) is extra signal. It is not a substitute for the state list. A coast, a zip code, or a photo of a terrace is not a license.
California — DHCS
The state substance-use body is the Department of Health Care Services. Use the California locator page, then:
- FindTreatment.gov — California, residential or hospital inpatient.
- DHCS SUD directories — licensed and certified facilities by county.
- County access lines if you need a public county number, not a campus sales desk.
A Malibu or Orange County view is not a DHCS license. Confirm the address on the certificate.
New York — OASAS
The Office of Addiction Services and Supports certifies SUD programs, including residential Part 820. Use the New York locator page, then:
- FindTreatment.gov — New York, residential or hospital inpatient.
- NYS OASAS Provider and Program Search — search by county, city, or ZIP.
Match the certified program name, not only a holding-company brand used in ads.
Florida — DCF
Substance-use licensing sits with the Department of Children and Families. Use the Florida locator page, then:
- FindTreatment.gov — Florida, residential or hospital inpatient.
- Florida DCF — Substance Use Disorder Licensing — official SUD provider search (LEADS) for licensed residential and inpatient components.
South Florida marketing density is not a license. Confirm the component at the sleep address.
Texas — HHSC
Chemical-dependency treatment facilities are licensed through Health and Human Services. Use the Texas locator page, then:
- FindTreatment.gov — Texas, residential or hospital inpatient.
- Texas HHSC — Chemical Dependency Treatment Facilities — then verify the license in the Online Licensing System named on that page.
Ask which CDTF license covers the campus you were quoted, not a different site in the same brand family.
Missouri — DMH
Behavioral-health and substance-use resources sit with the Department of Mental Health, Division of Behavioral Health. Use the Missouri locator page, then:
- FindTreatment.gov — Missouri, residential or hospital inpatient.
- DMH — Locate Treatment Services — official index for adult and adolescent SUD program lists (audited 25 September 2026).
- DMH — Certification — what state certification covers. Do not copy PDF directory rows onto this site.
If a deep link on dmh.mo.gov moves, start again from the locate page or the department home rather than a cached brochure.
What a miss looks like
- The sales name is not on FindTreatment.gov or the state list at that address.
- The license is for outpatient only, while the quote is for a live-in week.
- The certificate is expired, pending, or tied to a different county.
- The only number you have is a rented line that will not name the facility.
A miss is a reason to keep looking, not a reason to wire tonight. If tonight cannot wait, call SAMHSA 1-800-662-HELP. Other states use the same two-list method from the directory hub.
Educational only. Default crisis line: SAMHSA 1-800-662-HELP. Locator: FindTreatment.gov and the state pages on this site. We do not place patients and we do not take payment per admission. Citation-worthy text: llms.txt.