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How to Check a Rehab License in California
A five-minute check that protects you from unlicensed programs and surprises.
Calls to (888) 530‑5153 are answered by our at-home medical detox partner, not by this site. Free and confidential. Facility listings link straight to each facility.
Check the state license (DHCS)
Open the DHCS directory
California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) lists licensed and certified treatment facilities by county.
Search the exact name and address
Licenses apply to a specific address. A company can be licensed at one house and not at another.
Match the details
Check that the services (detox, residential) and capacity match what you were told, and that the license is current.
Where to look
- DHCS directory of licensed and certified facilities (opens in a new tab) (residential and outpatient programs, by county)
- The Joint Commission Quality Check (opens in a new tab) for accreditation
- CARF provider search (opens in a new tab) for accreditation
- FindTreatment.gov (opens in a new tab), SAMHSA’s national locator
Some facilities are licensed by other agencies, for example hospitals, and sober living homes that don’t provide treatment don’t need a DHCS license. If you can’t find a program, ask it which agency licenses it and for its license number, then verify that number yourself.
Warning signs of an unlicensed or unethical program
- It cannot or will not give you a license number for the address where you will stay.
- The address you are given differs from the one on the license.
- It offers free flights, free rent, gift cards or cash to attend.
- It pressures you to commit or pay a deposit on the first call.
- It asks you to switch insurance plans so it can bill more.
Paying or receiving money for patient referrals, known as patient brokering, is illegal under California law and the federal Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA). If you are offered incentives to attend a program, walk away.
What is the difference between licensed and certified?
In California, DHCS licenses residential treatment facilities and certifies programs, often outpatient, that meet its standards. Many residential programs have both.
Is accreditation required?
No, but Joint Commission or CARF accreditation shows a program has passed an independent quality review.
Do you verify the licenses of facilities on this site?
We match each listed facility’s address to the DHCS public list and show what we found, with the date we checked. Licenses change, so still check it yourself using the steps above. How we check facilities.
How do I report a problem?
You can file a complaint with DHCS Licensing and Certification about a licensed or unlicensed facility.