CERTIFIED GAMBLING ADDICTION SPECIALIST (CGAS)

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

 

To qualify for the CGAS credential, applicants must have supervised clinical experience, specialized gambling addiction training, and must demonstrate a critical understanding of the central tenets of addictions treatment.  Applicants must complete a two-phase certification process; the Application Phase and the 100 Question Examination Phase.

APPLICATION PHASE

Professionals with advanced or graduate degrees must have:

1. A master’s or doctorate degree from an accredited health care training program;
2. Three years (6,000 hours) of post-graduate, full-time supervised experience providing direct health care services to those identified with an addictive disorder. Pre-doctoral or pre-masters internships at an approved site may be applied towards one year of clinical supervision;
3. A portfolio of clinical training with a minimum of 120 hours of clinical training in core counseling skills including assessment, interviewing and diagnosis, and a minimum of 60 hours of clinical training in gambling addiction treatment;
4. Three professional recommendations; at least one referent must be a supervisor who is personally familiar with the applicant’s work and can document his or her addiction health care experience; and
5. A completed application with the $95 non-refundable application fee. 

Professionals with other degrees or without a degree must have:

1. A high school diploma;
2. Five years (10,000 hours) of full-time supervised experience providing direct health care services to those identified with an addictive disorder;
3. A portfolio of clinical training with a minimum of 120 hours of training in core counseling skills including assessment, interviewing and diagnosis, and a minimum of 60 hours of clinical training in gambling addiction;
4. Three professional recommendations; at least one referent who is personally familiar with the applicant’s work and can document his or her addiction health care experience; and
5. A completed application with the $95 non-refundable application fee.  

EXAMINATION PHASE

Individuals meeting the Minimum Eligibility Requirements may submit an application to the American Academy. Upon successful completion of the review process, the applicant will be eligible to sit for the proctored online Certified Gambling Addiction Specialist examination. In preparation for the examination, applicants must sign the American Academy’s Code of Ethics statement and submit a $125 testing fee.

The Certified Gambling Addiction Specialist credential is awarded for a passing score on the Academy’s gambling-specific examination. The CGAS is renewed annually with submittal of a minimum of 20 addiction-related continuing education hours, and a renewal processing fee.  A minimum of 12 CE hours must be gambling-specific training.