Inspection & Accreditation Decoder
Search the licensure, accreditation, certification, and inspection terms that show up on SAMHSA facility profiles. Each entry returns a plain-English explanation, what to ask the facility about, and which body sets the standard.
Why these terms matter when picking a facility
Accreditation and licensure are the closest thing to an objective quality signal in the SAMHSA directory. Two facilities can offer the same listed services but be governed by very different oversight regimes — and "no accreditation" does not necessarily mean "low quality" if the facility is fully state-licensed and Medicaid-certified. Understand what each badge actually verifies before treating it as a tie-breaker.
Read the source-data semantics on our methodology page, or browse our facility-selection guide for a structured decision walk-through.