Gambling Specialty Designation (GSD)

If you are a CASAC, CPP or CPS in good standing and are interested in providing problem gambling services, you may apply for the Problem Gambling Specialty Designation. To obtain the G-Designation, you must have an active CASAC, CPP or CPS credential.

To obtain a CASAC Gambling Specialty Designation, you must: 

• Document a minimum of 100 hours of supervised experience as a provider of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, which included gambling assessment and diagnosis; incorporating specific gambling goals into treatment plans; financial education and planning; and relapse prevention and discharge planning which addresses gambling issues.
  
  Of the 100 hours, a minimum of 30 hours must have been devoted to practice in each of the following three areas: individual, family and group counseling; crisis intervention; and financial assessments.
   
• Document completion of a 60-hour Problem Gambling Core Curriculum -- Treatment Track which addressed the following areas:
  • Problem Gambling Knowledge and Education (15 hours)
  • Skills for Screening, Assessment and Diagnosis (15 hours)  
  • Specialized Clinical Treatment and Case Management (20 hours)
  • Relapse Prevention and Discharge Planning (10 hours)

Work experience

Approved Settings

1. It is operated by OASAS (i.e., Addiction Treatment Centers) and/or it holds a valid OASAS operating certificate to provide treatment services, or is funded by OASAS. Please note that work experience performed post 7/1/18 must be in compliance with the SUD Counselor Scope of Practice.
 

2. It is a program that includes gambling treatment consistent with OASAS’ standards and is licensed and/or operated by another recognized State or Federal authority to include the Indian Health Service and Veterans Administration.
 

3. It is a private practice non-certified  setting which involves the  provisions of problem gambling treatment services through the applicant’s NYS Education  License which qualifies as a QHP per OASAS Part 800 regulations. This setting must afford the opportunity to establish proficiency in one of more the professional competencies associated with a credential administered by OASAS and the supervision is done by a Qualified Problem Gambling Professional as defined in  Part 857.7 (b) 2(i) of the Problem Gambling Treatment and Recovery Regulations.

A copy of your supervisor’s license and/or credentials and proof of training and experience if needed, must be included with Part C. 

Supervision

Work experience must have been supervised by an individual who is a Qualified Problem Gambling Professional (QPGP):

• Any of the following professionals who can document either a minimum of one year of experience in the treatment and/or clinical research of problem gambling, or have completed a formal training program in the treatment of problem gambling as required by the Office:
  • Qualified Health Professional (QHP) as listed in Part 800 Chemical Dependence Regulations;
  • Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor with a Gambling Specialty Designation (CASAC-G);
  • Credentialed Problem Gambling Counselor (CPGC) who has a current valid credential issued by the Office;
  • National Certified Gambling Counselor (Level I and II);
  • Board Approved Clinical Consultant who is currently registered as such by the National Council on Problem Gambling;
  • Pastoral Counselor certified by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors or is a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors;
• And attests to having at least one year of clinical supervisory experience.

OR

• A Qualified Health Professional (as defined in the Part 800 Chemical Dependence Regulations) who attests to having;
  • Worked for a minimum of three years as a provider of alcoholism and substance abuse treatment or mental health services. This work experience must include/have included:  gambling assessment and diagnosis; incorporating specific gambling goals into treatment plans; financial education and planning and relapse prevention; and discharge planning which addresses gambling issues;
  • At least one year of clinical supervisory experience; and
  • Completed 15 clock hours of gambling training which addressed the following areas:
    • specialized treatment indicators for gambling (i.e., financial, legal, self-help, crisis).
    • screening, assessment, diagnosis and diagnostic tools (e.g., South Oaks Gambling Screen; DSM-IV Pathological Diagnosis; Lie-Bet; Gambler's Anonymous and GAM-ANON 20 questions tool; or other appropriate screening instrument as defined by OASAS); and
    • specialized treatment indicators for gambling (i.e., financial, legal, self-help, crisis).

To obtain a CPP/CPS Gambling Specialty Designation, you must:

• Document completion of a 30-hour Problem Gambling Core Curriculum -- Prevention Track which addressed the following areas:
  • Problem Gambling Knowledge and Education (10 hours)
  • Public Policy and Social Impact of Problem Gambling (10 hours)
  • Gambling Specific Prevention Strategies (10 hours)

Your Gambling Specialty Designation will be included as part of the standard renewal process of your credential during your next credentialed period. In order to renew your GSD, you will be required to document completion of 10 clock hours of continuing professional education specific to problem gambling in addition to the continuing professional education required to renew your CASAC or CPP/CPS certificate.

There is a one-time non-refundable fee of $25, payable by certified check or money order to "NYS OASAS," when applying for the specialty gambling designation.