The certification program for gambling counselors is based upon key elements of the counseling profession. The standard will be used to evaluate each applicant's qualifications. Individuals with the basic competencies to assume responsibility for counseling pathological gamblers, their families, and associates will be eligible for certification. Gambling Counseling is a service which should be rendered by those with adequate training and expertise.

Certification provides all practitioners with a marketable credential of comparable value but different from other credentials such as degrees, etc. It is most valuable in settings where experience is highly valued since it is based upon a standard used to judge competencies gained in a work setting in addition to training.