Certification Standards for Gaming & Gambling Disorder Professionals
ICGC-I & ICGC-II
ICGC counselors must demonstrate a specific number of hours in gambling-specific training, clinical experience treating individuals with a gambling disorder, and successful completion of the Certification Examination for Gambling Counselors.
International Gambling Recovery Specialist (IGRS)
The IGRS certification aims to increase the number of peers to help meet the need for support in disordered gambling recovery. Candidates must complete specialized training focused on gambling disorder, gain experience working directly with individuals affected by problem gambling, and adhere to ethical standards. The certification ensures that peers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to guide others through the recovery process, offering support, understanding, and encouragement based on shared experiences.
International Gaming Disorder Certificate (IGDC) NEW
This certificate aims to increase the number of counselors able to address gaming disorders in their current outreach, prevention, and clinical settings. Best-practices and evidenced based approaches are emerging for the treatment of gaming and digital misuse, as well as the intersection with problem gambling and gambling disorders. Other high risk groups for co-occurring issues include other mental health and substance use disorders.
Certified Gambling Trainer Certification
This certification is designed to inform both consumers of gambling disorder training and those organizations/agencies that fund and offer training of the competence of trainers to provide current, evidence-based knowledge and skills to address clinical practice in the field of problem and disordered gambling.
BACC
BACC certification denotes ICGC-II counselors who have acquired sufficient training, clinical experience, and supervision skills and are approved to provide supervision to ICGC applicants.
BARA
BARA certification denotes IGRS peers who have acquired sufficient training, experience, and supervision skills and are approved to provide supervision to IGRS applicants.
Clergy Certification
The IGCCB Clergy / Lay Ministers Certification is designed to provide basic knowledge about gambling addiction and treatment and recovery resources, to enhance the clergyperson’s skills at recognizing at-risk, problematic and disordered gambling, and to provide information for the family on dealing with their loved one’s addiction.
International Co-Occurring Gambling Specialist Certificate (ICOGS)
This certificate aims to increase the capacity of substance use and mental health treatment programs and counselors to address gambling problems in their clients. The ICOGS is designed only for counselors working with clients who have primary Substance Use and/or Mental Health disorders and who want to develop a competency in addressing gambling as a co-occurring issue in these populations.
The ICOGS is not a certificate of competence in treating gambling disorder as a primary or stand alone diagnosis. As such, it is not a replacement for or comparable to the ICGC-I or ICGC-II certification.