A treatment center cannot run Google or Meta ads for addiction services without LegitScript certification. What it costs in 2026, who is eligible, what the standards ask for and what it lets you run.
If your center wants to run Google or Meta ads for drug and alcohol treatment, LegitScript certification comes first. Google requires it for recovery-oriented addiction services in the US, and providers who are not eligible may not advertise those services at all. Meta requires it too, plus written permission from Meta.
What is LegitScript certification?
LegitScript is a company that reviews healthcare advertisers. Its Addiction Treatment Certification is the certification Google, Meta, Microsoft and Nextdoor recognize for treatment providers. It checks a provider's licensing, past violations, ownership ties and how it advertises.
Who is eligible?
What do the standards ask for?
LegitScript publishes 16 standards. The ones that trip up applicants most:
- Licensure. You must be licensed for every service you offer, in every state you serve.
- Disclosure. You must disclose prior criminal, regulatory or civil violations.
- No lead-generator ties. You may not be affiliated with lead generators.
- Honest advertising and patient privacy. Your marketing has to describe your services accurately, and you have to follow HIPAA.
Read the standards against your own website before you apply. A site that overstates services or hides who owns it is the fastest way to a delay.
What does it cost in 2026?
Fees are per facility:
| Organization size | Application fee | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1-9 facilities | $1,595 | $3,095 |
| 10-24 facilities | $1,495 | $2,775 |
| 25 or more facilities | $1,395 | $2,550 |
| Individual practitioners | $535 | $1,070 |
Expedited review costs $2,500 extra, and the annual fee is charged only if you are approved. LegitScript does not publish a standard review time, so start well before you need ads running.
What does certification unlock?
- Google search ads for addiction services, once you are also certified with Google. Certification is applied for per location.
- Facebook and Instagram ads for addiction treatment in the US, with Meta's written permission.
- Microsoft (Bing) and Nextdoor, which recognize the same certification.
What certification does not change
Certification lets you advertise. It does not loosen the targeting rules. Google still treats health as a sensitive category, so you cannot retarget your own site visitors or upload customer lists in Google Ads, and Meta removed health-related detailed targeting in 2022. Plans for certified centers lean on search intent, broad audiences, compliant programmatic display and email. Our guide to Google and Meta ads for addiction treatment covers what is allowed.
Not sure your site is ready to apply? Ask for a free plan and Jarrett will look at it with you.
Frequently asked questions
Do treatment centers need LegitScript to advertise on Google?
How much does LegitScript certification cost?
Does LegitScript cover Facebook and Instagram ads?
Can sober living homes get LegitScript certified?
How long does LegitScript take?
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