How to check a Texas rehab license
Where to look, what a license does and does not tell you, and how to complain.
The short answer
To check a Texas rehab license, go to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) page for chemical dependency treatment facilities. It links to a license search and to a directory of licensed facilities.
How to check
- Open the HHSC licensing page
- Search by name, type, city or county
- Call the program if something does not match
Who needs a license in Texas
HHSC licenses and regulates chemical dependency treatment facilities. Chemical dependency is the state’s term for addiction. HHSC describes these as facilities that offer, or claim to offer, a planned, structured and organized treatment program.
There is one exception worth knowing. Faith-based programs that use only nonmedical methods, such as prayer, spiritual counseling and scripture study, are not required to hold this license. HHSC says they must register instead, and its page links a separate directory of them.
How to look a program up
The HHSC page links to a state online licensing system. That system says you do not need to register or log in to search for a license, and that you can search by name, license type, city or county. It is meant to show whether a license holder has a current license.
The HHSC page also links a directory of licensed facilities as a spreadsheet you can download.
If you do not find a program, try again before you draw any conclusion. Search the legal name and any other names it uses. The name on a website may differ from the name on a license. Then ask the program for its license name and number, and search for that.
What a license tells you
A license means a facility is under state oversight. It is not a rating, and it does not tell you whether a program will fit you. HHSC describes on-site inspections that often include reviewing records and policies, interviewing staff and touring the facility.
Our site does not confirm licenses for the programs we list, so a listing here is no proof of one. Some listed services, such as sober living, may not involve treatment at all. We did not confirm how Texas treats each kind of sober home, so ask the home directly what oversight applies.
How to file a complaint
If you are worried about a facility, you can file a complaint with HHSC. HHSC lists a phone line, 1-800-458-9858, and an online portal it calls TULIP. It says TULIP is the most direct method, and that you get an intake number when you submit.
HHSC says it keeps your name confidential, except as public records law requires. You may stay anonymous, but then HHSC cannot give you the results of its investigation. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Questions to ask about a license
- What is the exact name on your license?
- What is your license number?
- Is every site you use licensed?
- Have you had recent inspections?
Common questions
Does every rehab in Texas need a license?
Facilities offering a structured treatment program generally do. HHSC notes an exception for faith-based programs using only nonmedical methods, which register instead.
What if I cannot find a program in the search?
Check the spelling and try other names it uses. Then ask the program for its license name and number. If you still cannot find it, you may prefer to look at other programs. How to choose a program may help.
Does a license mean the program is good?
No. It shows state oversight. For quality, use our questions to ask.
Can I complain without giving my name?
Yes. HHSC says you can stay anonymous, though it then cannot share the results with you.
