Not everyone who struggles with substance use or mental health concerns is eligible for or required to participate in a Professional Health Program. PHP in Georgia is specifically designed for licensed professionals whose impairment affects, or may affect, their ability to practice safely.<\/p>\n
This page clarifies who is eligible, how referrals work, and what the difference is between a board-required referral and a voluntary self-referral.<\/p>\n
For a full overview of how PHP works, see our Complete Guide to Professional Health Programs in Georgia<\/a>.<\/p>\n PHP eligibility in Georgia is based on two criteria: professional licensure and the nature of the concern.<\/p>\n Georgia’s PHP framework covers a wide range of licensed professions. Professionals in the following fields are eligible for PHP evaluations and, where applicable, monitoring programs:<\/p>\n If your profession requires a Georgia state license to practice and a substance use, mental health, or behavioral concern has been raised, PHP eligibility likely applies.<\/p>\n PHP is not limited to substance use disorders. Georgia’s PHP framework covers:<\/p>\n There are two paths into PHP in Georgia. The distinction matters significantly.<\/p>\n A licensing board, employer, hospital credentialing committee, or court initiates the referral.<\/p>\n When a board initiates a referral, participation in a PHP evaluation is typically required, not optional. Failure to comply is itself a disciplinary matter.<\/p>\n The professional recognizes a problem or anticipates that one may become visible and contacts a PHP evaluator before any board action.<\/p>\n Self-referral is available to any licensed professional in Georgia at any time. You do not need a board referral, employer directive, or formal complaint to schedule a PHP evaluation. You simply contact AACS Atlanta and request an evaluation.<\/p>\n If you are aware of a situation that could lead to a board referral, a DUI charge, a workplace incident, or a pattern you recognize in yourself, self-referring before the board acts is almost always the better choice.<\/p>\n PHP is specifically designed for licensed professionals. The following situations typically fall outside the PHP framework:<\/p>\n If you are unsure whether PHP applies to your situation, contact AACS Atlanta for a confidential consultation before scheduling.<\/p>\n Georgia PHP applies to professionals licensed in Georgia. If you hold a Georgia license but currently reside or practice in another state, Georgia licensing board requirements still apply to your Georgia license.<\/p>\n AACS Atlanta provides telehealth PHP evaluations accepted by Georgia licensing boards, making geographic location less of a barrier. If your license is in Georgia and you receive a Georgia board referral, AACS Atlanta can conduct your evaluation remotely.<\/p>\n If your license is in another state but you are seeking evaluation in Georgia, AACS Atlanta works with professionals from all states and coordinates with out-of-state boards as needed.<\/p>\n Yes. Self-referral is available to any licensed professional in Georgia. You do not need a board referral to schedule a PHP evaluation at AACS Atlanta.<\/p>\n No. Self-referring before the board contacts you is almost always the stronger position. A DUI charge is a common trigger for a board referral. Acting proactively before the board initiates contact gives you more control over the process and typically results in better outcomes.<\/p>\n It depends on your board and the specific circumstances. Contact AACS Atlanta for a confidential consultation to discuss your situation.<\/p>\n Not exactly. Federal DOT and FAA programs have their own requirements, though they often overlap with PHP in substance. AACS Atlanta provides SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) evaluations for DOT-regulated professionals separately. Contact us to clarify which evaluation applies to your specific situation.<\/p>\n Yes. Mental health impairment, including burnout, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, can independently qualify a professional for PHP evaluation and monitoring in Georgia.<\/p>\n If you have questions about eligibility, AACS Atlanta offers confidential consultations. Our clinical team can clarify what your specific licensing board requires and what the PHP process looks like for your profession.<\/p>\n Same-day appointments available. Telehealth accepted by Georgia licensing boards.<\/p>\n Schedule a confidential consultation today<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Who Qualifies for a Professional Health Program in Georgia? Not everyone who struggles with substance use or mental health concerns is eligible for or required to participate in a Professional Health Program. PHP in Georgia is specifically designed for licensed professionals whose impairment affects, or may affect, their ability to practice safely. This page clarifies … Continue reading “PHP Eligibility Georgia | Who Qualifies for a Professional Health Program | AACS Atlanta”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":15039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-15038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recent-posts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15038"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15040,"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15038\/revisions\/15040"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15038"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacsatlanta.com\/aacs-atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=15038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Who Is Eligible for PHP in Georgia?<\/h2>\n
Licensed Professions Covered<\/h3>\n
Healthcare professions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Legal profession:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Other safety-sensitive licensed professions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What Types of Concerns Qualify for PHP?<\/h2>\n
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Self-Referral vs. Board-Referral: Key Differences<\/h2>\n
Board-Referred (Involuntary)<\/h3>\n
Common triggers include:<\/h3>\n
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Self-Referral (Voluntary)<\/h3>\n
Why self-referral is the stronger position:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Who Does Not Qualify for PHP?<\/h2>\n
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Out-of-State Professionals: Does Georgia PHP Apply?<\/h2>\n
Frequently Asked Questions: PHP Eligibility, Georgia<\/h2>\n
I have a substance use issue, but have not received a board referral. Can I still get a PHP evaluation?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
I received a DUI charge, but my board has not contacted me yet. Should I wait?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
My license is in inactive status. Do I still qualify for PHP?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
I work in a safety-sensitive federal job (pilot, DOT-regulated position). Is this the same as a Georgia PHP?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Can I be referred for PHP based on mental health alone, without any substance use?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Find Out If PHP Applies to Your Situation<\/h2>\n