LegitScript Certification
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Achieving LegitScript certification offers a great deal of value to websites related to treatment of addiction, healthcare merchants, and manufacturers and merchants for CBD products. Understanding the LegitScript certification process can be difficult and time-consuming, which makes finding the right company to assist you with the process a smart business move. They understand the complexities of the process and walk you through what you need to do in order to reap the benefits of certification.
What is LegitScript Certification?
The internet provides a plethora of information related to questions consumers have, but even the simplest inquiry can result in a person not knowing which companies to trust. Potential consumers want to find companies that provide the data, services, and products they know are legitimate and safe without having to do a lot of digital legwork they might not even know how to accomplish. LegitScript certification provides reliable and trusted certification that lets companies know that your website upholds standards that prove it is trustworthy.
LegitScript provides the leading third-party certification that greatly benefits lines of business related to the healthcare industry, including addiction, mental health, telehealth, telemedicine, and holistic treatment. It also applies to pharmaceutical supply chain companies, prescription eyeglass and contact lens companies, veterinary pharmacies, and discount pharmacy websites, such as GoodRx.
How Can We Help You?
Benefits of LegitScript Certification
Many companies are new to the concept of LegitScript or know about it but aren’t sure what value it possesses. Being LegitScript certified can make or break a company in terms of how much traffic they attract to their website and how much trust they achieve from the community. LegitScript provides certification to healthcare merchants, including drug and alcohol addiction treatment providers, telemedicine providers, pharmacies, and other healthcare merchants. It also provides certification for CBD-related products and websites that are legally compliant.
Because the healthcare industry has a universal audience for customers and their safety is of the utmost importance, a program like LegitScript helps provide a formal stamp of approval for merchants who meet the requirements. Many places penalize or will not do business with companies who are not LegitScript certified, which can greatly impact the ability of these companies to operate their business and increase their profits. Organizations that often require LegitScript status in order to do business with a company include:
CREDIT CARD COMPANIES
Every healthcare-related business that operates online relies on processing credit card-not present transactions in order to accept payment for their services and products. Visa and Mastercard require that all telehealth providers and pharmacies be certified and monitored by an approved certification organization like LegitScript.
BANKS AND E-COMMERCE WEBSITES
Without proof of being LegitScript certified, many banks and e-commerce websites will either not do business with a healthcare company or may limit or cancel their accounts.
MAJOR SEARCH ENGINES
A business cannot make money online without attracting clients to their website first, which is accomplished in great part via search engines. Google, Bing, and other search engines recognize which websites utilize LegitScript practices, including things like what sort of links a website offers in its articles and blogs. They reward those websites that are in compliance with higher rankings in search results. Likewise, websites that are not LegitScript certified suffer from lower rankings, greatly increasing the risk that potential customers will never even know a company exists.
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
Many social media websites will not allow advertising from healthcare-related companies that do not produce proof of being LegitScript certified. For example, Facebook will not allow addiction treatment centers to advertise without certification.
ADVERTISING
Major advertising opportunities on websites such as Google, Bing, GoodRx, Facebook, and TikTok can be negatively impacted if your company does not have proof of having completed the LegitScript certification process.
REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
LegitScript works with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and numerous other regulatory authorities both inside and outside of the United States to help cut down on illegitimate or illegal providers of healthcare products and services.
Understanding VIRP and Why LegitScript Certification Is Now Essential
The Visa Integrity Risk Program (VIRP), introduced on April 1, 2024, has significantly reshaped how high-risk merchants operate. Aimed at curbing illegal practices and strengthening compliance, VIRP enforces stricter oversight and increases operational expenses for industries like pharmaceuticals, telemedicine, CBD, gambling, and adult entertainment.
Key Updates from VIRP:
Mandatory Certification
Visa and Mastercard now require card-not-present merchants—such as online pharmacies and telemedicine providers—to obtain certification from approved third parties like LegitScript.Higher Costs
Registration fees have increased from $500 to $950, and merchants are now subject to additional transaction fees: $0.10 per transaction, plus 10 basis points on total volume.Tiered Risk Classification
Merchants are categorized into three risk tiers, with Tier 1 (including pharmaceuticals, gambling, and adult services) subject to the most rigorous compliance requirements.
Given these changes, LegitScript certification is no longer optional—it’s essential for staying compliant, avoiding penalties, and continuing to process payments without disruption.
Who Needs LegitScript Certification?
LegitScript certification is required for a wide range of businesses operating in regulated or high-risk industries, including:
Online and mail-order pharmacies
Brick-and-mortar locations
Veterinary and compounding pharmacies
Platforms that facilitate the remote prescription and sale of medications
Healthcare Supply Chain Businesses:
Pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers
Sellers of prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses
Discount drug platforms and price comparison tools
Inpatient, outpatient, and residential rehabilitation facilities
In addition, businesses operating under certain Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) often fall under LegitScript’s requirements, including:
5912 – Drug Stores and Pharmacies
8099 – Health Practitioners
5122 – Pharmaceutical Distribution
If your business falls within one of these categories, LegitScript certification may be essential for maintaining compliance and processing payments.
Is LegitScript Certification Worth It?
If a treatment center wants to advertise on Google, two things must happen. First, the treatment center must be certified through Google itself. Secondly, the treatment center must become LegitScript certified. Overall, while the certification process does take time, it is worth the extra effort.
Creating paid advertisements is one of the most effective ways to grow a business online. Pay-per-click (PPC) ads help a target audience find the service or product they are looking for. Many treatment centers choose to use additional marketing techniques, like creating a robust catalog of SEO-focused content. However, PPC ads streamline the process.
Once a company applies for LegitScript certification, its online presence is carefully evaluated. There are several restrictions in place. It is a good idea for the company to review these restrictions and check for compliance before applying. Every company that applies to become LegitScript certified will pay an annual fee on top of the application fee.
Because the treatment center industry is rife with competition, the annual fee might be high. However, the benefits associated with becoming certified make the fees and the application process well worth the effort.
Benefits include:
- Boosted credibility. LegitScript certification sets an organization apart from competitors, and potential clients know the treatment center is reputable.
- More appealing to potential staff members. Because LegitScript-certified treatment centers only hire properly licensed and accredited providers, therapists, clinicians, and medical professionals might be more interested in applying.
- Clearly defined services. LegitScript-certified treatment centers only provide the services that are advertised on their website. This helps potential clients understand exactly what to expect from the process.
Why Hire Us For Your LegitScript Certification Process?
LegitScript certification lets customers know that a company offers safe and legal services and products. Now more than ever, consumers want to protect their health and that of their loved ones, and knowing that they have landed on a website that has proven to have best practices in relation to safety eases their minds.
When a company hires LegitScript experts to help them achieve certification, they eliminate a lot of wasted time and money that employees without a full understanding of the process might incur. Bloom Consulting understands all the applicable laws and regulations related to your field and helps to ensure that you uphold them. As rules and guidelines change in the future, we stay on top of that and make sure you remain in compliance. We cut through the often confusing red tape that comes with the LegitScript certification process, allowing you to focus on building the success of your company.
How Long Does It Take to Get LegitScript Certified?
The LegitScript certification process typically takes 2 to 4 months, depending on several factors:
Application Completeness: Missing or incomplete documents can delay approval.
LegitScript’s Workload: Review times vary based on the number of applications in queue.
Business Complexity: More intricate operations may undergo deeper review.
Responsiveness: Timely replies to LegitScript’s requests can speed up processing.
Answer Quality: Clear, detailed responses help streamline the review process.
Need faster results? Businesses can expedite certification by contacting Bloom Consulting’s support team, reducing wait times.
LegitScript Certification Pricing
Certification includes a nonrefundable application fee and an annual fee per website, with pricing based on business type and compliance history:
Standard Healthcare Certification
Application Fee: $975
Annual Fee: $2,150 per website
Probationary Certification (For businesses with prior compliance issues)
Application Fee: $975
Annual Fee: $3,995 per website (includes additional monitoring)
Each domain requires a separate application and fee. All websites must be disclosed during the application process.
Get LegitScript Certification for Your Company
If you need help understanding the LegitScript certification process, we can provide expert guidance. We analyze your company’s needs and formulate a plan that eliminates the confusion and allows your company to become and stay LegitScript certified.
Contact Bloom Consulting today and find out how we can help you elevate yourself in the online search world. Call us now at 844-422-6242 and get started.
