A Residential Treatment Center (RTC) is a non–hospital psychiatric institution that provides campus-based intensive and extensive evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with severe and chronic emotional disturbances who require a self-contained therapeutic, educational, and recreational program in a residential setting.  All RTCs in Maryland are also certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities.

OHCQ's oversight of RTCs includes initial licensing and complaint investigations, as well as initial certification and periodic validation surveys on behalf of CMS.

A person may not establish, conduct, maintain, or operate a residential treatment center (RTC) in Maryland without first obtaining a license from OHCQ.  Before a person may apply for a license to operate an RTC, the person shall obtain a certificate of need or an exemption for a certificate of need from the Maryland Health Care Commission.  After obtaining a Certificate of Need or an exemption, the next step in becoming licensed is to complete the Application for a Residential Treatment Center License.   In order to complete the application, please download a copy to your device.  Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader or another *.PDF application are required to complete the application.  It is recommended that you save your progress throughout the process. Questions, comments or concerns regarding this application and its completion, can be referred to the associated program/unit within OHCQ.  The completed application and all required attachments must be submitted to OHCQ through Submit a License Application.