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What is LegitScript and VIPPS Certification?

Published On: May 8th, 2025

example of telehealth that benefits from VIPPS certification

LegitScript and VIPPS certification play a major role in regulating online pharmacies, telemedicine, and other high-risk industries. If you’re in a sector that handles health-related products or services, understanding these certifications is essential to operating legally and gaining trust. In this guide, we’ll break down what LegitScript is, how VIPPS fits in, and how Vector Payments supports businesses navigating these complex standards.

Key Summary

LegitScript and VIPPS certification are compliance frameworks that verify the legitimacy of online pharmacies and telehealth platforms. For high-risk businesses, they’re essential for operating with transparency and trust. This article covers how these certifications work, why they matter, and how Vector Payments helps businesses maintain compliance in the payment space.

What Is LegitScript?

LegitScript is a third-party certification service that monitors and evaluates businesses in high-risk or regulated sectors, particularly healthcare and online pharmaceuticals. It provides a compliance seal that helps platforms advertise on major networks and maintain merchant accounts with banks and processors. A LegitScript certification signals that a business is safe, legal, and properly licensed.

What Is VIPPS Certification?

VIPPS, or the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program, is a certification once managed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). It verified that an online pharmacy complied with state and federal laws, met patient privacy and security standards, and dispensed only FDA-approved medications.

VIPPS has since been absorbed into NABP’s updated Healthcare Merchant Certification program, which works closely with LegitScript. If your pharmacy was once VIPPS-certified, you’ll likely need to transition to LegitScript’s more comprehensive compliance framework.

Why LegitScript Certification Matters

For businesses offering telemedicine, online prescriptions, or health products, LegitScript is more than just a badge – it’s often a requirement. Advertising platforms like Google and Facebook require certification to run health-related ads. Likewise, many payment processors won’t approve your account without it.

If you’re a business that needs telemedicine and online pharmacy payment processing, LegitScript compliance helps ensure your merchant account is approved and stable.

Who Needs LegitScript?

Industries that often require LegitScript certification include:

Telemedicine and Online Pharmacies

Companies offering prescription services or consultations online must follow strict legal frameworks. LegitScript ensures those standards are being met.

CBD and Supplement Brands

Products with regulatory scrutiny, like CBD, benefit from LegitScript’s verification to stay compliant and advertise lawfully.

High-Risk Merchants

Whether you’re in online gaming payment processing, health, or lifestyle industries, certification can improve processing options and reduce the risk of account shutdowns.

example of telehealth provider that needs legitscript

How Vector Payments Supports Certification Compliance

Vector Payments offers payment processing solutions built for regulated and high-risk industries. If you’re navigating LegitScript certification, we help ensure your payment setup meets necessary standards, so you can focus on your business. From initial setup to long-term support, we’re here to make compliance easier.

If you have questions about becoming certified or getting your payment account approved, contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LegitScript certification?

LegitScript certification verifies that a business complies with laws and regulations, especially in healthcare, telemedicine, and supplement industries.

What happened to VIPPS certification?

VIPPS was merged into the NABP’s Healthcare Merchant Certification, which now works closely with LegitScript to verify online pharmacies and healthcare platforms.

Is LegitScript required to advertise online?

Yes, platforms like Google and Facebook require LegitScript certification to run ads for health-related services or products.

Can I get payment processing without LegitScript?

Some high-risk businesses may be approved without it, but LegitScript dramatically improves your chances with banks and processors. If you’re selling prescriptions online though, it is a requirement to have LegitScript, NABP, etc. otherwise processors won’t knowingly approve the merchant account for you.