Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 24 - Mental Health › Part 4 - DMH Addictions Therapist Standards & Requirements › Chapter Five - Certification Phases

Current through June 25, 2024
APPLICATION PHASE
* Individual submits a
complete
application packet.
* The Division of PLACE reviews application packets for
				completeness,
* Within prescribed timelines, as determined by the Division
				and/or the PLACE Review Board, applicants are given the opportunity to correct
				any application problems/deficiencies.
(As a courtesy, the Division
may
notify applicants and/or their program Staff
				Development Officers [SDOsJ of application problems/deficiencies; while such
				courtesy notification
may
be made, the Division does
				not guarantee such notification. Rather, it is the applicant's responsibility
				to submit a
complete
application and to keep track of
				and address any application deficiencies/problems.)
*
Complete
applications are forwarded
				to the PLACE Review Board. The Review Board reviews all applications, evaluates
				materials against established criteria and makes recommendations to the DMH
				Executive Director. Applicants are notified in writing if more information is
				needed.
Each regularly-scheduled PLACE Review Board meeting has a
				corresponding deadline for receipt of complete application materials. Review
				Board meetings may be cancelled without prior notice.
A Review Board meeting calendar will be posted on the DMH
				website and may be provided to state mental health system programs on an annual
				basis.
To obtain a copy of the PLACE Review Board
				meeting calendar,
visit the DMH website, contact the Division
				of PLACE or contact your place of employment.
* The Executive Director/Executive Director designee reviews
				the PLACE Review Board recommendations and approves or disapproves each
				application for professional credentialing.
* Each applicant is subsequently notified in writing of the
status
of his/her application. The possible outcomes
				are:
1) Approval - Individual is
			 awarded the credential.
2) Hold
			 Pending - Additional information may be requested from the applicant before
			 rendering a decision/recommendation.
3) Denial - Initial, upgrade, or renewal
			 applications for credentialing may be denied for the following reasons,
			 including, but not limited to: lack of appropriate employment; failure to pay
			 required fees; lack of appropriate educational degrees/coursework; lack of
			 appropriate experience; failure to complete
successfully
upgrade requirements; failure to acquire
			 necessary continuing education hours; unacceptable practice of the applicant;
			 violation of the
DMH Principles of Ethical and Professional
			 Conduct;
conviction of a crime which is a felony under federal or
			 state law; and/or, declaration of mental incompetence by the court.
CERTIFICATION PHASE
Provisional Certification
				(PCAT)
Once credentialed, the PCAT will receive a credential award
				letter, followed by a
temporary
, provisional
				certificate.
The credential award letter will
				outline:
* The length of Provisional Certification, including the PCAT
				expiration date; Provisional certification is not renewable.
* The requirements the PCAT must complete in order to upgrade
				to full certification; these requirements are outlined in Chapter Three.
Individuals who have been awarded provisional certification
				are expected to abide by the professional responsibility provisions in Chapter
				Nine.
Full Certification
				(CAT)
Once credentialed, the CAT will receive a credential award
				letter, followed by a full certificate.
The credential award letter
				will outline
:
* The length of certification, including the CAT expiration
				date; the CAT's expiration date is made to coincide with the DMH Addictions
				Therapist four-year renewal deadline. CATs renew every four years by the
				renewal deadline. Full certification timelines are addressed in Chapter
				Six.
* The CAT renewal requirements; renewal requirements are
				outlined in Chapter Seven.
Individuals who have been awarded full certification are
				expected to abide by the professional responsibility provisions in Chapter
				Nine.
CERTIFICATE ISSUANCE
Professional
				Identification
Individuals who make successful application for provisional
				certification will be awarded a time-limited, provisional certificate attesting
				to the title of "Provisionally Certified Addictions Therapist" (PCAT).
Individuals who make successful application for certification
				will be awarded a full certificate attesting to the title of "Certified
				Addictions Therapist" (CAT). CAT is renewable every four years.
Certificates
Wall certificates issued by the DMH remain the property of DMH
				and must be surrendered upon request.
DMH intends that each individual hold only one certificate per
				professional title. DMH does not provide multiple original wall
				certificates.
Certificates issued by the DMH reflecting credentialing as a
				PCAT are valid for up to a maximum two-year (24 consecutive months) Provisional
				Certification Period. The issuance and expiration dates are printed on the
				certificate.
Dates of provisional issuance and expiration
				vary from person to person.
An individual's provisional certificate automatically becomes
				invalid once he/she has successfully upgraded to full certification; the
				individual will receive a new certificate as a CAT.
Certificates issued by DMH reflecting credentialing as a CAT
				are valid for a maximum four-year Certification Period established by the
				Division. The issuance date is indicated on the certificate. Full certification
				timelines are addressed in Chapter Six.
Full certificates are
				renewable.
Individuals holding a DMH professional credential who are
				currently practicing in the state mental health system should maintain a copy
				of proof of certification in their personnel file.
Upon separation from state mental health
				system employment
,
the credentialed individual should
				notify the Division accordingly, as outlined in Chapter Nine.
Unless the separating individual is reemployed with another state
				mental health system program or requests and receives an appropriate credential
				status change, the certificate is invalid.
Replacement
				Certificates
Only individuals in good standing who are currently employed in
				the state mental health system (or in Inactive Status) may request a
				replacement certificate. Upon written (or email) request, an individual may be
				allowed
one
replacement certificate
at no
				charge
for any of the following reasons:
* Printing Error;
* Damaged/Destroyed;
* Lost;
* Never received; or,
* Legal Name Change.
1)
If the request is due to a
			 legal name change
, along with the written (or email) request, the
			 individual should submit a
copy
of legal documentation
			 of the name change. The request should indicate the new name as it should
			 appear on the replacement certificate.
2) Name changes reported at the time of an
upgrade
application do
not
have to be accompanied by a written/email request or a copy of the legal
			 documentation;
this exemption does not apply to renewal
			 applications.
If an individual makes more than one request for a
				replacement certificate
, the Division reserves the right to impose
				the certificate replacement fee.
Once the new replacement certificate is issued, the previous
				certificate immediately becomes invalid. Possession and utilization of two
				certificates for fraudulent purposes is grounds for disciplinary action,
				including possible loss of credentialing.
ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL
The terms of administrative appeal are only applicable to the
				application process.
An applicant aggrieved by a decision regarding the initial,
				upgrade or renewal application for professional certification has the right to
				appeal to the DMH Executive Director. The Division of PLACE must receive the
				applicant's written notification of appeal (and any supplemental application
				information submitted by the applicant)
within 30 calendar
				days
of the mailing of the application review results, as
				determined by the Division's records.
The DMH Executive Director (or designee) will review the
				application and supplemental information, if provided, and notify the applicant
				of the results of this review within 30 days.
An applicant aggrieved by the DMH Executive Director's final
				decision may then appeal to the State Board of Mental Health. Appeals to the
				State Board of Mental Health must be received by DMH
within 30
				calendar days
of the mailing of the DMH Executive Director's final
				decision, as determined by DMH's records; the appeal must be made and conducted
				in accordance with established Board policy.