Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 24 - Mental Health › Part 4 - DMH Addictions Therapist Standards & Requirements › Chapter One - General Information

Current through June 25, 2024
ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL
				HEALTH
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) administers
				the public mental health service delivery system in Mississippi. DMH was
				created in 1974 by an act of the Mississippi Legislature, Regular Session. The
				statute placed mental health, alcohol/drug abuse, and
				intellectual/developmental disabilities programs into one agency. The
				Mississippi Department of Mental Health is governed by the Mississippi State
				Board of Mental Health, a nine-member board whose members are appointed by the
				Governor and confirmed by the State Senate.
More information about DMH can be found on the DMH website at
				www.dmh.ms [File Link Not Available]
. gov
or by
				contacting DMH; contact information is located inside the document
				cover.
DMH Mission
- Supporting
				a better tomorrow by making a difference in the lives of Mississippians with
				mental illness, substance abuse problems and intellectual/developmental
				disabilities one person at a time.
ABOUT THE DMH ADDICTIONS THERAPIST
				CREDENTIAL
Statutory authority for the certification of DMH Addictions
				Therapists was granted in 1996 by the Mississippi Legislature.
Section
				41-4-7
				of the
Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated
authorizes the
				Mississippi State Board of Mental Health (through DMH) "to certify/license case
				managers, mental health therapists, mental retardation (i.e.,
				intellectual/developmental disabilities) therapists," and others as deemed
				appropriate by the Board. In 1997, authority was expanded to include the
				certification/licensure of "mental health/retardation (i.e.,
				intellectual/developmental disabilities) program administrators" and "addiction
				counselors."
DMH professional credentials are designed primarily for
				individuals who are not already professionally credentialed and who are
				employed in Mississippi's state mental health system.
Employment in Mississippi's "state mental health
				system," as defined in this document, is a mandatory requirement to apply for
				and hold a DMH professional credential.
The DMH Addictions Therapist credentialing program is designed
				to promote the provision of quality
alcohol and other drug abuse
				treatment
services in Mississippi's "state mental health
				system."
Full certification attests to an
				individual's:
* Educational background;
* Relevant work experience;
* Demonstration of mastery of basic knowledge pertinent to the
				field of state mental health system
alcohol and other drug abuse
				treatment
service provision;
* Continued participation in relevant educational activities,
				through the continuing education (CE) renewal requirement; and,
* Agreement to adhere to the
DMH Principles of Ethical
				and Professional Conduct,
DMH ADDICTIONS THERAPIST CERTIFICATION
				LEVELS
The DMH Addictions Therapist Credentialing Program has
				three (3) levels of certification:
Provisionally Certified Addictions Therapist
				(PCAT)
* The Provisionally Certified Addictions Therapist (PCAT)
				credential is a
temporary and nonrenewable
credential.
(This credential was formerly known as "Provisionally Certified
				Addiction Counselor - PCAC"),,
* Provisional Certification (PCAT) allows qualified individuals
				who
do not
meet the requirements to apply directly for
				full certification (CAT) to become
temporarily
credentialed while pursuing full certification.
* Provisional certification is valid for
up
				to
two years (24 consecutive months) from the date of issuance;
				this time frame is referred to as the "Provisional Certification
				Period."
* Once an individual obtains the PCAT credential, he/she
				progresses (upgrades) to full certification as a CAT by successfully completing
				the upgrade requirements.
Certified Addictions Therapist (CAT)
* The Certified Addictions Therapist (CAT) credential is
full certification
.
(This credential was
				formerly known as "Certified Addiction Counselor - CAC").
* Full certification (CAT) is renewable every four years, as
				long as renewal requirements are met.
* Individuals initially meeting the requirements for CAT, as
				outlined in Chapter Three, should apply
directly
for
				this level of credential, thereby skipping provisional certification.
				Otherwise, an individual applies for PCAT and then later, once upgrade
				requirements are met, applies for CAT.
Licensed Clinical Addictions Therapist
* The Licensed Clinical Addictions Therapist (LCAT) credential
				is
full certification
.
This level of
				credentialing was discontinued effective January 2009;
it is
				no longer available to new applicants.
Individuals who
				obtained the LCAT credential prior to discontinuance may continue to renew it
				as long as renewal requirements are met. (This credential was formerly known as
				"Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor - LCAC").
PROFESSIONAL TITLES
Recognized professional titles within the DMH Addictions
				Therapist credentialing program are:
1) DMH "Provisionally Certified Addictions
			 Therapist" or the abbreviation "PCAT"
(formerly "Provisionally
			 Certified Addiction Counselor - PCAC");
2) DMH "Certified Addictions Therapist" or
			 the abbreviation "CAT"
(formerly "Certified Addiction Counselor -
			 CAC");
and,
3) DMH
			 "Licensed Clinical Addictions Therapist" or the abbreviation "LCAT"
(formerly "Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor - LCAC"); (no longer
			 offered to new applicants).
STATE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
DMH professional credentials are valid only in
				Mississippi's "state mental health system."
For the purposes of DMH professional
				credentialing
,
the "state mental health system" is defined
				as:
* Programs funded and/or certified by the Mississippi
				Department of Mental Health and/or
* Programs certified/licensed by the Mississippi State
				Department of Health that are operated by the "state mental health system"
				(i.e., Mississippi Department of Mental Health).
Only individuals currently employed in the "state mental
				health system," as defined in this document (above), are eligible to apply for
				and hold a DMH professional credential.
UPDATES
This document is updated and revised periodically. It is the
				applicant/certified individual's (or other interested person's) responsibility
				to ensure that he/she has the most current version of this document. Affected
				persons must comply with, and are responsible for, provisions contained in the
				most current version, including utilization of current application and related
				forms.
NONDISCRIMINATION
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health does not
				discriminate because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin,
				age, disability, or political affiliation. The Department of Mental Health
				promotes nondiscriminatory practices and procedures in all phases of state
				service administration, as well as in programs funded and/or certified/operated
				by the Department of Mental Health.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health complies with all
				aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If requested, special
				accommodations to aid in the completion of forms or related credentialing
				matters will be provided.
APPLICATION BOOKLETS
This document and the corresponding application forms are
				available online. Interested individuals should download a copy from the DMH
				website. Individuals who need a print copy should refer to Chapter Eight -
				"Fees" and should also contact the Division of PLACE.
www.dmh.ms.gov
APPLICATION TIME LIMITS
Initial
applications will remain open
				for two years from date of receipt. During that time, when applicable
as determined by the Division of PLACE
, applicants
				have the opportunity to rectify any deficiencies. Following two years from the
				date of receipt, incomplete applications
(initial and
				upgrade),
applications containing unresolved deficiencies
(initial and upgrade),
and applications which did not result
				in a credential being awarded
(initial and upgrade)
may no
				longer be maintained by the Division. Additional timelines pertaining to
upgrade
and
renewal
applications are covered more fully in the relevant sections of this
				document.
Be sure to make copies of all application forms (except
				the sealed materials) before submitting the application. DMH will not return
				forms to you or anyone else once your application has been
				submitted.
JURISDICTIONAL LIMITATIONS
This program is limited to the issuance of professional
				credentialing through the DMH Addictions Therapist credentialing program.
				Actions of the Division of Professional Licensure and Certification, the
				Professional Licensure and Certification Review Board, the Department of Mental
				Health and the State Board of Mental Health should not in any way be construed
				as a recommendation for or against personnel action.
It is not the intent of DMH to monitor members of other
				appropriately-regulated professional credentials in Mississippi. Holding a DMH
				professional credential does not exempt an individual from any other
				professional certification/licensure required by state law.
FINAL INTERPRETATION
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is responsible for
				the final interpretation of all matters pertaining to DMH professional
				credentialing, including (but not limited to) all provisions contained within
				this document. This interpretation will be considered binding on all applicants
				and DMH-credentialed individuals (unless otherwise preempted by the Mississippi
				State Board of Mental Health).
DMH may develop ancillary internal policies and procedures to
				work in concert with this document. Moreover, any provisions or situations not
				expressly covered in this document will be handled on a case-by-case basis at
				the discretion of DMH, the Division of PLACE, the PLACE Review Board, and (when
				appropriate) the State Board of Mental Health.