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

Current through June 25, 2024
PCAT CERTIFICATION - UPGRADE INFORMATION &
				TIMELINES
* The PCAT credential is a
temporary,
				nonrenewable
certification. It is valid for up to two years or 24
consecutive
months
from the assigned "date
				of issuance
." This two-year period is referred to as the PCAT's
				"Provisional Certification Period."
* The Provisional Certification Period begins on the PCAT
				credential's assigned date of issuance and lasts for
a maximum
				of
up to two years (or 24 consecutive months) from the date of
				issuance.
* Once an individual is awarded the PCAT credential, he/she
				will receive notification of the credentialing award, along with upgrade
				instructions.
(The upgrade instructions will include registration
				information for the DMHAddictions Therapist web-based training component as
				covered in Chapter Three).
*
BY THE END OF
the
				24-month Provisional Certification Period, a PCAT must have completed
ALL
requirements to upgrade to full certification
				(CAT).
Upgrade Requirements are covered in Chapter
				Three.
* It is the PCAT's responsibility to complete all upgrade
				requirements.
* PCATs who complete the upgrade requirements may upgrade to
				full certification (CAT)
prior to
the end
				of the two-year Provisional Certification Period.
* A PCAT who
does not
complete all
				requirements to upgrade to full certification (CAT)
by the end
				of
his/her PCAT expiration date will default from the DMH
				Addictions Therapist credentialing program.
Default means the
				credential is expired, and the individual no longer holds the
				credential
.
* In rare and extenuating circumstances, the PLACE Review
				Board (or the Division)
MAY
grant an extension of an
				individual's Provisional Certification Period. Information on extensions,
				including how to request an extension, is covered in Chapter Nine.
NOTICE:
Individuals upgrading from PCAT
				to
CAT
must submit
an
application
				for
CAT.
Upgrade from PCA T to CAT is not an automatic
				process initiated by the Division of
PLACE.
*
A PCAT should submit a CAT application packet
as soon as all upgrade requirements are met, but no later than the
				last working day of the month following the PCAT expiration
				date.
For example, if a PCAT credential expires in October
				of a given year, the CAT upgrade application must be
received
by the Division by the last working day of
				November of that same year.
* The PCAT expiration date is located on both the PCAT award
				letter and the PCAT original certificate.
It is the PCAT's
				responsibility to keep track of his/her PCAT expiration date and corresponding
				CAT upgrade application deadline
.
*
The Division
does not
notify
				individuals when their PCAT credential is expiring and the CAT upgrade
				application is due.
*
If all incomplete portions and/or problems
				associated with the submitted upgrade application are not resolved within 45
				calendar days of receipt of the upgrade application, even if the upgrade
				application was received prior to or by the PCAT's prescribed upgrade
				application deadline
, as outlined above, the individual's
				provisional credential
may automatically default effective per
				his/her provisional expiration date.
* Unless an extension for more time has been granted,
				individuals who fail to submit a CAT (upgrade) application within established
				timelines will be considered to have defaulted from the program, meaning their
				PCAT credential is expired.
This will be an automatic action
				by the Division of PLACE; no default notification will be
				sent.
* Except in rare and extenuating circumstances, as determined
				on a case-by-case basis by the Division or the Review Board,
an individual may not hold provisional certification more
				than twice,
as determined by the Division's records.
An exception to this rule, at the discretion of the Division and/or
				the PLACE Review Board,
may be
when the individual's
				provisional certification expiration(s) (default) occurred due to an
				individual's separation from state mental health system employment rather than
				a failure to meet upgrade requirements. The burden of proof falls on the
				PCAT.
CAT
-
CERTIFICATION LENGTH &
				TIMELINES
* The CAT
(andLCAT)
credential is renewable,
				as long as renewal requirements are met.
* The CAT's certification begins on the CAT credential's
				assigned "date of issuance.
"
The date of issuance is located
				on the credential award letter and the original CAT certificate.
* CATs
(and LCATs)
are on a
four-year
certification cycle. Upon achieving full
				certification, a CAT's expiration date is made to coincide with the DMH
				Addictions Therapist renewal deadline.
* CATs
(and LCATs)
interested in maintaining
				the credential renew every four years by the renewal deadline.
*
Specific renewal information is covered in Chapter
				Seven.