Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 24 - Mental Health › Part 4 - DMH Addictions Therapist Standards & Requirements › Chapter Four - Application Procedures

Current through June 25, 2024
PCAT (PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION) APPLICATION
				PACKET
To apply for
temporary certification as a PCAT,
an
				individual should submit an
application
packet
which contains the
				following:
* PCAT Application Form;
* PCAT Verification of Employment Form;
* Official Transcript;
and,
* Application Fee - $75.00 fee,
payable by check or money order
to the "Mississippi
				Department of Mental Health."
CAT (FULL CERTIFICATION) APPLICATION PACKET
To apply for
full certification as a CAT,
an
				individual should submit an
application
				packet
which,
at a minimum
,
				contains the following:
* CAT Application Form;
* CAT Verification of Employment Form;
* CAT Verification of Work Experience Form;
				and,
* DMH Addictions Therapist Web-based Training
				Documentation
- Each CAT applicant who has completed the required DMH
				Addictions Therapist web-based training component for CAT must include a
signed
copy of his/her web-based training
"Learner Transcript"
in the CAT
				application packet. The "Learner Transcript," containing the CAT applicant's
original signature
,
must be signed in
blue
ink, attesting to the fact that the
				entire web-based training component was completed by the applicant. The
				submitted "Learner Transcript"
must also contain the course
				names and corresponding dates of completion for each course in the web-based
				training component, as well as the total number of course hours
				completed
. This documentation must be submitted
whether the web-based training was completed through DMH or through
				an outside venue
.
Submission of this information is
				the applicant's responsibility.
Depending on the CAT applicant's
				situation
,
the following
additional
CAT application component(s)
may also be
required:
* Official Transcript
If upgrading from PCAT,
no additional transcript is required.
* Application Fee - $75.00 fee,
payable by check or money order
to the "Mississippi
				Department of Mental Health"
If upgrading from PCAT,
no application fee is required.
Only individuals
				applying
directly for CAT
pay the application fee.
This is a ONE TIME fee; do not pay the application fee
				twice.
Application Forms are located online at the DMH website,
				as an addendum to this document.
www.dmh.ms.gov
Individuals needing a print copy should contact the
				Division.
GENERAL APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Before completing the Application Forms and submitting
				your application packet, read all the information in this "General Application
				Guidelines" section as well as the instructions on each individual Application
				Form.
General Directions
* Applicants should read all directions and application
				materials before beginning the application process. Each application form has
				specific directions which must be followed.
* Certain application forms must bear
original
signatures, as indicated on the form. Copies
				or faxes are not accepted.
*
With the exception of the official
				transcript
, all application materials must be submitted
together
in one application packet.
* The
official
transcript(s) must be
				submitted in a
sealed
college/university envelope. If,
				however, the applicant chooses to submit his/her
official
transcript(s) in an
electronic
				format
, it is the applicant's responsibility to have the
				college/university submit, along with the electronic transcript, sufficient
				documentation to verify that the electronic transcript is an
official
copy; accordingly, such documentation will be
				subject to Division of PLACE and PLACE Review Board approval.
* The responsibility for official transcript submission is the
				applicant's.
The Division of PLACE does not communicate with the
				college/university on the applicant's behalf
.
* The submitted official transcript(s) must document that the
				educational requirement has been met.
* All educational requirements which pertain to the applicant
				having an earned degree must be illustrated on the
official
transcript; the
official
transcript must document that the required
				degree has been
awarded or conferred, including the date of degree
				award
.
Letters from the college/university indicating
				that an individual has met the requirements to complete a degree are not
				acceptable
.
* The official transcript can either be included in the
				application packet or sent to the DMH Division of PLACE directly from the
				college/university.
This is the only application piece which may be
				submitted separately.
* All submission deadlines reflect the date
received
by the DMH Division of PLACE, not postmarked
				dates.
* The PLACE Review Board only considers
complete
applications; all application deficiencies
				must be resolved. Each scheduled Review Board meeting has a corresponding
				deadline date by which complete application materials must be received. Review
				Board meetings may be cancelled without prior notice.
* Only forms prescribed by the Division of PLACE may be
				utilized to apply for certification.
* Application forms may be changed without prior notice. The
				most current version should be utilized.
* Once submitted, all application materials become the
				property of DMH. Application materials will not be returned; the applicant
				should keep a copy of the application materials, except those under seal.
				Superfluous or unnecessary application materials will be destroyed.
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
applications are covered more fully below;
				additional timelines pertaining to
renewal
applications are covered more fully in the relevant section of this
				document.
*
When a PCAT needs to upgrade to full certification,
				he/she
must submit a new application
for CAT;
no new application fee is required
.
* The upgrade application
may be submitted
				as soon as the PCAT meets the requirements to upgrade, but the absolute
				deadline to submit an uperade application is the last working day of the month
				following the PCAT's expiration date
.
(The PCAT expiration
				date is located on the PCAT's initial credential award letter and on the PCAT's
				issued certificate.) 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.
* If a PCAT has
not
met the
				requirements to upgrade and wants to continue in the program, he/she must
				submit an extension request to the PLACE Review Board by the same time frame as
				the upgrade application would be due. Extension approval is at the discretion
				of the Division and/or Review Board. Additional information on extensions,
				including how to request an extension, is covered in Chapter Nine.
*
Failure to submit the upgrade application (or an
				extension request) by the prescribed deadline results in
automatic
default from the program.
PCATs
				are expected to keep track of the date by which they must
				upgrade.
*
If all incomplete portions and/or problems
				associated with the submitted upgrade
a
pplication are
				not resolved within 45 calendar days of receipt of the upRrade 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
(refer to
				Chapter Six for additional information pertaining to PCAT Upgrade
				Timelines).
Official
				Transcript
* Only
official
transcript(s) which
				show that the education requirement has been met are necessary.
* All references to college credit hours are for semester
				hours. Quarter hours submitted will be converted to semester hours using the
				standard formula (Number of Quarter Hours X .66 = Semester Hour
				Equivalent).
* All references to graduate degrees require at least 30
				semester hours (or equivalent).
* Degrees/coursework must be completed at an approved
				educational institution.
* Official transcripts submitted to show proof of
degree completion
must illustrate that the degree has
				been awarded/conferred, including the date of the degree award.
* If the applicant holds another DMH professional credential
				and has already submitted an official transcript to the DMH Division of PLACE,
				he/she should note this information on the application form.
As long as the Division of PLACE still has this information
				on file, a new transcript is not necessary
.
Verification of Employment/Criminal
				Background Checks
* The required form to verify an applicant's state mental
				health system employment includes a Background Check section. Personnel
				Officers must indicate whether or not criminal background checks have been
				conducted for each applicant, as appropriate to the applicant's position and
				professional responsibilities. The form will not be accepted unless the
				Background Check section is satisfactorily completed - no exceptions. With
				specific areas of interest being conviction of a crime or conviction of a
				felony relating to the abuse or mistreatment of other individuals, the
				verification of background checks should include: Convictions under the
				Vulnerable Adults Act; Child Abuse Registry; Sex Offense Record; Criminal
				Record; Motor Vehicle Registry; and, others, as appropriate to the applicant's
				position and professional responsibilities.
* The Verification of Employment Form must clearly show that
				the individual is
currently
employed at a Mississippi
				state mental health system program. If an applicant is unsure if he/she works
				at a program meeting the "state mental health system" definition, as outlined
				in this document, he/she should consult with the program's personnel
				office.
Verification of Work
				Experience
* PCAT applications
do not
include
				documentation of completed work experience.
* CAT applicants must document appropriate work
				experience.
* All submitted work experience must be submitted on the
				appropriate form prescribed by the Division as part of the application
				packet.
* The prescribed form must be completed by a "Qualified
				Supervisor," as outlined in Chapter Three, "Experience Requirement."
* A "Qualified Supervisor" should not be a member of the
				individual's immediate family.
* A CAT applicant is
not
permitted to
				complete his/her own Verification of Experience Form.
* CAT applicants only need to report two years of
full-time
relevant work experience; a lifetime of work
				experience is not necessary.
* Volunteer work does
not
count.
* If relevant work experience is accrued under more than one
				supervisor, a separate Verification of Experience Form must be submitted for
				each position.
* Due to the confidential nature of the submitted Verification
				of Experience Form, information completed by the supervisor
will
				not
be shared with the applicant - no exceptions.
Verification of Exam/Training
				Requirement
* Individuals who complete the DMH Addictions Therapist
				web-based training component through a venue other than DMH
may
be able to count it to satisfy the CAT
				Exam/Training requirement as long as: 1) the correct courses, as prescribed by
				DMH, are taken (courses are subject to change without prior notice); 2) all
				courses are
successfully
completed; 3) the appropriate
				documentation, as prescribed by the Division, is submitted to illustrate
successful
completion; and, 4) the courses were
				completed within the appropriate time frame, as prescribed by DMH;
this situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis and is
				subject to Review Board approval.
*
DMH Addictions Therapist Web-based Training
				Documentation
- Each CAT applicant who has completed the required DMH
				Addictions Therapist web-based training component for CAT must include a
signed
copy of his/her web-based training
"Learner Transcript"
in the CAT
				application packet.
* The "Learner Transcript," containing the CAT applicant's
original signature
,
must be signed in
blue
ink, attesting to the fact that the
				entire web-based training component was completed by the applicant.
* The submitted "Learner Transcript"
must
				contain the course names and corresponding dates of completion for each course
				in the web-based training component, as well as the total number of course
				hours completed
.
*
The "Learner Transcript" documentation must be
				submitted
whether the web-based training was completed through DMH
				or through an outside venue
.
*
Submission of this information is the
				applicant's responsibility.