Mental Health

A. In order to be eligible to apply for the DMH Provisionally Certified Addictions Therapist credential (PCAT), an individual must meet ALL of the requirements listed below: 1. Employment Requirement; 2. Education Requirement; 3. Ethics Requirement; AND, 4. Criminal Background Ch…

A. Once an individual is awarded the DMH Provisionally Certified Addictions Therapist credential (PCAT), he/she must complete the following two (2) requirements in order to upgrade to full certification as a CAT: 1. Experience Requirement; AND, 2. Examination Requirement. B. The …

A. Individuals eligible to apply for the DMH Certified Addictions Therapist credential (CAT) are as follows: 1. PCATs who have successfully completed all upgrade requirements listed above by the end of their two-year Provisional Certification Period may apply to upgrade to full c…

A. Employment Requirement 1. The applicant must be currently employed at a Mississippi "state mental health system" program, as defined in Chapter One. 2. Initial applicants must have responsibility for providing (or supervising the provision of) services to individuals with alco…

A. Following the conclusion of each renewal period, the Division of PLACE reserves the right to audit randomly-selected renewed individuals to determine compliance with the continuing education requirement. The audit process will include a sample of randomly-selected renewed indi…

A. Inactive Status Request: An individual who is not employed in the state mental health system at the time of renewal may want to request Inactive Status. Individuals must initiate this request by the established renewal deadline and submit all required renewal forms. (Individua…

A. Each individual who successfully renews his/her Current CCSS/CCSS-II credential may continue to use the appropriate professional title and practice as such for the next four-year certification period. B. Each individual who successfully renews his/her Inactive CCSS/CCSS-II cre…

A. Renewal Deadline 1. The renewal application packet and fee are due on or before September 30th (or closest prior working day, as prescribed in the current renewal notice) of the given renewal year. 2. Any certified individual wishing to request Inactive, Retired or Relinquishe…

A. To apply for temporary certification as a PCMHT, an individual should submit an application packet which contains the following: 1. PCMHT Application Form; 2. PCMHT Verification of Employment Form; 3. Official Transcript; and, 4. Application Fee - $75.00 fee (submitted in a ma…

A. To apply for full certification as a CMHT, an individual should submit an application packet (initial or upgrade) which, at a minimum, contains the following: 1. CMHT Application Form; 2. CMHT Verification of Employment Form; 3. CMHT Verification of Work Experience Form; and, …

A. To apply for temporary certification as a PCIDDT, an individual should submit an application packet which contains the following: 1. PCIDDT Application Form; 2. PCIDDT Verification of Employment Form; 3. Official Transcript; and, 4. Application Fee - $75.00 fee (submitted in a…

A. To apply for full certification as a CIDDT, an individual should submit an application packet (initial or upgrade) which, at a minimum, contains the following: 1. CIDDT Application Form; 2. CIDDT Verification of Employment Form; 3. CIDDT Verification of Work Experience Form; a…

A. It is the credentialed individual's responsibility to keep track of his/her employment situation (and the potential for notification of separation of employment via the separating employer), accordingly. B. Once the Division receives written/email notification of separation fr…

A. Credentialed individuals needing to make a status change request should submit the request in writing (or via email) to the Division of PLACE, along with any pertinent supporting information. Applicable credentialing timelines must be met. B. Individuals needing assistance reg…

The following status categories are applicable to individuals holding the Provisionally Certified Community Support Specialist credential (PCCSS). A. Current Status 1. An individual holding provisional certification which is in good standing (including timely submission of all fo…

The following status categories are applicable to individuals holding full certification as a Certified Community Support Specialist (CCSS). A. Current Status 1. An individual holding certification which is in good standing (including timely submission of all forms, fees, changes…

A. A Community Support Specialist whose full certification has expired within the past three years, as determined by the Division's records (Relinquished, Retired or Lapsed Status) and who expired in good standing, may be eligible to reactivate his/her certification. B. Reinstate…

A. Upon request, the Division reports specific information about DMH-credentialed individuals. The fields of information which may be shared with individuals making inquiry are:1. Name; 2. Type of certification; 3. Certificate number; 4. Date of issuance; 5. Date of expiration; 6…

All applicants and individuals holding a DMH professional credential shall comply with ethical standards/principles as established by the PLACE Review Board and the Department of Mental Health. A. Introduction 1. The State Legislature granted Statutory Authority for Mississippi D…

Statutory Authority for the certification/licensure of Mental Health Therapists was granted in 1996 by the State Legislature. Section 41-4-7 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated was amended to include a provision authorizing the State Board of Mental Health to certify /lice…

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health does not discriminate against any applicant, provisional certificant, certificant or licensee because of race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or political affiliation. The Department of Mental Health prom…

The Department of Mental Health complies with all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If requested, special accommodations to aid in the completion of forms or in the completion of examinations will be provided. Notes 24 Miss. Code. R. § 6-1-3

The purpose of these rules shall be to develop procedures and establish requirements for: A. Establishment of a Professional Licensure and Certification Review Board, selection of Review Board members, establishment of rules and procedures for Review Board meetings; B. Standards …

A. Applicant: An individual who has submitted a complete application packet for either provisional certification, certification or licensure. B. Approved Educational Institution: An institution offering a graduate degree, which is accredited by a regional accrediting body. C. Boa…

A. Pursuant to 1996 Legislative action, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) established the Division. B. The Division is responsible for the development and implementation of DMH professional certification and licensure programs required by 1996 and subsequent Legis…

A. Composition and Appointment (1) The Review Board shall be composed of five members. Through June 30, 1998, the Review Board shall be comprised of Department of Mental Health staff appointed by the Executive Director. Beginning July 1, 1998, the Review Board shall be comprised …

A. The Executive Director, or his designee, shall appoint members to the Review Board. B. The Executive Director, or his designee, shall review and approve/ disapprove Review Board recommendations to award professional certification/licensure to individual applicants. C. The Exec…

A. During the administrative appeal process, an applicant may appeal the decision of the Executive Director to the State Board of Mental Health. See Chapter 4, Section 8, p.28. B. During the disciplinary appeal process, a provisional certificant, certificant or licensee may appea…

A. Levels of Credentialing Within the Mental Health Therapist Certification and Licensure Program, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) offers three levels of credentialing for persons providing direct services to individuals with mental illness/emotional disturbance…

A. Target Population (1) Provisional certification is primarily for those employees who have less than two years of experience in the field of mental health within the State of Mississippi. This applies equally to professionals new to the field of mental health and to experienced…

A. Target Population (1) Full certification is for those employees who have two or more years of experience in the field of mental health within the State of Mississippi. Individuals applying for Certified Mental Health Therapist (CMHT) will be those employees who hold provisiona…

A. Target Population (1) Licensure is for those employees who meet the higher Education and Experience requirements outlined below. Examples of individuals applying for Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist (LCMHT) include those employees who hold provisional certification as…

A. Supervisor Qualifications(1) A supervisor shall provide direct supervision of the applicant's provision of direct services to individuals with mental illness or emotional disturbances. (2) A supervisor may hold certification or licensure with the DMH Mental Health Therapist pr…

A. Components and Purpose The MH-CTP consists of three (3) training workshops and corresponding written examinations developed by /under the direction of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health for the purpose of providing all Mental Health Therapists statewide with the same …

A. During Initial Application The following category is applicable to individuals who have submitted an initial application packet for provisional certification (PCMHT). Denied: The Review Board may deny initial application for provisional certification for the following reasons,…

A. Application Process(1) Applicants should read all directions and application materials before beginning the application process, as the required Application Fee is nonrefundable. (2) Beginning and after July 1, 1999, an individual wishing to submit an application for entrance …

A. Application Packet Upon reading the requirements for professional credentialing in Chapter 3, Section 2, pp. 8-10, and making a decision to apply for Provisionally Certified Mental Health Therapist (PCMHT), an individual shall submit to the Division an application packet conta…

A. Application Packet Upon reading the requirements for professional credentialing in Chapter 3, Section 3, pp. 10-11 and making a decision to upgrade to Certified Mental Health Therapist (CMHT), an individual shall submit to the Division an upgrade application packet containing …

A. Application Packet Upon reading the requirements for professional credentialing in Chapter 3, Section 4, pp. 11-12 and making a decision to upgrade to Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist (LCMHT), an individual shall submit to the Division an upgrade application packet co…

A. As part of the application (Verification of Employment Form), Personnel Officers will be required to indicate whether or not background checks have been conducted for each applicant, as appropriate to the applicant's position and professional responsibilities. B. With specific…

A. Application Review(1) The Division reviews all initial and upgrade application materials for completeness. Applicants are notified in writing if a problem(s) is found; they are given an opportunity to correct the problem(s) by resubmitting the necessary form(s)/ material(s)/ f…

A. The grandfathering period for the Mental Health Therapist program was from July 1, 1997 - June 30, 1999. Grandfathering provisions are no longer available. B. Individuals who obtained a professional credential through the Mental Health Therapist program during the grandfatheri…

A. An Applicant aggrieved by a decision regarding the initial application for professional certification/licensure, the upgrade application for professional certification/licensure or the renewal of professional certification/licensure has the right to appeal to the Executive Dir…

A. Required Biennially Individuals holding full certification (CMHT) or licensure (LCMHT) are required to renew their professional credential every two (2) years on a certification/licensure schedule established by the Division. (1) The Mental Health Therapist Program is organize…

A. Renewal Application Process(1) Individuals applying for renewal should read all directions and renewal application materials before beginning the renewal process, as the required Renewal Fee is nonrefundable. (2) In addition to directions found in this document, directions wil…

A Obtaining Renewal Forms (1) The forms and instructions necessary for renewal (see Chapter 5, Section 3, B. below) will be mailed to each certificant and licensee approximately three months prior to the biennial renewal deadline. (2) A suggested Renewal Verification of Inservice…

During the renewal process, some certificants/ licensees recognize that they need to make additional special requests. A. Name Change: A certificant/licensee who wants to report a legal name change at the time of renewal is expected to follow the directions found in Chapter 6, Se…