Miss. Code. tit. 24, pt. 4, ch. Four
PCAT (PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION) APPLICATION PACKET
To apply for temporary certification as a PCAT, an individual should submit an applicationpacket 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.
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 application 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.
Miss. Code. tit. 24, pt. 4, ch. Four