Miss. Code. tit. 24, pt. 4, ch. Six
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 toCAT 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.
Miss. Code. tit. 24, pt. 4, ch. Six