Section 24-8-1-5 - DefinitionsA. Applicant: An individual who has submitted an application for admission to the Mental Health/ Mental Retardation Administrator Licensure program. See Chapter 3, Section 3, p. 7 and Chapter 4, Section 2, pp. 16-17 for more information on admission requirements and the application process.B. Approved Educational Institution: An institution offering a graduate degree, which is accredited by a regional accrediting body.C. Board: The Mississippi State Board of Mental Health.D. Certificate: The issued document attesting to an individual's licensure.E. Contact Hours: The unit of measurement that is used to designate participation in an educational/ training program designed to increase the professional proficiency of an individual holding Department of Mental Health certification/licensure One Contact Hour will consist of a minimum of 50 consecutive minutes.F. Credential: A general term referring to professional certification or licensure of an individual.G. Division: The Department of Mental Health Division of Professional Licensure and Certification.H. DMH: The Mississippi State Department of Mental Health.I. Examination: Written tests which are given to test applicable knowledge of specific rules, regulations, standards, etc., as indicated in Chapter 3, Section 5, B., pp. 10-11.J. Executive Director: The Executive Director of the Mississippi State Department of Mental Health.K. Independent Study and Training: The prescribed program of training, self-study and written examinations to be successfully completed by program Participants prior to licensure. See Chapter 3, Section 5, pp. 9-13 for more information on Independent Study and Training.L. Licensed MH/MR Administrator: An individual who meets all requirements for licensure as defined by the licensure process described in Chapter 3, pp. 6-15.M. Licensee: An individual who holds licensure from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health as a Licensed Mental Health/Mental Retardation Administrator (LMH/MRA).O. MR: Mental RetardationP. Participant: An individual who has made successful application and has been admitted to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health MH/MR Administrator licensure program. This individual is expected to complete a program of Independent Study and Training in order to attain licensure. See Chapter 3, Section 5, pp. 9-13 and Chapter 4, Section 1, B., p. 16 for more information on licensure requirements and the Participant Phase.Q. Review Board: The Professional Licensure and Certification Review BoardR. Staff Development Officer (SDO): Professional employee (not clerical staff) of a program as described in Chapter 3, Section 1, A., p. 6 responsible for maintaining staff development records and verifying ongoing inservice/training for Licensees seeking renewal.S. State Mental Health System: Network of programs within the State of Mississippi which receive funding or programmatic certification from the Mississippi State Department of Mental Health.T. Sponsor: An individual who agrees to directly oversee the work of a licensure program Participant toward licensure and who meets the qualifications of sponsorship as described in Chapter 3, Section 4, pp. 8-9.24 Miss. Code. R. § 8-1-5