24 MAC Pt. 3, R. 22.1
DMH Professional Credentialing Terms and Definitions
Cite as 24 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 3, R. 22.1
DMH Professional Credentialing Terms and Definitions
A. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) Professional Credentialing Rules and
Requirements glossary is listed below.
B. The following terms and definitions apply to DMH professional credentialing programs
administered through the DMH Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE)
and/or the DMH Division of Peer Recovery and Support:
1. Active Supervision: The process by which a supervisor monitors his/her supervisee’s
submitted required work experience for DMH professional credentialing. “Active”
supervision occurs when the supervisor has functional line oversight over the
supervisee and meets regularly with the supervisee to review work performance and
provide ongoing feedback and evaluation.
2. Applicant: An individual who has submitted a complete application packet for DMH
professional credentialing.
3. Approved Educational Institution: A degree-granting institution of higher learning
which is accredited by a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)-
recognized and/or a United States Department of Education (USDE)- recognized
accrediting body.
4. Audit: Random selection of renewed individuals for the purpose of determining
compliance with the continuing education (CE) renewal requirement.
5. Board: The Mississippi State Board of Mental Health
6. Certificate: A document issued by DMH attesting to an individual’s DMH
professional credential.
7. Certification/Licensure Period: Individuals holding full certification/licensure are on
a two-year certification/licensure schedule, referred to as the “certification/licensure
period”; fully certified/licensed individuals renew every two years by the renewal
deadline.
8. Certified Community Support Specialist (CCSS): An individual who obtains and
maintains the CCSS credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health;
this credential was formerly known as Certified Case Management Professional
(CCMP) and Certified Case Management Professional I (CCMP-I).
9. Certified Community Support Specialist II (CCSS-II): An individual who obtained
and maintains the CCSS-II credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental
Health; (This level of credentialing was discontinued effective January 2009. Though
no longer available to new applicants, those who obtained the CCSS-II credential prior
to its discontinuance may continue to renew it as long as renewal requirements are met);
this credential was formerly known as Certified Case Management Professional II
(CCMP-II).
10. Certified Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist (CIDDT): An
individual who obtains and maintains the CIDDT credential through the Mississippi
Department of Mental Health; this credential was formerly known as Certified Mental
Retardation Therapist (CMRT).
11. Certified Mental Health Therapist (CMHT): An individual who obtains and
maintains the CMHT credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.
12. Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS): An individual who obtains and maintains
the CPSS credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health; this
credential was formerly known as Certified Peer Support Specialist Professional
(CPSSP).
13. Certified Substance Use Therapist (CSUT): An individual who obtains and
maintains the CSUT credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health;
this credential was formerly known as Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) or
Certified Addictions Therapist (CAT).
14. Community Support Services: Community support services as described in the DMH
Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and
Substance Use Disorders Community Service Providers; community support services
generally refer to an array of support services which focus on the individual’s ability
to succeed in the community; to identify and access needed services; and, to show
improvement in school, work, family and community participation.
15. Continuing Education (CE) Hours/Units: Educational/training activities required
for renewal which are designed to increase the professional proficiency of an individual
holding a DMH professional credential; Continuing Education (CE) unit time
calculation requires a minimum of 30 consecutive minutes of training.
16. Credential(ing): A generic term referring to any or all levels of DMH professional
certification/licensure.
17. Date of Issuance: The assigned date on which a DMH professional credential becomes
effective.
18. Director of Community Support Services/Director of ID/DD Waiver Support
Coordination/IDD
Targeted
Case
Management
Supervisor/Wraparound
Facilitation Supervisor: The Director of Community Support Services, Director of
ID/DD Waiver Support Coordination, IDD Targeted Case Management Supervisor
and/or the Wraparound Facilitation Supervisor provides direct oversight of a
community support specialist’s, ID/DD Waiver support coordinator’s, IDD Targeted
Case Manager’s and/or a Wraparound Facilitator’s work (as appropriate) and is the
individual(s) at each Mississippi state mental health system program designated to verify
the community support (or ID/DD Waiver Support Coordination/IDD Targeted Case
Management/Wraparound Facilitation) work experience requirement for CCSS.
19. Division/Division of Peer Recovery and Support: The Department of Mental Health
Division of Peer Recovery and Support as applicable to the Peer Support credentialing
program.
20. Division/Division of PLACE: The Department of Mental Health, Division of
Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE) as applicable to the Mental Health
credentialing program, the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
credentialing program, the Community Support credentialing program, the Licensed
Administrator credentialing program and the Substance Use credentialing program.
21. DMH: The Mississippi Department of Mental Health
22. DMH Community Support Specialist Program Web-based Exam/Training
Component: A customized collection of e-learning courses (and corresponding
standardized exams) designed to address basic knowledge pertinent to community
support specialists in the state mental health system; successful completion of the web-
based exam/training component is one of the requirements for CCSS.
23. DMH Deputy Director: The Deputy Director of the Mississippi Department of
Mental Health
24. DMH Executive Director: The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of
Mental Health
25. DMH Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist Examination: A
comprehensive standardized examination, the content of which is based on a
customized collection of e-learning courses (i.e., web-based training component)
specific to the DMH Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist program.
This examination is designed to address basic knowledge and practical information
pertinent to intellectual and developmental disabilities therapists in the state mental
health system. Successful completion of this examination is one of the requirements
for CIDDT.
26. DMH Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist Program Web-based
Training Component: A customized collection of e-learning courses (i.e., web-based
training component) specific to the DMH Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Therapist program, upon which the content of the comprehensive standardized DMH
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist Examination is based.
27. DMH Licensed Administrator Program Examinations: Standardized tests which
are administered in the DMH Licensed Administrator program as a component of one
of the Independent Study and Training requirement options. These tests are
administered to measure applicable knowledge of specific rules, regulations and
standards.
28. DMH Mental Health Therapist Examination: A comprehensive standardized
examination, the content of which is based on a customized collection of e-learning
courses (i.e., web-based training component) specific to the DMH Mental Health
Therapist program. This examination is designed to address basic knowledge and
practical information pertinent to mental health therapists in the state mental health
system. Successful completion of this examination is one of the requirements for
CMHT.
29. DMH Mental Health Therapist Program Web-based Training Component: A
customized collection of e-learning courses (i.e., web-based training component)
specific to the DMH Mental Health Therapist program, upon which the content of the
comprehensive standardized DMH Mental Health Therapist Examination is based
30. DMH Substance Use Therapist Examination: A comprehensive standardized
examination, the content of which is based on a customized collection of e-learning
courses (i.e., web-based training component) specific to the DMH Substance Use
Therapist program. This examination is designed to address basic knowledge and
practical information pertinent to substance use therapists in the state mental health
system. Successful completion of this examination is one of the requirements for
CSUT.
31. DMH Substance Use Therapist Program Web-based Training Component: A
customized collection of e-learning courses (i.e., web-based training component)
specific to the DMH Substance Use Therapist program, upon which the content of the
comprehensive standardized DMH Therapist Examination is based
32. ID/DD Waiver Support Coordination Services:
ID/DD Waiver Support
Coordination Services are provided to individuals enrolled in the ID/DD Waiver.
Support coordinators coordinate and monitor all services an individual on the ID/DD
Waiver receives, regardless of funding source, to ensure services are adequate,
appropriate, meet individual needs, and ensure the individual’s health and welfare
needs are met.
33. IDD Targeted Case Management Services: IDD Targeted Case Management
Services refers to service provision under IDD community support programs and
include development of a plan of services and supports and coordination and
monitoring of services to ensure that services are adequate, appropriate and meet the
person’s unique needs.
34. Immediate Family Member: spouse, parent, stepparent, sibling, stepsibling, child or
stepchild
35. Independent Study and Training (IST) Requirement: The prescribed program of
study and training which must be successfully completed in order to obtain licensure
as a “DMH Licensed Administrator.” The DMH Licensed Administrator program has
two IST options (the applicant chooses one).
36. License: A document issued by DMH attesting to an individual’s DMH professional
credential
37. Licensed Administrator (LA): An individual who obtains and maintains the LA
credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health; this credential was
formerly known as Licensed Mental Health/Mental Retardation Administrator (LA) or
Licensed DMH Administrator (LA).
38. Licensed Administrator (LA) Program Participant: An individual who has been
admitted into the DMH Licensed Administrator Program as a “Program Participant”
and is working towards licensure as a “DMH Licensed Administrator”; individuals in
the “Program Participant” phase DO NOT hold the “DMH Licensed Administrator”
credential.
39. Licensed Clinical Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist
(LCIDDT): An individual who obtained and maintains the LCIDDT credential through
the Mississippi Department of Mental Health; (This level of credentialing was
discontinued effective January 2009. Though no longer available to new applicants,
those who obtained the LCIDDT credential prior to its discontinuance may continue to
renew it as long as renewal requirements are met); this credential was formerly known
as Licensed Clinical Mental Retardation Therapist (LCMRT).
40. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist (LCMHT): An individual who obtained
and maintains the LCMHT credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental
Health; (This level of credentialing was discontinued effective January 2009. Though
no longer available to new applicants, those who obtained the LCMHT credential prior
to discontinuance may continue to renew it as long as renewal requirements are met.)
41. Licensed Clinical Substance Use Therapist (LCSUT): An individual who obtained
and maintains the LCSUT credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental
Health; (This level of credentialing was discontinued effective January 2009. Though
no longer available to new applicants, those who obtained the LCSUT credential prior
to discontinuance may continue to renew it as long as renewal requirements are met);
this credential was formerly known as Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC)
or Licensed Clinical Addictions Therapist (LCAT).
42. Mississippi Department of Mental Health Operational Standards for Mental Health,
Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Community Service
Providers/DMH Operational Standards: Manual published by the Mississippi
Department of Mental Health which establishes and promulgates required operational
standards for programs receiving DMH certification.
43. Peer Support Services: Person-centered activities that allow individual receiving
services/family members the opportunity to direct their own recovery and advocacy
processes. Peer Support is a helping relationship between peers and or family member
that is directed toward the achievement of specific goals defined by the individual. Peer
Support Services include a wide range of structured activities to assist individuals in
their wellness and recovery/resiliency, education, employment, crisis support, housing,
social networking, development of community roles and natural supports, self-
determination and individual advocacy.
44. PLACE Review Board/Review Board: The Professional Licensure and Certification
(PLACE) Review Board
45. Provisional Certification Period: The Provisional Certification Period is the time
period an individual holds provisional certification (PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCSUT,
PCCSS and/or PCPSS). The Provisional Certification Period begins on the day the
provisional credential is issued and can last for a maximum of 24 consecutive months.
Provisional certification is temporary and nonrenewable. By the end of the Provisional
Certification Period, the provisionally-certified individual is expected to have
completed all requirements to upgrade to full certification.
46. Provisionally Certified Community Support Specialist (PCCSS): An individual
who obtains the PCCSS credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental
Health. PCCSS is a temporary, nonrenewable certification. PCCSSs work towards full
certification as a Certified Community Support Specialist (CCSS); this credential was
formerly known as Provisionally Certified Case Management Professional (PCCMP).
47. Provisionally Certified Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist
(PCIDDT): An individual who obtains the PCIDDT credential through the Mississippi
Department of Mental Health. PCIDDT is a temporary, nonrenewable certification.
PCIDDTs work towards full certification as a Certified Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities Therapist (CIDDT); this credential was formerly known as Provisionally
Certified Mental Retardation Therapist (PCMRT).
48. Provisionally Certified Mental Health Therapist (PCMHT): An individual who
obtains the PCMHT credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental
Health. PCMHT is a temporary, nonrenewable certification. PCMHTs work towards
full certification as a Certified Mental Health Therapist (CMHT).
49. Provisionally Certified Peer Support Specialist (PCPSS): An individual who obtains
the PCPSS credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. PCPSS is
a temporary, nonrenewable certification. PCPSSs work towards full certification as a
Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS).
50. Provisionally Certified Substance Use Therapist (PCSUT): An individual who
obtains the PCSUT credential through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.
PCSUT is a temporary, nonrenewable certification. PCSUTs work towards full
certification as a Certified Substance Use Therapist (CSUT); this credential was
formerly known as Provisionally Certified Addiction Counselor (PCAC) or
Provisionally Certified Addictions Therapist (PCAT).
51. Qualified Sponsor: An individual who meets the DMH Licensed Administrator
sponsor qualifications; who agrees to endorse an applicant for DMH Licensed
Administrator; and, who oversees a DMH Licensed Administrator Program
Participant’s progress towards achieving licensure.
52. Qualified Supervisor: A Qualified Supervisor is an individual who meets the
established professional criteria to provide supervision over (and verify) a DMH-
professional credentialing applicant’s required work experience and who provides
“active supervision” (as defined in this document) over the applicant’s submitted
required work experience.
53. Staff Development Officer (SDO): State mental health system program employee(s)
who are responsible for maintaining staff development records and assisting in the
verification of ongoing continuing education for renewal applicants. The SDO also
serves as a liaison between the program and the Division and as a resource to his/her
program concerning DMH professional credentialing. The SDO is appointed by the
Program Executive Director; a record of SDO appointments is maintained on file by
the Division of PLACE.
54. State Mental Health System: The network of programs in Mississippi which are
certified, funded, and/or operated/administered by the Mississippi Department of
Mental Health (and also as outlined and defined in Section 41- 4-7 of the Mississippi
Code of 1972, Annotated).
55. Upgrade: Progression (i.e., moving) from provisional (temporary) certification to full
certification
56. Web-based Training: A customized collection of e-learning courses (i.e., web-based
training component) designed for a specific DMH credential program for training
requirements specific to the respective DMH professional credentialing program.
57. Wraparound Facilitation: The creation and facilitation of a child and family team for
the purpose of developing a single plan of care to address the needs of youth with
complex mental health challenges and their families.