Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 2 - Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Community Service Providers
Chapter 11 - Human Resources
Rule 24-2-11.5 - Qualifications for Agency Providers of Substance Use Services

A. Directors/Coordinators of all substance use treatment or prevention services must have at least:

B. Support personnel employed in Substance Use Disorder Residential Services who self-identify as in recovery must have a minimum of one (1) year of sustained recovery.

C. Prevention Specialists must have at least a Bachelor's degree. Employees who self-identify as in recovery must have a minimum of one (1) year of sustained recovery.

D. Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Therapists must have at least a Master's degree in an addictions-, mental health-, or human services/behavioral health-related field and a (1) professional license or (2) hold a DMH credential as a Mental Health Therapist or Addictions Therapist. Employees who self-identify as in recovery must have a minimum of one (1) year of sustained recovery.

E. All Recovery Support Personnel must have at least a high school diploma or GED. These employees must also successfully complete a substance use disorder certification program approved by DMH within thirty-six (36) months of the date of employment. Employees who self-identify as in recovery must have a minimum of one (1) year of sustained recovery.

F. Residential Service Therapists must have at least a Master's degree in an addiction-, mental health-, or human services/behavioral health-related field and (1) a professional license or (2) hold a DMH credential as a Mental Health Therapist or Addictions Therapist. Employees who self-identify as in recovery must have a minimum of one (1) year of sustained recovery. All employees hired on or after September 1, 2020, must meet the requirements in Rule 11.5.

G. Agency providers certified as DMH/C, DMH/P and/or DMH/O that provide Medicaid-reimbursed services: individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, multi-family therapy and Individual Service Plan review to people with a substance use diagnosis must have at least a Master's degree in an addiction-, mental health-, or human services/ behavioral-related health field and 1) have a professional license or 2) a DMH credential as a Mental Health Therapist or 3) a DMH credential as an Addictions Therapist.