Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 3 - Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE) Professional Credentialing Rules and Requirements
Chapter 18 - Professional Responsibilities
Rule 24-3-18.5 - Scope of Practice - DMH Addictions Therapist

A. DMH professional credentials are valid only in Mississippi's "state mental health system." DMH Addictions Therapists may only use their credential title if actively employed in the state mental health system (or in Inactive Status).

B. Provisionally Certified Addictions Therapists (PCATs), Certified Addictions Therapists (CATs) and Licensed Clinical Addictions Therapists (LCATs) are certified/licensed to provide alcohol and other drug use treatment services (involving application of the principles, methods, and procedures of alcohol and other drug use treatment service provision) within Mississippi's "state mental health system." CATs and LCATs are also certified/licensed to supervise the provision of alcohol and other drug use treatment services (involving application of the principles, methods, and procedures of alcohol and other drug use treatment service provision) within Mississippi's "state mental health system."

C. DMH Addictions Therapists (PCATs, CATs, and LCATs) are also certified/licensed to provide (or supervise the provision of) community support services (involving application of the principles, methods and procedures of community support service provision) within Mississippi's "state mental health system," as per the definition of "community support services" located in the glossary section of this document and the DMH Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Disorders Community Service Providers and as appropriate to the population being served.

D. The scope and type of alcohol and other drug use treatment services and/or community support services provided (or supervised, as appropriate) by DMH Addictions Therapists, as well as the principles, methods and procedures of alcohol and other drug use treatment services and/or community support services which are provided (or supervised, as appropriate) by DMH Addictions Therapists, must be consistent with and in compliance with the DMH Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Disorders Community Service Providers.

E. DMH Addictions Therapists should only practice within the boundaries of their education, training, supervised or other relevant professional experience, and credential(s) held.

F. DMH Addictions Therapist certification or licensure does not qualify an individual to provide services outside this scope of practice or in private practice.

G. Practicing beyond the scope of practice may lead to sanctions as described in Chapter Nineteen.

H. A person issued a certificate/license by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health may use the title appropriate to his/her category of professional certification/licensure while in the employ of a state mental health system program (or while in Inactive Status).

I. Professional identification is directly affected by employment. DMH-credentialed individuals who experience a change in or separation from state mental health system employment are expected to follow the relevant guidelines below.