Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 6 - Rules, Regulations and Application Guidelines for the Mental Health Therapist Program
Chapter 3 - Professional Certification and Licensure Requirements
Section 24-6-3-7 - Professional Certification and Licensure Status Categories

(1) Current: An individual holding provisional certification who is in good standing, including timely submission of all forms, fees, changes of information, etc., and without sanctions, will be considered to be Current. Any Provisionally Certified Mental Health Therapist shall notify the Division in writing within fourteen (14) days of a change in vital information such as address, name, employment, etc. A person's name and address will not appear on any list produced by the Division unless the person is Current when the list is compiled.

(2) Extended: Upon written request by the individual holding provisional certification, the Review Board may grant Extended status to those who are unable to complete all requirements of provisional certification within the required two year (24 consecutive month) time limit. Extended status may be granted to a PCMHT in good standing who is unable to meet the two year time limit due to extenuating circumstances such as medical treatment, drug treatment, education, leave of absence, maternity leave, etc. Temporarily leaving employment in an applicable program as described in Chapter 3, Section 1, C., p. 7, is another reason a PCMHT may request Extended status, but the individual must return to employment in an acceptable program before completing provisional certification and upgrading to either full certification or licensure. An individual on Extended status is expected to comply with the terms of Extended status as granted by the Review Board. Failure to do so may result in Defaulted status. The Review Board may verify the circumstances surrounding the request for Extended status.

(3) Defaulted: A provisional certificant is considered to have Defaulted from the Mental Health Therapist Program upon any of the following situations:

(4) Relinquished: A provisional certificant who determines that he/she no longer wants/needs to hold and maintain professional certification/licensure may submit a written request to the Review Board requesting Relinquished status. The written request must be accompanied by the individual's original certificate(s) attesting to the title(s) relinquished. The Review Board has the right to verify the circumstances surrounding the request for Relinquished status.

(5) Denied: The Review Board may deny upgrade application for professional certification/licensure for the following reasons, including, but not limited to: lack of appropriate employment; lack of appropriate experience; failure to pay required fees; lack of appropriate educational degrees; failure to acquire necessary inservice/training Contact Hours; failure to attend and pass required Modules and examinations; unacceptable practice of the applicant; violation of Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct; or, declaration of mental incompetence by the court.

(1) Current: An individual certificant or licensee who is in good standing, including timely submission of all forms, fees, changes of information, etc., and without sanctions, will be considered to be Current. Any Certified Mental Health Therapist or Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist shall notify the Division in writing within fourteen (14) days of a change in vital information such as address, name, employment, etc. A person's name and address will not appear on any list produced by the Division unless the person is Current when the list is compiled.

(2) Inactive: Upon written request by the certificant/licensee, the Review Board may grant a certificant/licensee Inactive status. Inactive status may be granted to certificants/licensees in good standing who are leaving employment in an applicable program as described in Chapter 3, Section 1, C., p. 7, but who wish to maintain their professional certification /licensure (Examples: internship, medical treatment, drug treatment, education, leave of absence, extended maternity leave, etc.). Certificants/Licensees who are granted Inactive status are required to renew in a timely manner. A person on Inactive status may be returned to Current status upon submission of a written request, an appropriate Verification of Employment Form reflecting employment within the state mental health system and proof of required continuing education Contact Hours as deemed necessary by the Review Board. The Review Board may verify the circumstances surrounding the request for Inactive status.

(3) Lapsed: Upon failure to renew professional certification/licensure in a timely manner and failure to make a request for Inactive status, an individual's certification/licensure expires and is considered to be Lapsed. To return to Current status, an individual would be required to repeat the application process and meet all current professional certification /licensure requirements. See Chapter 5, Section 5, pp. 33-34 for more information on renewal timelines. This status is not applicable to those who have allowed their CMHT credential to "lapse" due to the fact that the individual has upgraded to LCMHT.

(4) Retired: Upon retirement, the retired certificant/licensee may submit a written request to the Review Board requesting the granting of Retired status. The individual with Retired status may no longer be employed in a program as described in Chapter 3, Section 1, C., p. 7. The individual granted this status is no longer required to meet biennial renewal requirements/fees and is permitted to keep his/her certificate. The Review Board may verify the circumstances surrounding the request for Retired status.

(5) Relinquished: A certificant/licensee who determines that he/she no longer wants/needs to hold and maintain professional certification/licensure may submit a written request to the Review Board requesting Relinquished status. The written request must be accompanied by the individual's original certificate(s) attesting to the title(s) relinquished. The Review Board may verify the circumstances surrounding the request for Relinquished status.

(6) Denied: The Review Board may deny upgrade application for professional certification/licensure or application for professional certification /licensure renewal for the following reasons, including, but not limited to: lack of appropriate employment; lack of appropriate experience; failure to pay required fees; lack of appropriate educational degrees; failure to acquire necessary inservice/training Contact Hours; failure to attend and pass required Modules and examinations; unacceptable practice of the applicant; violation of Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct; or, declaration of mental incompetence by the court.

(1) Limited: The Review Board, as a result of disciplinary action as defined in Chapter 8, pp. 44-46, may choose to restrict or limit a provisional certificant's/certificant's/licensee's practice. To return to Current status, an individual with a Limited certification/ licensure would be required to meet all requirements as determined to be necessary by the Review Board and/ or Executive Director.

(2) Suspended: The Review Board, as a result of disciplinary action as defined in Chapter 8, pp. 44-46, may choose to invalidate a provisional certificant's/ certificant's/licensee's certificate for any period of time. The individual's certificate shall be turned over to the Division for the period of suspension. To return to Current status, an individual with a Suspended certification/licensure would be required to meet all requirements as determined to be necessary by the Review Board and/ or Executive Director.

(3) Surrendered: The Review Board, as a result of disciplinary action as defined in Chapter 8, pp. 44-46, may choose to request the surrender of a provisional certificant's/ certificant's /licensee's certificate. In addition, the provisional certificant/ certificant/licensee may request Surrendered status; however, the provisional certificant's/certificant's/ licensee's request for Surrendered status is subject to the approval of the Review Board and/or Executive Director. The Surrendered certificate shall be turned over to the Division. To return to Current status, an individual with a Surrendered certification/licensure would be required to meet all requirements as determined to be necessary by the Review Board and/or Executive Director.

(4) Revoked: The Review Board may revoke an individual's professional credential as a result of disciplinary action as defined in Chapter 8, pp. 44-46. Once professional certification/licensure is Revoked, the individual must return his/her certificate to the Division. Following the period of revocation established by the Review Board, the individual may reapply for certification/ licensure by repeating the application process, meeting all current professional certification /licensure requirements.