Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 6 - Rules, Regulations and Application Guidelines for the Mental Health Therapist Program
Chapter 4 - Application Procedure for Professional Certification/Licensure
Section 24-6-4-6 - Terms of Certificate Issuance

(1) The Division reviews all initial and upgrade application materials for completeness. Applicants are notified in writing if a problem(s) is found; they are given an opportunity to correct the problem(s) by resubmitting the necessary form(s)/ material(s)/ fee(s).

(2) The Review Board reviews all complete initial and upgrade applications and makes recommendations regarding the issuance of professional certification or licensure, as appropriate, to the DMH Executive Director.

The Review Board will not review incomplete applications; see Chapter 2, Section 2, B., (7), p. 5.

(3) Upon review and approval/ disapproval by the Executive Director, each applicant will be notified in writing of the status of his/her application.

(4) After approval, each applicant will be awarded a certificate attesting to the appropriate title. See Chapter 4, Section 6, B., p. 27 and Chapter 7, Section 3, p. 42 for more information regarding professional titles.

(5) Charges for the certificate are included in the Application Fee.

(1) Individuals making successful application for provisional certification will be awarded a certificate attesting to the title of Provisionally Certified Mental Health Therapist (PCMHT).

(2) Individuals making successful application for certification will be awarded a certificate attesting to the title of Certified Mental Health Therapist (CMHT).

(3) Individuals making successful application for licensure will be awarded a certificate attesting to the title of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist (LCMHT).

(1) Certificates issued by the DMH reflecting Mental Health professional certification/ licensure are valid for a two-year Certification/Licensure Period established by the Division. Renewal of professional certification/licensure is required on or before the established June 30th renewal deadline in order to maintain Current status. The first established deadline for renewal was June 30, 2000; subsequent deadlines for renewal will be every other year, such as June 30, 2002, June 30, 2004, June 30, 2006, June 30, 2008, etc. See Chapter 5, Section 1, pp. 29-30 for more information on established Certification/Licensure Periods and renewal.

(2) It is the intent of the Department of Mental Health that each provisional certificant/ certificant/licensee holds one and only one certificate per professional title.

Replacement (or duplicate) certificates are provided only in specific instances. See Chapter 6, Section 4, pp. 37-38 for information on obtaining a replacement certificate.

(3) The issued certificate remains the property of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, and the provisional certificant/certificant/licensee shall return the certificate to the agency if requested by the Division.