24 Miss. Code. R. 3-6.4 - DMH Licensed Administrator Requirements - Categories and Descriptions

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A. Employment Requirement

1. The applicant must be currently employed at a Mississippi "state mental health system" program, as defined in Chapter One.

2. Employment refers to paid (not volunteer) work.

B. Education Requirement

1. The applicant must have a graduate-level degree (master's level or above). The degree must be from an approved educational institution (as defined and determined by DMH) and must be comprised of at least 30 semester hours or its equivalent.

2. Evidence of successful degree/course completion will be designated on the official submitted transcript(s), as part of the application packet. The PLACE Review Board may also request course catalog descriptions or other documentation to verify successful course completion and/or that the education requirement has been met.

3. DMH Licensed Administrator Program Participants who have completed the Independent Study and Training (IST) requirement and are applying for licensure as a DMH Licensed Administrator (LA) would have already met the above-listed education requirement (and produced the required verification of such) at the time of DMH Licensed Administrator Program Participant application. Therefore, a DMH Licensed Administrator Program Participant who is applying for licensure as a DMH Licensed Administrator (LA) does not need to submit a new official transcript with the licensure application packet. However, an applicant who is applying directly for DMH Licensed Administrator, (skipping the Program Participant Phase), must submit an official transcript as part of the application process.

C. Experience Requirement

1. A minimum of four years (48 months or its full-time equivalent) of full-time work experience in the fields of (and/or at an organization for) behavioral health and/or intellectual or developmental disabilities is required. This experience must be supervised and verified by a qualified supervisor (as defined in this chapter AND the "Glossary" section of this document). At least two of the years of experience credited to meet the work experience requirement must have been in the state of Mississippi and at least two of the years credited to meet the work experience requirement must have been in an administrative position, as defined in this chapter.

2. For the purposes of this professional credential, "Administrative Position" is defined as having program-wide, countywide, or statewide responsibilities and authority.

Examples of "administrative position" work experience include, but are not limited to: county- or state-level policy development and implementation, supervision of multiple staff, budget development and oversight, implementation of large-scale programmatic activities, etc.

3. Through the application process, the applicant must illustrate that he/she has a minimum of four years of full-time work experience in the required fields, as outlined above.

4. The experience requirement is based on a full-time 40-hour work week; individuals with part-time experience must report an amount of experience which is equivalent to a 40-hour work week; the Review Board will make decisions regarding part-time work on a case-by-case basis.

5. An applicant who reports part-time work experience and/or who reports work experience which combines experience earned in the required fields with experience earned in a separate field must illustrate through the application process that he/she has the required minimum of four years of full-time work experience in the required fields, as outlined above.

6. Employment refers to paid (not volunteer) work.

7. All submitted work experience must be verified by a "Qualified Supervisor," as defined in this chapter AND the "Glossary" section of this document.

8. A "Qualified Supervisor" is an individual who provides "active supervision" (as defined in the "Glossary" section of this document) over the applicant's submitted work experience AND who meets at least one (1) of the following criteria:

a. Holds a current position as an executive director (top-level administrator) of a "state mental health system" program or agency, as defined in this document OR

b. Holds the DMH Licensed Administrator (LA) credential in good standing (formerly known as "Licensed Mental Health/Mental Retardation Administrator - LMH/MRA"OR "Licensed DMH Administrator - LA") OR

c. Holds the current position of chair of a governing board or commission of a "state mental health system" program or agency, as defined in this document.

9. A "Qualified Supervisor" should not be a member of the individual's immediate family.

10. A DMH Licensed Administrator applicant is not permitted to complete his/her own Verification of Work Experience Form.

11. All submitted work experience must be submitted on the appropriate form prescribed by the Division as part of the application packet.

D. Sponsorship Requirement

1. To apply for the DMH Licensed Administrator (LA) credentialing program (either as a "Program Participant" or directly for licensure), an applicant must have a " Qualified Sponsor," as defined in this chapter.

2. In order to serve as a "Qualified Sponsor," an individual must meet at least one of the following qualifications:

a. Holds a current position as an executive director (top-level administrator) of a "state mental health system" program or agency, as defined in this document OR

c. Holds the current position of chair of a governing board or commission of a "state mental health system" program or agency, as defined in this document.

d. When sponsoring an applicant for the DMH Licensed Administrator program, the Sponsor is understood to agree to the following responsibilities: maintaining contact with the sponsored Program Participant; overseeing the progress of the sponsored Program Participant's work towards obtaining licensure, including enrollment in and completion of the Certified Public Manager program, as needed; and, serving as a resource to the sponsored Program Participant during the period of Independent Study and Training.

e. In the event that the Participant fails any written examination twice, the Sponsor and the Participant will be required to submit and complete a plan for remedial study to the PLACE Review Board prior to registering for the examination a third time.

f. In the event that a Program Participant is separated from his/her Sponsor, the Participant must seek the sponsorship of another Qualified Sponsor. The Participant and the new Sponsor must notify the Division in writing of the change.

g. A Sponsor shall no longer be considered qualified to serve as a Sponsor in the following instances: if the Sponsor leaves "state mental health system" employment; if the Sponsor leaves his/her seat on the governing board or commission of a program; if the Sponsor is found to be in violation of any of the DMH professional credentialing rules and requirements; if the Sponsor is found guilty of any of the offenses referred to in Chapter Nineteen; if the Sponsor has any other professional certification/licensure revoked for cause; and/or determination by the Court of mental incompetency.

E. Independent Study and Training Requirement -

1. DMH Licensed Administrator (LA) Program Participants have two (2) Independent Study and Training options from which to choose in order to obtain licensure. LA Program Participants choose ONE (1) of the following two (2) Independent Study and Training options in order to obtain DMH Licensed Administrator (LA) licensure:

2. Independent Study and Training - Option One Requirements:

a. Graduation from the Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program AND Graduation from the DMH Accelerated Leadership Program - Focus

b. The Mississippi Certified Public Manager Program is made available through the Mississippi State Personnel Board. Program Participants needing information on CPM registration/completion should contact their LA program sponsor and/or the Mississippi State Personnel Board.

c. LA Program Participants obtaining licensure through this option should submit a copy of the CPM and Focus graduation certificates to the DMH Division of PLACE upon completion of these programs (or other official documentation denoting completion as determined acceptable by the DMH Division of PLACE).

d. An individual who has completed a Certified Public Manager Program in a state other than Mississippi within the National Certified Public Manager Consortium is not expected to repeat the CPM program. The Participant should submit a letter to the Division indicating previous completion of this requirement and a copy of the certificate attesting to the title of "Certified Public Manager."

3. Independent Study and Training - Option Two Requirements:

a. Graduation from the Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program AND successful completion of three (3) of the four (4) available DMH Licensed Administrator Program Examinations.

c. LA Program Participants obtaining licensure through this option should submit a copy of the CPM graduation certificate to the DMH Division of PLACE upon completion of this program (or other official documentation denoting completion as determined acceptable by the DMH Division of PLACE).

e. The selection of which three (3) exams to study for and take is the LA Program Participant's choice.

f. DMH Licensed Administrator Program Examination study materials are located in the LA Program Participant Examination Study Guide which is provided to applicable LA Program Participants upon entry into the program. Once LA Program Participants have decided which three (3) examinations to take, LA Program Participants register for these examinations by using the LA Examination Registration Form or by contacting the DMH Division of PLACE.

g. The LA examination schedule is developed and published by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE). Interested individuals should contact the DMH Division of PLACE for additional information.

h. Examinations will only be administered to individuals who have been admitted into the DMH Licensed Administrator licensure program as a Program Participant.

i. A Participant who wishes to register for an examination should notify the Division by submitting the necessary examination registration form and fee by the prescribed examination registration deadline date. The appropriate fee per examination must accompany the written notification of registration.

j. Each examination will cover one of the documents listed in the LA Program Participant Examination Study Guide. Each test is limited to two (2) hours.

k. The required written examinations may be taken at any time during the period of Independent Study and Training and in any order preferred by the Participant.

l. The minimum passing score for each DMH Licensed Administrator Examination is at least seventy percent (70%).

m. A Participant has two opportunities to complete successfully each written examination without meeting additional requirements.

n. The established Examination Fee is applicable per administration of examination.

o. If any written examination is failed twice, the Participant and his/her Sponsor will be required to submit a written plan of remedial study to the PLACE Review Board for approval. The Participant and the Sponsor will be required to complete the approved plan of remedial study prior to the Participant's registration for re-examination.

p. Upon completion of the program for remedial study, a Participant may register and sit for re-examination two (2) more times. Payment of the Examination Fee is required for each administration of each examination at the time of registration.

q. No Participant may sit for a specific examination more than four (4) times.

r. A Participant who fails any written examination four (4) times is considered to have defaulted from the program.

4. Unless an extension has been granted, the "Program Participant" must complete the program of Independent Study and Training within 24 months of admission into the program as a "Program Participant." The Program Participant's date of admission is counted as Day One. Otherwise, the "Program Participant" shall be considered to have defaulted.

5. Upon written request by both the Participant and the Sponsor, the PLACE Review Board may grant an extension of up to six months for a Program Participant needing more time to complete the Independent Study and Training program. The extension request must be received by the Division no later than the last working day of the month following the 24 ^th month of the "Program Participant" phase period (i.e., the last working day of the 25 ^th month following the individual's admission into the program as a "Program Participant." The Program Participant's date of admission is counted as Day One).

6. Any Participant who has failed any written examination four (4) times shall be considered to have defaulted.

F. Ethics Requirement

1. All applicants must read and abide by the DMH Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct located in Chapter Eighteen.

2. It is the applicant's responsibility to read these principles before signing and submitting the application. The applicant should keep a reference copy.

3. Applicants must inform the Division of PLACE of any previous or pending disciplinary action against them by any professional credentialing body or association. Applicants who have had any past or currently held DMH professional credential or any other professional credential be the subject of any disciplinary action must notify the Division of PLACE during the application process. At a minimum, this notification must be provided in the appropriate space on the application form. DMH may delay action on the application until the matter has been resolved and verified to the satisfaction of DMH and/or the PLACE Review Board.

G. Criminal Background Checks

1. As part of the application process, the Division of PLACE ensures that state mental health system employers have conducted criminal records background checks on individuals applying for DMH professional credentials.

2. No one will be credentialed without proof of criminal background checks.

H. Letters of Support

1. Submission of three (3) letters of support, with the following considerations:

a. At least two (2) letters of support must be from supervisors, current or former.

b. One (1) letter of support may be a character reference from a non-employer/supervisor.

2. Letters of support may not be submitted by any member of the applicant's immediate family.

Notes

24 Miss. Code. R. 3-6.4

Section 41-4-7 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated

Adopted 5/1/2017

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