(a)

1. (1) A certified mental health professional is approved to provide evidenced-based mental health services which address the unique treatment needs of deaf or hard of hearing individuals and their families or caregivers.

2. (2) A certified mental health professional shall provide mental health services which:

   1. (A) Contribute to the improvement of the individual’s cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning; and
   2. (B) Must be provided by a professional, acting within their scope of practice, who has been determined to meet competencies identified by the Department of Human Services/Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services of the Department of Human Services to provide mental health services which are culturally affirmative and linguistically appropriate.

(b) The minimum education and experience required to become a certified mental health professional is outlined below:

1. (1) A current Arkansas-licensed doctor of medicine or Arkansas-licensed doctor of osteopathic medicine;
2. (2) A current Arkansas-licensed advanced practice nurse;
3. (3) A current Arkansas-licensed independently licensed clinician at the master’s or doctoral level; or
4. (4) A current Arkansas-licensed, nonindependently licensed clinician at the master’s/doctoral level who is receiving supervision according to the requirements of their licensing board.

(c) All certified mental health professionals must have completed required training as outlined below:

1. (1) For initial certification, the mental health professional candidate must:

   1. (A) Possess evidence of an advanced-level certification, or higher level of certification, on a sign language communication skills assessment;
   2. (B) Have attended, participated in, and successfully completed the department/division approved training, which includes twelve (12) weeks of weekly consultation calls, provided by a trainer authorized by the department or designee;
   3. (C) Have demonstrated competencies in the provision of culturally affirmative and linguistically appropriate mental health services introduced during the department/division approved training as evidenced by obtaining a certificate of completion of all requirements related to the department/division approved training, which must be submitted with the application; and
   4. (D) Submit evidence of a current Arkansas license as a:

(i) Mental health professional;

1. (ii) Advanced practice nurse; or

   1. (iii) Physician.

2. (2) For recertification every five (5) years:

   1. (A) Evidence of continued advanced-level, or higher, certification on a sign language communication skills assessment as determined by the certifying body;
   2. (B) Evidence of continuing education credit directly related to provision of services to this special population amounting to at least three (3) hours for each twelve-month period of the five-year renewal period, totaling a minimum of fifteen (15) hours per renewal period; and

   3. (C) The certified mental health professional renewal application must include evidence of a current Arkansas license as a mental health professional, advanced practice nurse, or physician at the time of renewal request.

      1. (d)
3. (1) Decisions for approving certified mental health professionals based on completion of similar training as part of a specialized graduate or post-graduate training in evidence-based interventions for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing will exclusively be made by the department/division.
4. (2) The department/division reserves the right to consult with the established Deaf Mental Health Advisory Committee for its review of any alternative education course or training to solicit recommendations on acceptable education, course work, or training.