STAFFING

1. (a) A director of a PRS agency that serves individuals 18 years of age or older shall have one of the following:

   1. (1) A bachelor’s degree and CPRP certification.
   2. (2) A bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years work experience in mental health direct service, 2 years of which must be work experience in PRS. CPRP certification shall be attained within 2 years of hire as a PRS director.
   3. (3) An associate’s degree and CPRP certification, if employed as the PRS director of a licensed PRS facility for at least 6 months immediately prior to May 11, 2013.

2. (b) A psychiatric rehabilitation specialist who works with individuals 18 years of age or older shall have one of the following:

   1. (1) A bachelor’s degree and 2 years work experience in mental health direct service, 1 year of which must be work experience in PRS. CPRP certification shall be attained within 2 years from the date of hire as a psychiatric rehabilitation specialist.
   2. (2) CPRP certification.

3. (c) A psychiatric rehabilitation worker shall have one of the following:

   1. (1) A bachelor’s degree.
   2. (2) An associate’s degree and 1 year work experience in mental health direct service.
   3. (3) A CPS certificate and 1 additional year paid or volunteer work experience in mental health direct service.
   4. (4) A high school diploma or GED and 2 years work experience in human services which must include 1 year of mental health direct service.
4. (d) A psychiatric rehabilitation assistant shall have a high school diploma or GED and 6 months experience in human services.

5. (e) A director of a PRS agency that serves individuals 14 years of age or older but under 18 years of age shall have one of the following:

   1. (1) A bachelor’s degree and CFRP certification.
   2. (2) A bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years work experience in mental health direct service, 2 years of which must be work experience in PRS. CFRP certification shall be attained within 2 years of hire as a PRS director or within 2 years of the date the PRS agency received approval of its service description that identifies that it will be serving individuals 14 years of age or older but under 18 years of age, whichever is later.

6. (f) A psychiatric rehabilitation specialist who works with individuals 14 years of age or older but under 18 years of age shall have one of the following:

   1. (1) A bachelor’s degree and 2 years work experience in mental health direct service, 1 year of which must be work experience in PRS. CFRP certification shall be attained either within 2 years from the date of hire as a psychiatric rehabilitation specialist or within 2 years of the date the PRS agency received approval of its service description that identifies that it will be serving individuals 14 years of age or older but under 18 years of age, whichever is later.
   2. (2) CFRP certification.
7. (g) An associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree must be awarded by a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc., or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.
8. (h) If the PRS agency serves both individuals 18 years of age or older and individuals 14 years of age or older but under 18 years of age, the director and the psychiatric rehabilitation specialists shall have both a CPRP certification and a CFRP certification.

Authority

The provisions of this § 5230.51 amended under sections 911 and 1021 of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. § § 911 and 1021).

Source

The provisions of this § 5230.51 amended January 17, 2025, effective January 18, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 463. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (366819).

Cross References

This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 5230.52 (relating to general staffing requirements).