First Level Commitment Examiner Certification

The First Level Commitment Examiner certification process became the responsibility of the Division of MH/DD/SAS October 1, 2019. Per Senate Bill 630, professionals possessing the following licensure are able to become Certified Commitment Examiners:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Master’s level or higher Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Physician Assistant (PA)
• Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS).

Initial Certification 

The certification process begins with a request sent to IVCCommunication@dhhs.nc.gov. Login credentials will be created using name, email and phone number. Once established, the applicant will submit information required for license verification, which can take up to five business days. The process will end here if the applicant’s license has expired, if there are current unresolved adverse findings, or if the applicant holds an associate’s license. An applicant who holds more than one qualifying license, such as LCAS and LCSW or LCMHC can become certified for each license by taking the course one time ¹.

Upon successful license verification, DMH will submit information to Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (SR-AHEC), and its Evidence Based Practices Center (NCEBPC) will contact each applicant for registering and paying for the course and test ². The training consists of an online course including twelve (12) self-paced modules and a test. The modules must be completed at least seven calendar days before the testing session that the applicant wishes to access. That testing is also web-based and is available twice monthly for two days per session. Please see the table below for testing dates and their respective cut-off dates for modules completion. Should the applicant not pass the test, s/he will have to complete the course again before retesting. If the applicant does not pass the second time, s/he must wait six (6) months before reapplying for certification again.  If an applicant’s license expires at any point in this process, s/he will have three (3) months to reactivate the applicable license(s) and submit documentation of the reactivation and status of good standing.  After three months, the process will have to start over for anyone wishing to obtain this certification.

After the applicant passes the test with at least 80% proficiency, s/he becomes a Provisional Provider and must complete three first exams supervised by a physician or eligible psychologist as defined in NCGS §122C-3(13d) within six months of passing the initial test. That supervisor will then submit an attestation – on letterhead, signed and dated – to the above email address confirming the completion of the three required first exams and attesting to the competency of the applicant and ability to complete first exams independently. The applicant will then become a Certified Commitment Examiner and his/her name will appear as such in our online database for Certified Commitment Examiners. A badge will also be sent to the examiner. This certification is valid for three years. Any changes during the certification period in licensure or legal name are to be reported to the Program Lead for IVC at the above email address, so the database can be updated accordingly.

Recertification

Individuals who are currently certified must complete the course and pass the recertification test before the current certification expires. The above process applies with these exceptions:

• Recertification will be effective upon passing the recert test. Completing three supervised first exams is not required for recertification.
• Commitment Examiners who do not take the recertification test prior to their certification expiration date, or who do not pass the recertification test, will have to take the initial course to become certified again. This will include paying the difference for an initial certification and completing the three supervised first exams.

A new badge with a new certification expiration date will be sent to the examiner. Anyone who is currently certified under a license and obtains an additional qualifying license, or wishes to include a license they hold that now qualifies will need to contact the Program Lead for IVC at IVCCommunication@dhhs.nc.gov.

• ¹ _{Each license requires a separate entry for license verification.}
• ² _{Testing for initial certification is $100; testing for recertification is $60.}
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Training/Testing Schedule for Initial Certification and Recertification