What is the certification program for independent examiners (IEs) and when will it be available?
The certification program for independent examiners will be a modular, on-line learning program with a competency test for each required module. The certification program is under development and will not be operational by July 1st. There will be a limited grandfathering of current independent examiners pending availability of the full new certification program. Specifically, on July 1st, practitioners will be deemed eligible to serve as independent examiners if they meet the basic educational qualifications outlined in the Code (i.e., psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, LCSWs, LPCs, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists) and are otherwise free of conflicts of interest set forth in the Code. DMHMRSAS will announce the availability of the certification curriculum when it is operational, currently estimated at January 2009.
