(1) Applicants for full mental health certification must demonstrate successful performance as mental health clinicians, a thorough understanding of the statutory responsibilities of a mental health professional person and knowledge of the full range of mental health services in Montana. In addition, to obtain full mental health certification a person must:

(a) have earned a doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study which is clearly identified as preparing the student for the clinical treatment of mental illness and have at least 6 months of full-time clinical mental health experience following receipt of the doctoral degree; or

(b) have earned a master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university in a curriculum when included at least 3 courses in therapeutic techniques for treating mental illness and have at least 1 year of full-time clinical mental health experience following receipt of the master's degree; or

(c) have earned a master's degree in clinical or counseling psychology from an accredited college or university and have at least 1 year of full-time clinical mental health experience following receipt of the master's degree; or

(d) have earned a master's degree in psychiatric nursing from an accredited college or university and have at least 1 year of full-time clinical mental health experience following receipt of the master's degree; or

(e) have earned a master's degree in a human services field other than social work, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or psychiatric nursing from an accredited college or university in a curriculum with a preponderance of course work and practicum experience in a clinical mental health area and have at least 2 years of full-time clinical mental health experience following receipt of the master's degree; or

(f) be a registered nurse with a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university and have 5 years of full-time clinical mental health experience following receipt of the bachelor's degree.

(2) Applicants with a master's degree in a field which is relevant to some aspect of treatment of mental illness and who have at least 5 years of full-time clinical mental health experience may be granted full mental health certification based upon a special review by the certification committee of the individual's clinical mental health experience and letters of reference testifying to clinical competence. Such applicants must demonstrate a degree of competence and knowledge which is, in the opinion of the certification committee, equivalent to that of individuals with the training and experience listed above.