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Minimum Qualifications
When designing the Rehabilitative Treatment and Supportive Services program (RTSS), the Iowa Department of Human Services and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) negotiated the minimum qualifications for staff providing behavioral health services. These standards require at minimum a bachelor’s degree in a related human service field (from an accredited institution) and two years related experience for staff providing therapy and counseling services. Staff providing skill services need a high school diploma and one year related experience.

These minimum qualifications are intended to assure children are served by individuals possessing a minimum level of skill and experience. Certification staff encourage clinical supervision and professional development for all treatment staff. It is the provider's responsibility to assure staff meet minimum qualifications to provide RTSS. Information on staff qualifications can be found in the RTSS Provider Handbook, Chapter C (pages 3-8).  A directory of accredited institutions can be found on the Internet as well.

Note: When determining educational qualifications, the college transcript is the best source for the name of a degree and major. If you rely on an applicant’s resume, there is a possibility the degree and major may be inaccurate.  Many providers verify degrees with the institution's registrar.

Degree Reviews
When a specific degree is not listed in the Provider Handbook or is not found in the list of degrees already reviewed, a DHS review of the degree is required. Below are some tools to assist you as you prepare for a DHS review. It will be helpful if you review these prior to contacting your certification specialist to initiate the formal review process.

  • Degree Help Sheet - 
    This worksheet may be used to determine if a degree other than social work is a "related human service field degree" for RTS.

  • Assessing Coursework Preparation - 
    In order for a degree to be considered a related human service field, the required course work in the major must include at least six of the nine areas of preparation.

  • Related Human Service Field - 
    Criteria for Determining Whether an "Other" Degree is a Related Human Service Field

Certification maintains a comprehensive list of degrees reviewed by the Department (which is updated every June).

If you have questions about a degree or experience, do not hesitate to contact a certification specialist.

 

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This page last updated: 3/31/2006

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