BETST Reimbursement Policy
The Mississippi Board of Emergency Telecommunications Standards and Training (BETST) is authorized to reimburse eligible training expenses associated with the successful completion of Board-approved training programs, subject to available funds appropriated by the Legislature.
Reimbursement is available only to agencies and political subdivisions of the State of Mississippi that are in compliance with the Emergency Telecommunications Training Program (ETTP), applicable state law, and all BETST policies and procedures.
Eligible Reimbursement Expenses
Allowable reimbursement expenses may include:
- Tuition/course fees
- Salary costs
- Mileage/travel expenses
- Lodging
- Meals
All reimbursement requests are subject to applicable BETST policies, DFA travel regulations, and available funding.
Agency Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for reimbursement, agencies must:
- Be an organization of the State of Mississippi or a political subdivision thereof;
- Employ telecommunicators who work a minimum of eight (8) hours within a thirty (30) day period;
- Adhere to all BETST selection, certification, and training standards;
- Submit all required BETST forms and supporting documentation; and
- Settle all accounts with the training provider prior to requesting reimbursement.
Training Distance Requirements
Board-approved training conducted within 150 miles of the telecommunicator's agency is eligible for reimbursement under normal reimbursement guidelines.
Training conducted more than 150 miles from the telecommunicator's agency requires prior written approval from BETST to be eligible for reimbursement of travel-related expenses.
If prior approval is not obtained, reimbursement may be limited to allowable tuition/course costs only.
Travel, Lodging, and Meals
- Mileage reimbursement is based upon the current State of Mississippi mileage rate.
- Agencies with multiple students attending the same training course are expected to carpool when practical.
- Lodging and meal reimbursement may not exceed the maximum rates authorized under state travel regulations.
- Itemized meal receipts are required to support reimbursement requests.
- Lodging the night prior to training is not reimbursable unless specifically approved or otherwise allowable under state travel regulations.
- State rate guidelines.
Out-of-State Training and Conferences
Current Board-approved reimbursement limits for out-of-state conferences are:
- Up to three (3) telecommunicators per agency per approved conference
- Up to $2,000 per telecommunicator for allowable expenses associated with attendance
The $2,000 cap applies to the total reimbursement request and is not limited solely to tuition costs.
Submission Requirements
To prevent processing delays, agencies should ensure:
- The most current BETST forms are utilized;
- All forms are completed in full;
- Supporting documentation is included;
- Reimbursement requests are submitted as individual PDF documents; and
- Documentation is submitted electronically unless otherwise requested by Standards and Training staff.
Hosting Training
Agencies interested in hosting Board-approved certification or training courses should contact a Board-certified instructor or approved training provider of their choosing regarding course availability, scheduling, and hosting requirements.
Once a course has been scheduled, the host agency and instructor are responsible for submitting any required course approval documentation to the Office of Standards and Training in accordance with BETST policies and procedures.
Questions
Reimbursement eligibility, documentation requirements, and allowable expenses may vary depending on the training attended and the telecommunicator's certification status. Agencies with questions are encouraged to contact the Office of Standards and Training prior to submitting reimbursement requests.
Reimbursement policies and procedures are subject to change based upon Board action, state law, and available funding.