NEXT BETST BOARD MEETING – Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 10:00 am, Phone Conference - Call Board staff for call-in information
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UPDATES
The Board voted to approve online EMD basic and Virtual/Online electives. The Board has confirmed that any approved vendor’s course maybe taught virtual or online. The Board has approved to cap reimbursement for virtual or online courses at $200.00 per 8 hours.
The Board will reimburse Quality Assurance Officer training for 1 officer per 15 employees.
The Board decided to remove the NCIC recertification test from the list of electives. The Board will no longer count this course as an elective nor reimburse the salary of the person taking the test.
The Board voted to remove ride-alongs (field observations) as a requirement for certification and removed them as electives. The Board encourages agencies to continue ride-alongs, however they will not be reimbursed or counted toward electives. The Board voted to increase the 100-mile rule to 150 miles. The Board voted to remove in-house training as an elective. Approved online courses can count as electives. Two credits totaling 16 hours may be used per recertification period.
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BASIC GUIDELINES FOR EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATORS
1. Requirements for Initial Certification
a. Submit “Application for Certification” within thirty (30) days of date of hire.
b. Complete the MS Emergency Telecommunications 16-hour Orientation Course within ninety (90) days from date of hire. Complete T-CPR online course within twelve (12) months from date of hire.
c. Complete an approved forty (40) hour Basic Certification Course within twelve (12) months from date of hire. (APCO, IAED, NECI) (Classroom and Virtual courses are approved) (Online Basic not approved)
d. Emergency Medical Service telecommunicators must also complete an approved EMD Basic Course (APCO, IAED, NECI) within twelve (12) months from date of hire and must have current certification in CPR. Online EMD Basic is approved for APCO & IAED.
e. Submit Basic Vendor’s Certificate of Completion, Basic EMD Vendor’s Certificate of Completion (if applicable), CPR Certificate (if applicable), Orientation Certificate of Completion, T-CPR Certificate of completion.
f. Telecommunicator must be certified within twelve (12) months from date of hire.
g. After twelve (12) months of service, if the telecommunicator is not certified, the agency is prohibited from paying the salary of the telecommunicator and any person violating this subsection of the law shall be personally liable for making such payment.
h. Certificates issued by the Board shall expire three (3) years from the date of certification.
i. Persons that dispatch over eight (8) hours per month must be certified.
2. Requirements for Re-certification
a. Before the expiration of the certificate: Complete six (6) credits (electives) of subject area training during three (3) year certification period (subject area credits require a minimum of four (4) hours of elective training) (subject areas must be approved by Board). The T-CPR online course is a requirement each re-certification period.
b. Complete at least forty- eight (48) hours of elective training.
c. Submit “Application for Re-certification”.
d. Submit “Re-certification Report”. Attach proof of completion of six (6) electives and forty-eight (48) hours of elective training.
3. Reimbursement Claims
a. Agencies must submit a reimbursement claims form within ninety (90) days of completion of training. Claim may be submitted immediately following completion of the course with proper documentation. (Initial certification claims cannot be issued until all requirements are met for certification.) Reimbursements can only be issued from funds appropriated by the Legislature. Incomplete claim requests can drastically delay the processing of the claim.
b. All itemized expense receipts must be attached to the reimbursement claim form.
c. Course certificates of completion and course evaluation forms completed by the student must be attached for each course taken.
d. When funds are available, BETST is authorized to reimburse for meals, lodging, travel, course fees tuition) and salary (if in compliance) during the time spent training, upon successful completion of an approved course.
e. Reimbursement requests will be on a first come first-served basis, which shall be determined by the date of the request.
f. Please see the BETST calendar for approved course times and locations and for other reimbursement requirements. Only BETST approved courses are reimbursable.
4. Out of State Travel
a. All out of state travel must be approved in writing thirty (30) days prior to attending training if reimbursement or credits will be requested. Approval may be based on available funding.
5. Termination from Telecommunicator Duty
a. Agency must notify Board (Termination/Reassignment Form) within ten (10) days when a telecommunicator leaves such duty by reassignment, retirement, resignation, etc. Certificate must accompany the form.
These guidelines are provided for quick reference to rules. For complete rules of the BETST, please see BETST PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL.
www.dps.ms.gov/public-safety-planning/standards-and-training
Always provide name and number when submitting documents.