31 Miss. Code. R. 601-11.3 - Procedures

1. Minimum requirements for certification of training instructors for Basic, EMD or Recertification courses.

A. Application: Individuals desiring to instruct in BETST- approved courses must thoroughly complete a formal application. Applications from currently employed telecommunicators must be submitted to their agency director (i.e., police chief, sheriff, etc.). That director will review and forward the endorsed application to the Board for consideration. Applicants who are former telecommunicators (self- sponsored) will forward their endorsed application to the Board for consideration. Each nominee for certification must meet the following requirements:

B. Education and Experience: All instructor applicants must show educational and public safety experience equal to one (1) of the following:

1. A high school graduate and five (5) or more years of experience as an Emergency Telecommunicator,

2. Two (2) years of college and four (4) or more years of experience as an Emergency Telecommunicator,

3. A bachelor's degree and three (3) or more years of experience as an Emergency Telecommunicator.

C. Basic Training: All applicants must have completed a 40-Hour Board-approved Basic Telecommunicator Course. All applicants desiring to instruct EMD must have completed the Emergency Medical Dispatch course.

D. Sufficient Knowledge of Subject Matter: The applicant must demonstrate an adequate history as determined by the Board based on training, education, experience, professional credentials and/or proficiency skills suitable to the topic of instruction of which certification is being sought. Applicants must have been employed as a telecommunicator or must have instructed telecommunicator courses within the past (5) years.

E. Knowledge of Instruction: The applicant shall be cognizant of the methods of instruction and the aids available. Instructors must be able to clearly present the course material and meet the objectives outlined by the Board. New applicants must have attended and completed a BETST approved Instructor Development Course.

F. Instructor Training Attendance Approval: Prior to any individual attending a Board-approved instructor training course for emergency telecommunications, that individual shall obtain written approval from the Office of Standards and Training. Instructors will be approved only on a need basis.

1. Once an instructor application is submitted and approved, then an individual may attend a Board-approved instructor course.

2. After completing the instructor course, the instructor applicant must assist in one formal Basic and/or EMD Certification classroom course under the observation of a certified instructor. The certified instructor must provide the Board with an evaluation of the instructor applicant's performance. After successfully completing the instructor course and receiving a favorable evaluation the instructor applicant will be eligible for certification by the Board.

3. An instructor may conduct training only in the vendor course in which he/she has been certified to instruct. The medical portion of an Emergency Medical Dispatch course must be taught by an individual possessing EMT, Paramedic, or higher level critical-care medical training.

G. Expiration: All instructor certifications expire three (3) years from the date of issue.

H. Activity: All instructors shall remain active during their period of certification. Each instructor shall conduct three (3) Board-approved telecommunications courses (Basic, EMD) within each 36-month period of their certification. Modular courses (commonly referred to as "self-paced" courses) which do not require formal classroom instruction on the part of the instructor does not count towards this requirement. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a non-renewal of instructor credentials at the expiration of certification period. Instructors that fail to meet the requirement are not eligible to reapply for certification until twelve (12) months after the expiration date of their certificate.

1. Agencies which elect to send an employee to an instructor training course and do not agree to allow that person to instruct individuals from outside agencies, will not be reimbursed by the Board for that employee's attendance.

2. The Board will provide reimbursement for attendance to instructor certification training when the following two conditions are met:

a. The employee's agency head, through the signature on the back of the instructor application, agrees to allow said individual to instruct employees of other agencies, and

b. The employee conducts one formal classroom-type course in which that person is a primary or secondary instructor in the course.

I. Compliance: Instructors shall maintain a current status and remain in compliance with the provisions set forth by their respective course originators as well as the Board of Emergency Telecommunications Standards and Training.

1. Instructors shall adhere to the minimum training requirements of the course originators when conducting a course including the number of hours and the materials covered.

2. Instructors shall sign a Memorandum of Understanding from the Board which clarifies what is expected of them when conducting a Basic, EMD, or Elective course on behalf of the Board and the requirement to evaluate and assist instructor applicants.

J. Evaluation: The instructor shall be evaluated periodically by the BETST staff or other qualified individuals on dimensions determined by the Board. Evaluations shall remain on file at the Standards and Training Office.

K. Renewal: Individuals applying for renewal of instructor certification must complete a formal application for renewal. The issuance of a renewal certificate will depend on meeting the following requirements:

1. The renewal application shall be thoroughly completed and signed by the applicant and his/her agency director.

2. The instructor must provide documentation that he/she has conducted a minimum of three Board-approved curriculum courses in a formal classroom setting during the certification period expiring.

3. The instructor must provide documentation of his/her continuing knowledge and experience in the requested area of re-certification.

L. Property of certificates: As with the professional certificate, the instructor certificate remains the property of the Board. The possession and stewardship of the certificate is the responsibility of the sponsoring agency. Instructors are representatives of the Board. The Board may reprimand, suspend (upon conditions imposed by the Board), or cancel and recall any instructor certificate upon a showing of just cause, which includes, but is not limited to:

1. Administrative error in issuance,

2. Falsification of any information on the application,

3. Failure to complete the prescribed internship,

4. Conviction or entering a plea of either guilty or nolo contendere, being fined, ordered into probation or pre-trial diversion in relation to a crime that is directly related to the duties and responsibilities of an instructor, or engage in any condition, conduct, or action that would greatly diminish the public trust in the competence and reliability of the instructor,

5. Mistreatment, abuse, or improper behavior involving a student,

6. Consistent failure to follow Board-approved training guidelines, learning objectives and lesson plans (where established), consistent negative evaluations (student, staff, Board), or complaints, derogatory statements concerning the Board, Board staff, Public Safety Agencies/staff by speech or social media postings, and

7. Any other actions detrimental to professional emergency telecommunications training.

M. Staff may take administrative action to reprimand, suspend, or cancel and recall an instructor certificate for any of the purposes stated above. Upon taking administrative action, the certificate holder will be notified by the staff of such action and informed of his/her right to a hearing before the Board.

2. Minimum requirements for the approval of instructors for elective training.

A. Sufficient Knowledge of Subject Matter: The applicant must demonstrate an adequate history as determined by the Board based on training, education, experience, professional credentials and/or proficiency skills suitable to the topic of instruction of which certification is being sought.

B. Knowledge of Instruction: The applicant shall be cognizant of the methods of instruction and the aids available. Instructors must be able to clearly present the course material and meet the objectives outlined in the course. New applicants must have attended and completed a BETST approved Instructor Development Course. New applicants seeking approval to instruct elective training must make a presentation before the Board describing their knowledge of the subject matter and knowledge of instruction on the objectives of the course(s) they desire to teach.

C. Approval of New Course(s): Instructors submitting new courses for Board approval must make a short presentation before the Board describing the course objectives. Board members may present the course objectives of a course proposed by their agency. If the Board determines that the course meets the training needs of a telecommunicator, the Board will approve the course to be taught as a pilot program. This course must be taught within one year of approval or the instructor must request an extension from the Board. The staff or board member will monitor all proposed courses and bring their findings back to the Board for final action. Existing courses will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. Course approval requests by instructors from government/non-profit organizations or out of state may be submitted with their professional credentials and course objectives to a Board or staff member for presentation. The instructor must submit prior to presentation, a lesson plan including course overview; a bound student manual; an instructor manual containing notes; power points (with videos and audio); handouts; written synopsis of scenarios or tabletops; test with answer key indicating the slide or page number the information may be found; one additional training aid; sample copy of completion certificate; and an authorization letter if copyright material is used.

D. Application: Individuals (in state) desiring to instruct in BETST-approved elective courses must thoroughly complete a formal application. An elective instructor may conduct training only in the vendor course in which he/she has been certified to instruct. The vendor must verify that the elective instructor has successfully completed a train the trainer course conducted by the vendor and is permitted to instruct the vendor's approved course(s) by issuing a certificate to the instructor. The certificate shall list the course or courses authorized by the vendor to be taught. The staff will monitor and evaluate the applicant's first class. This certificate must be renewed every (3) years when the vendor submits their re-certification application. See (11.3, 2 F) below.

E. Instructors certified for elective training shall maintain compliance with all BETST policies and procedures. Instructors must conduct three approved courses per year to remain on the active elective instructor list. (Basic, EMD does not apply) Instructors are expected to hold regional classes due to travel restrictions. Instructors must provide students with a student manual and handouts.

F. Instructors approved for elective training shall submit a revised/updated lesson plan including course overview, a bound student manual, and instructor manual containing notes, power points (with videos and audio), handouts, written synopsis of scenarios or table tops, test with answer key indicating the slide or page number the information may be found, one additional training aid, sample copy of completion certificate, and an authorization letter if copyright material is used, every (3) years to the Board for approval with their re-certification application. All changes must be noted on a separate document to reference the location (page number, slide number) of the revision or updates.

3. Approval of Course(s): The "Emergency Telecommunicator Course Certification Request " form must be submitted to the Board thirty (30) days before the start date of the course. The instructor's credentials, course objectives and narrative description of the course must be included. If the course/instructor is approved the Board staff will post the approval on the training calendar.

Notes

31 Miss. Code. R. 601-11.3

Miss Code Ann. § 19-5-353

Adopted 3/18/2019 Amended 6/20/2019 Amended 11/30/2019 Amended 10/31/2021