31 Miss. Code. R. 601-12.3 - Procedures

1. All emergency telecommunicator applicants for re-certification shall complete the following steps to maintain their current certification status with the Board.

A. Applicants for telecommunicator re-certification shall submit a fully completed (1) Application for Re-certification and (2) Re-certification Report prior to expiration of their BETST professional certificate.

B. An emergency telecommunicator shall complete a minimum of 48 hours of approved elective training every three (3) years prior to the expiration date of their professional certificate. Each emergency telecommunicator shall review their training needs with their supervisor on a continuous basis and complete training as needed. Continuous education shall consist of the following:

1. Completion of at least 48 hours of elective training from no fewer than six subject areas over the three-year certification period. (subject area requires a minimum of four (4) hours)

a. A checklist of approved training programs will be provided by the Board from which the candidate may choose. Verification of elective training must be acknowledged in writing by the agency head or their designee via the Recertification Report.

b. Any courses or conference seminars which are not on the list of elective subject areas but are requested to be taken for this purpose must receive prior approval from the Board as counting toward meeting re-certification requirements. Only two (2) conferences may be used to obtain credit per recertification period. The Board will review conference schedules and determine the amount of subject area credits and elective hours to be granted per conference.

c. Reimbursement for elective training shall consist of all of the same expenses as initial certification (salary, tuition, lodging, meals, mileage) only up to the point of meeting re-certification requirements or on a first-come first-served basis, which shall be determined by the date of application. Reimbursement requests for any elective training may be submitted immediately upon completion of such.

Note: All out of state travel must be approved in writing by the Board prior to attending requested courses.

d. Elective training may consist of approved virtual/online training. Beginning January 1, 2023, all certified telecommunicators must be TCPR certified or shall complete a TCPR online certification course within 12 months. TCPR training is a requirement for re-certification each re-certification period. Telecommunicators shall be re-certified according to the TCPR vendors requirements. Proof of training shall be maintained by the agency in its personnel files and copies of training certificates must be attached to the "Online Training Report" when submitted to the Board for credit.

Virtual/Online elective training shall not exceed two (2) credits (eight [8] hours per credit) per re-certification period. A separate form must be submitted for each eight (8) hours of credit. The reimbursement of online training includes the telecommunicator's salary and approved tuition.

e. Completing another Basic and/or EMD course similar to that taken for initial certification is not creditable as a re-certification elective.

C. Once all appropriate paperwork and training has been completed and submitted to the Board, the emergency telecommunicator will be re-certified for another three years.

D. Any persons due to illness, class availability or other events beyond their control that could not complete the required elective training, may serve with full pay and benefits in such a capacity until they can complete the training. Those requesting an extension of their time must petition the Board in writing and also must note how much re-certification training has been completed at that point in time.

E. Break-in-Service: There is herein established a set of re-certification guidelines for those state certified emergency telecommunicators who leave the profession and later return.

1. Telecommunicators who have a break-in-service of four years or more shall be required to complete the same certification requirements as those who are new to the profession. This shall include completing a basic course, TCPR course, and orientation course (unless the orientation course was completed before the break) for law enforcement and fire certification and the EMD basic/CPR course for EMD certification.

2. Telecommunicators who have a break-in-service of less than four years shall meet re-certification requirements within one year of being rehired. Any training requirements completed after the most recent certification date and prior to the break-in-service shall count towards re-certification.

Notes

31 Miss. Code. R. 601-12.3

Miss Code Ann. § 19-5-353

Adopted 3/18/2019 Amended 11/30/2019 Amended 10/31/2021 Amended 1/30/2023