Narrative: b. 3.

Missouri Procedure, Eligibility Criteria and Information Requirements for Eligible Training Providers

Eligibility Criteria

In order for a training provider to be considered they must meet one of the following criteria.

(1) The training provider can be an institution of higher education that provides a program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential, or

(2) another public or private provider of a program of training services, which may include joint labor-management organizations, eligible providers of adult education and literacy activities under Title II of WIOA, if such activities are provided in combination with occupational skills training.

For either of these eligibility criteria, schools must demonstrate they have been in business teaching a program for at least 12 months prior to applying, be certified by the appropriate governing body, and have an up-to-date website to include program descriptions, tuition, fees, and supplies. An applicant must have available upon request a copy of its license to operate, the authorizing body making this determination, and the date of expiration. Any expired license will need to be updated before eligibility determination can continue.

Applicants should submit programs leading to recognized postsecondary credentials or certifications of occupations in-demand. They also must demonstrate the ability to provide training services to individuals who are employed and to individuals with barriers to employment.

Registered Apprenticeship Eligibility Criteria

An entity that carries out programs registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the “National Apprenticeship Act’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) may also qualify for eligibility. Registered Apprenticeships that request to be included on the ETPS list are automatically approved with no further vetting by the State. A registered apprenticeship will remain on the list of eligible training providers (ETP) indefinitely if the provider remains registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. Apprenticeship programs are not required to track or report performance.

Process for determining training provider initial and continued eligibility. ETP Application Review Process, excluding Registered Apprenticeships, addressed above.

The primary criteria for training provider eligibility involves a vetting process to determine if certification from academic credentialing organizations or state agencies has been obtained. The four-step process is as follows:

1. Pull the institution’s file, or create a file if there is not one already set up;

2. Review each submitted program;

3. Locate the governing-body’s website(s) for program name, certification, or authorization to offer or teach programs. Governing bodies utilized are: Missouri Department of Higher Education; Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services; Missouri Department of Public Safety; Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration; Missouri Office of the Secretary of State; or, for non-Missouri applicants, the America’s Service Locator;

4. Print out the governing body documentation and highlight the programs listed on the ETPS application, noting any differences.

If tuition costs are not provided on governing-body documentation, search the institution website, locate and print out the institution’s tuition/fees/supplies cost. Out-of-state institutions not already approved in their home state must follow that state’s ETP Policy to become eligible as a prerequisite to an application to be on Missouri’s approved ETP list. When the review process is complete, and the application has met all criteria, login into ETPS and approve or reject each program. If rejecting a program, note the reason for the rejection on ETPS. Verify the program information’s appearance on the public site, and send an approval email to each of the institution contacts. This email will list all approved programs.

Finally, hardcopies of the following information must be placed in the paper file:

• Approval email sent to the institution;

• List of approved programs;

• Governing-body information; and

• Tuition information; Additional notes;

Subsequent ETPS Application Review Process

During the review process, DWD staff will pull institution files and review each application for information that was corrected per discussion via email or phone call, as well as deleted programs and/or added programs. If the changes are substantial enough, the review process will be repeated from the beginning to ensure that everything is reviewed.

When the subsequent review processes have been completed, approve or reject each program. Verify the program information’s appearance on the public site, and send an approval email to each of the institution contacts. This email will list all approved programs. Finally, hardcopies of the following information must be placed in the paper file:

• Approval email sent to the institution;

• List of approved programs;

• Governing body information;

• Tuition information if separate; Additional notes;

Subsequent Eligibility Under Modification

The Governor’s criteria for subsequent provider eligibility is in its final stages of implementation. ETPS is being updated to include additional fields requesting preliminary performance information per program and those fields are: Institutional Credential Attainment
Rate, Employment 6 and 12 Months after Exit, and Median Earning 6 Months after Exit.

Institutions are also given the option to submit a waiver for this year; the waiver should be a formal letter from the provider to the ETPS coordinator [trainingprovideradmin@ded.mo.gov] that includes Labor Market Information or other data to justify granting a waiver of the performance requirements.

Eligible Training Provider requirements, registration information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) are online at: https://jobs.mo.gov/community/missouri-eligible-training-provider-system.