(1) To be awarded the PSCO administrative certificate, a person must:

(a) possess the PSCO advanced certificate;

(b) have successfully completed the administrative or management courses at MLEA or the equivalency as designated by the POST advisory council (minimum 80 hour administrative type course) ; and

(c) currently and for a period of 1 year prior to the date of application shall have served satisfactorily at the administrative or management level of the employing agency.

(2) Public safety communications officers with out-of-state experience and training at the administrative level who are employed at that level by public safety communications agencies are eligible for the PSCO command certificate if they:

(a) currently and for a period of 1 year prior to the date of the application have served satisfactorily at the administrative level as attested to by the head of the employing agency, or if the applicant is the head of the employing agency, to the knowledge of the POST advisory council, is serving satisfactorily;

(b) have successfully completed an administrative course recognized by the POST advisory council as equivalent to such course requirements in Montana; and

(c) have successfully passed a POST advisory council background review. The council shall review the officer's training, education and experience to determine if the officer meets or exceeds all of the requirements for the administrative certificate. If so, the council will award the certificate. If not, the council shall deny the application and notify the officer as to what is necessary for the officer to meet the requirements.

(3) The administrative or management level is the top position for which commensurate pay is authorized, occupied by an officer who, in the upward chain of command, is either responsible for administering the agency or has broad administrative authority or is subject to assignment of such responsibilities and most commonly is a public safety communications administrator.