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

(a) possess the PSCO supervisory certificate;

(b) have successfully completed the command or mid-management course at MLEA or the equivalency as designated by the POST advisory council (minimum 40 hour mid-management type course) ; and

(c) currently and for 1 year prior to the date of appointment have served satisfactorily at the command or mid-management level as attested to by the head of the employing agency.

(2) Public safety communications officers with out-of-state experience and training at the command level who are employed at that level by Montana 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 application have served satisfactorily at the command or mid-management level as attested to by the head of the employing agency;

(b) have successfully completed a command or mid-management course recognized by the POST advisory council as equivalent to such course requirements in Montana; and

(c) have 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 command certificate. If so, the council will award the certificate. If not, the council shall deny the application and notify the officer what is necessary for the officer to meet the requirements.

(3) The command or mid-management level is a position above the first-level supervisor for which commensurate pay is authorized; it is occupied by an officer who, in the upward chain of command, principally is responsible for directing and coordinating functional units of an agency or is subject to assignment of such responsibilities.