Article 15 of the PS&T contract provides money for training courses, grants, reimbursement for workshops and licensure exam fees. The PEF/State Joint Professional Development Committee (PDC) works together to assess the professional development and training needs of PEF members and establishes training that improves the skills and knowledge needed for job performance. The State is required to meet and confer with PEF within the PDC with regard to expenditures of these monies.

The PDC is pleased to announce the following negotiated professional development programs for PEF-represented employees.  These programs, except the new pilot program, Certification and License Renewal Fee Reimbursement (CLRFR) Program, are retroactively reimbursable back to Jan. 1, 2020.  The pilot CLRFR program is retroactive back to April 1, 2020. Details for each program described below can be found here:

https://oer.ny.gov/public-employees-federation-afl-cio-pef

College Tuition Reimbursement (CTR) Program
Employees can apply for full or partial reimbursement for as many as two qualifying, credit-bearing courses per calendar year at any accredited college or university. You submit for reimbursement after the course ends and you have paid the school.

Nurses’ Enhanced College Tuition Reimbursement (NECTR) Program
Nurses who meet eligibility requirements may use an additional CTR toward extra courses, or they may apply an enhanced CTR to a single qualifying course where the cost of tuition exceeds the maximum value of a CTR under the regular CTR program. Applications are now being accepted.

Workshop and Seminar Reimbursement (WSR) Program
Employees can apply for reimbursement of up to $1,600 per calendar year for qualifying non-credit-bearing courses, seminars, and workshops. Applications are now being accepted.

Nurses’ Enhanced Workshop and Seminar Reimbursement (NEWSR) Program
Nurses who have exhausted benefits under the WSR Program (see above) can apply for additional reimbursement up to $1,600 per calendar year for workshops or seminars that will enhance their performance in their current job or further their nursing career. Applications are now being accepted for eligible non-credit-bearing courses, seminars, and workshops.

Certification and Licensure Exam Fee Reimbursement (CLEFR) Program
Employees can apply for reimbursement up to $1,100 per calendar year for qualifying fees associated with examinations leading to initial licensure or certification. Applications are now being accepted.

NEW Certification and License Renewal Fee Reimbursement (CLRFR) Pilot Program
Employees can apply for reimbursement of up to $100 per fiscal year for qualifying fees associated with certification and license renewals. Applications are now being accepted.

Lastly, New York State provides training opportunities, including some offered through the Article 15 Professional Development Committee, on OER’s Statewide Learning Management System (SLMS). You can obtain information about those programs by clicking on the following website and logging into the SLMS: https://nyslearn.ny.gov/

Members can also contact staff in the PEF Training and Education department with any additional questions at (518) 785-1900, ext. 254.