The 83rd Texas Legislature required the Pension Review Board (PRB) to establish a Minimum Educational Training (MET) Program for trustees and system administrators of Texas public retirement systems. An organization or individual who seeks to offer training that meets MET Program requirements may apply to do so through two different pathways: sponsor accreditation or individual course approval. Public retirement systems that provide in-house training may also become certified to satisfy MET Program requirements using the same two paths. Please see below for detailed descriptions of each pathway.
The MET Program for trustees and system administrators went into effect on January 1, 2015, and the PRB is now accepting Sponsor Approval applications and Individual Course Approval applications. Information about the program, how to become a sponsor, links to the program rules, necessary forms, and the curriculum guide can be found below.
Curriculum Guide for MET Program – The Curriculum Guide outlines the core and non-core content areas that may be covered by an MET activity or series of activities.
Organizations, retirement systems, or individuals 
interested in offering MET courses may either apply to become accredited MET sponsors or submit individual courses for approval.
Sponsors who apply and become accredited will not have to apply for approval for each individual course they offer. This path is designed to meet the needs of frequent educational providers.
Sponsors who do not wish to become accredited must apply for prior approval of each individual course they would like to offer under the MET program. This path is generally geared towards sponsors who offer fewer or less frequent courses.
Sponsors may be accredited to offer MET activities in core content areas, non-core content areas, or both. The list below covers some of the key requirements to become an accredited sponsor; however, please refer to the rules linked above for a complete list of all required documentation and sponsor obligations.
Descriptions of each type of application follow. Please note that both applications require a course agenda or outline to be attached.
Sponsor Accreditation Application
This form should be submitted by organizations or individuals applying to become a Board accredited MET sponsor. This path is designed to meet the needs of frequent educational providers. Applicants will be notified by the Board of its acceptance or rejection. Sponsors are encouraged to read the program rules before applying. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered by the Board.
Individual Course Approval Application
This form should be submitted by an organization or individual that is not an accredited sponsor and that is seeking approval for one or more MET activities. This path is designed to meet the needs of a sponsor who does not wish to become accredited or who offers fewer or less frequent activities.
The Individual Course Approval Application may also be used by a system trustee or administrator who wishes to attend an MET activity from a sponsor that is not already accredited. Whether submitted by a sponsor or a system, this form must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of a training activity, although the PRB may grant exceptions in certain cases. Applicants will be notified by the Board of acceptance or rejection of an activity.
A public retirement system that provides in-house training to its trustees may either become an accredited sponsor or may apply for approval of individual training activities. The in-house training must meet the same standards as other sponsors, and systems are required to use the same applications above.
Questions? Read our Minimum Educational Training Program FAQs for Sponsors.
