Partnership for Regulatory Education and Training (PRET)
Welcome from Brooke Mullican, OTED Director
Dear Regulatory Partner,
OTED is thrilled to introduce the Partnership for Regulatory Education and Training (PRET) a new initiative designed to empower State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) partners. By equipping our partners to independently deliver OTED courses, PRET aims to enhance training capabilities and strengthen regulatory capacity across all levels, reinforcing our collective commitment to safeguarding public health.
Yours in Partnership,
Brooke Mullican
About PRET
For years, OTED has tried to increase training and educational opportunities available to our state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) partners, but demand has increasingly outpaced our ability to meet the need, due to staff and financial limitations. The Partnership for Regulatory Education and Training (PRET) offers an opportunity to empower jurisdictions to meet their own training needs, while using FDA designed and updated course materials, through Qualified Instructors from their own staff.
Courses Offered
- FD190 Food Current GMP, Application, and Evidence
- FD202 Conducting Acidified Food Inspections
- FD219 Conducting Juice Inspections
- FD249 Conducting Seafood Inspections
- FD204 Temporary Food Establishments
- FD207 Plan Review
- FD220 Combined FD215 Managing Retail Food Safety and FD218 Risk-Based Inspection Methods in Retail
- ER220 Traceback Investigations
- ER310 Food Safety in the Event of Disasters
- FD145: Basic Shellfish Plant Inspection (NEW in September 2025!)
*Please note, other courses will be offered in FY26.
More About PRET
- Independence for SLTTs to support their own training needs
- Access to OTED’s most up-to-date course content
- Access to the Information Disclosure Portal
- Lowered costs and traveling for jurisdictions
- Consistency in the quality of training delivery
- Co-facilitate with other jurisdictions
- Qualified instructors trained by FDA
- Step 1: Jurisdiction Enrollment
- SLTT partners complete an enrollment form designating a point-of-contact, contact details, and identify their qualified instructor candidates.
- Link to Enrollment Application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PRET-Enroll
- Step 2: Qualified Instructor Application
- Qualified Instructor candidates submit an application that includes their CV, contact details, and other relevant information.
- Step 3: Qualified Instructor Training
- Qualified Instructor candidates take the base course, along with all prerequisites, and the Qualified Instructor Training, or T-course.
- Please see the Qualified Instructor process for QI application.
- Step 4: Jurisdiction Course Delivery
- Jurisdictions will receive access to all course materials. They can schedule and hold their courses. OTED staff is available to answer any questions.
- Step 5: Completions Recorded
- After course delivery, jurisdictions will submit rosters to the OTED PRET Email. Rosters will be uploaded to LearnEd and recorded in the system.
- Step 6: Annual Updates & Training
- OTED will provide annual updates and training. OTED will provide updated materials. Feedback will be collected to improve the program.
- Step 1 Submit your Application
- Submit your application after jurisdiction enrollment application has been submitted.
- Link for QI application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PRET-QI-Application
- Step 2 Base Course
- Take the base course you are wanting to be qualified for within the last three years.
- Step 3 Trainer Course
- Take the Qualified Instructor Training or “T” course.
- Step 4 Develop Your Instructor Skills
- Take an instructors skills training course. CC101 is one of many options. The IST course can be taken at any time during the QI Candidate process.
- The Office of Training, Education and Development agrees to administer all aspects of the PRET program, including but not limited to, the following:
- PRET Project Officer will ensure quarterly contact with the agency
- Make every effort to provide a response to the agency's enrollment request within ten (10) business days of receipt
- Schedule PRET Qualified Instructor Training courses ("T" courses) annually
- Provide access to yearly updated materials (Instructor Guide, Admin Guides, Participant Guides, hand-outs, etc.)
- Host an annual update seminar in September
- Process all rosters received in LearnED within ten (10) business days of receipt (keep agency updated if there are delays)
- Answer questions related to the PRET program and/or act as intermediary between agency and OTED course Training Specialist, when needed
- The participating agency will:
- Not delete or alter content from the original course materials provided by FDA OTED
- Ensure Qualified Instructors (QIs) teach the course in its entirety
- Use the latest updated course materials as provided by FDA OTED
- Facilitate participant registration and verify participants’ completion of any course prerequisites
- Maintain and submit attendance roster for each course to FDA OTED within two weeks of course completion
- Attend yearly update/kick-off session during Fall Seminar week (QIs included)
- Provide updated contact information for the designated POC
- Update FDA OTED if Qualified Instructors are no longer employed by your agency
- Maintain contact with the PRET Project Officer
- Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO)
- International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI)
- National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
- The University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK)