Training Eligibility

Eligibility for BEP Training 

The Randolph-Sheppard Act specifically indicates that preference shall be given to individuals who are "in need of employment." For purposes of compliance with this statute an individual shall be determined "in need of employment," and eligible for Business Enterprise Program training and assignments when:

• An individual is unemployed,
• A person is earning less than or equal to 40 hours a week times the minimum wage,
• A person is employed in a Business Enterprise location, or
• Active rehabilitation clients whose vocational objective is placement in the Business Enterprise Program and whose name is placed on the Potential Operators List, and who takes employment while waiting to be placed in the Business Enterprise Program. In these situations the potential operator will remain on the Potential Operators List with full rights as a potential operator until one of the following occurs: Is awarded a Business Enterprise program location, or elects to have his/her name removed from the Potential Operators List. If a three-year period lapses, then the individual will be required to be retrained.

When an individual does not meet the requirements as determined by the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, or is not "in need of employment" the client will not be eligible for BEP training and/or placement.