Compt: How to Review Professional Development Pro™ Requests - Admins
When a Professional Development Program is enabled in Compt, designated reviewers are responsible for approving or rejecting employee requests. Each request typically goes through a review process that may include a Primary Approver, an optional Secondary Approver, and a Reimbursement Reviewer. These roles help ensure requests align with company development goals and that reimbursement details are accurate before payroll processing.
As a reviewer, you will receive an email notification whenever a request requires your review. You can also view and manage all Professional Development requests directly in the Development Admin section of Compt.
OVERVIEW
Professional Development requests allow employees to request approval and reimbursement for learning opportunities such as courses, certifications, or training programs.
Each request moves through a review workflow that may include:
• Primary Approver – Often the employee’s manager, responsible for confirming the request aligns with professional goals.
• Secondary Approver – Often someone in People Ops or HR who provides additional oversight.
• Reimbursement Reviewer – Typically someone in Finance or Payroll who verifies reimbursement details and assigns tax categorization.
These roles are flexible and can be assigned to anyone responsible for reviewing requests in your organization.
WHEN TO USE
Use this process when you need to:
• Review an employee’s Professional Development pre-approval request
• Review reimbursement documentation after a development activity is completed
• Approve, edit, or reject requests submitted through the Professional Development Program
BEFORE YOU START
Make sure you:
• Are assigned as a Primary Approver, Secondary Approver, or Reimbursement Reviewer
• Have access to the Development Admin section in Compt
• Understand your organization’s Professional Development Program guidelines
You will receive email notifications when requests are awaiting your review.
HOW TO
- Log into Compt.
- Hover over Development Admin in the left sidebar.
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Click Review Requests.
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View the list of all submitted Professional Development requests.
- Locate the Status filters on the right side of the screen.
- Select the filter that corresponds to your reviewer role.
| Click this Status Filter Checkbox | If your Professional Development Program Role is |
| Pre-Approval Requested | Primary Reviewer |
| Partially Approved | Secondary Reviewer |
| Reimbursement Requested | Reimbursement Reviewer |
- Click the request you want to review.
You can either:
• Click the request directly in the list
• Click the three dots next to the request and select View Details
- Review the request details.
For pre-approval requests, you will see:
• The employee’s request form
• Documentation provided by the employee
• Course or program details
• Requested reimbursement amount
- Select the appropriate action.
| Status | Details |
| Approve | Select this option if the request meets all requirements. It will then be routed to the secondary approver (if assigned) or the reimbursement reviewer for final approval. |
| Reject | Choose this option if the request should be denied. The funds will be returned to the employee (unless it’s for a case-by-case program), and the employee will receive an email notification advising of the reason for the rejection. |
| Edit | Use this option if you’ve identified an error that can be corrected without rejecting the request. (e.g. Vendor name or another detail) |
| Comments Tab | If you need more information before approving, editing, or rejecting a request, click the Comments tab to message the employee directly. They’ll receive an email notification when you leave a comment. If they reply, you can view their response by returning to the comments tab for that specific request. |
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
If the request is approved:
- It moves to the next reviewer in the approval chain.
- If no additional approvers are required, it moves to the Reimbursement Reviewer.
For reimbursement requests:
- The Reimbursement Reviewer verifies the reimbursement documentation.
- The reviewer selects the appropriate tax categorization.
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The request is approved for payroll processing.
Approved reimbursements will appear in the Stipend Admin Payroll section of Compt for payroll processing.
Reimbursement is processed through payroll. For exact timing, Employees should check the FAQ tab in Compt for company-specific details.
Once payroll is completed, the employee’s expense will appear as Reimbursed on their My Development page.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Request not appearing in your list
Make sure the correct Status filter is selected for your reviewer role.
Unable to approve reimbursement
Reimbursement Reviewers must select a tax categorization before approving the request. Use Tax Checker if you are unsure which category to select.
Employee submitted incorrect information
Use the Edit option for minor corrections or request clarification through the Comments tab.
FAQS
Q: Can employees submit requests that exceed their available budget?
A: Yes. Employees can submit a pre-approval request that exceeds their current budget. Reviewers can approve, reject, or edit the request amount during the review process.
Q: What happens if a reviewer approves a request that exceeds the budget?
A: Once approved, the employee can be reimbursed up to the approved amount listed in the pre-approval request, even if it exceeds their original available budget.
Q: Can employees exceed the amount approved in their pre-approval request?
A: No. Once the pre-approval request is approved, the employee cannot submit a reimbursement request for more than the approved amount.
Q: Will employees be notified if their request is rejected?
A: Yes. Employees receive an email notification explaining the reason for the rejection.