7-03/015.00 - Post Certificate Requirements

7-03/015.00 POST Certificate Requirements

All sworn peace officers, under 830.1 PC, employed by the Department, shall possess and maintain a valid Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification.

Basic Certificate

• Complete the current employing department’s probationary period of not less than 12 months; and

• Satisfy the minimum entry-level basic course training standard for the applicant’s current position.

Intermediate and Advanced Certificates

Minimum requirements to qualify for an intermediate or advanced POST certificate are: years of experience, education points, and training points.  All three (3) requirements must be met.

Training Points

One training point equals 20 hours of law enforcement training.  Individuals receive training points from the Basic Academy course, in-service training, and may include outside training.  College-affiliated training can be counted as “education” or “training” points, but not both.  Training points cannot be substituted for education points (college units).

Education Points

Education points include college units from any accredited college and may include those units obtained through college-affiliated training/in-service training.  If the college is on a semester system, each unit equals one education point.  If the college is on a quarter system, multiply the number of units by 2/3 (.667) to calculate your education points.  One education point (college unit) equals one training point.  Education points (college units) can be substituted for training points.

Supervisory Certificate

• Possess or be eligible to possess an intermediate certificate;

• Complete a minimum of 60 units from an accredited college;

• Successfully complete a POST-certified Supervisory Course; and

• Possess two years’ law enforcement experience as a permanent first-level supervisor or higher.

Management Certificate

• Possess, hold, or be eligible to hold an Advanced Certificate;

• Complete a minimum of 60 semester units from an accredited college;

• Successfully complete a POST-certified Management Course; and

• Possess two years’ law enforcement experience in a permanent middle management or higher position.

Information regarding any of the above certificates may be obtained by contacting the Training Bureau’s Education & Training Records Unit.

POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate

• Be employed with a department participating in the POST Dispatcher Program;

• Be appointed as a full-time safety dispatcher;

• Successful completion of a POST-certified Public Safety Dispatcher’s Basic Course of no less than 80 hours; and

• Satisfactorily complete the current Department’s probationary period of at least 12 months.

Information regarding eligibility requirements for the certificate may be obtained by contacting the Training Bureau’s Civilian Training Unit.