POST certificate

[bigkyle72]

Do any one know if the POST certificate that we earn in California works in other state or is there a link that says if so and what states they are valid in.

[P5Ret]

I had a couple friends take out of state jobs in Nevada and Washington. They accepted the basic requirements but they still had to take a skills assessment and do a couple weeks book work before they were good to go. They were both laterals,an entry level with just an academy completion certificate may be a different story.

[BigDogatPlay]

In many states the standard as similar to out of state officers coming to California for employment. Typically certification + recent sworn employment is accepted and the officer must then complete a waiver course. Here in California that waiver course is also used by those who've been out of the business/academy for a while to freshen their certifications. When I re-certified in the late 1990's it was only a three week course but it's grown since then. It amounts to a PC832 course, along with legal and evidence updates, perishable skills refreshers (firearms, DT, PMA, etc), and scenario. I believe there is a PT component to the California course now, that there didn't use to be. There is a summary examination at the end of the course similar to the exit exam in a basic academy.

California POST certification will open doors in a lot of states as our training standards are still higher than many / most states. Each state has it's own standards, but pretty much all of them have a waiver process for out of state laterals. If there is a particular state you are interested in, you would want to check that particular state's regulations.

Here is Arizona's standard as an example.

[kermit315]

How many hours is the academy in CA? I know ours here in Florida is 770, and Illinois is 400.

Just curious.

[castelle]

I think my academy in the bay area was somwhere around 900 hours total. I think there may be some minor differences in total hours depending on department or location but don't quote me on that.

[strokerace]

the POST basic academy in california is 880 hours last i heard but it may be up to 888 now.

[Matt1984]

I graduated one last year I think it was 889 hours.

[HisOwnHero]

Do any one know if the POST certificate that we earn in California works in other state or is there a link that says if so and what states they are valid in.

Washington State will allow out of state lateral transfers. You must complete an "equivalency academy" which is basically a once a week online training course for I believe 9 weeks in conjunction with while your in FTO phase. Upon completion, you do some in person scenario training and are all good to go.

[Notorious]

I thought the POST basic requirement was 664 hours minimum to meet POST but most academies exceed it by adding non-POST material like courtroom demeanor and extra report writing. I think I had 720 hours when I got done.

[mixicus]

Per the CA POST website, the minimum is 664 hours for a full time basic academy. The modular format, minimum is 730 hours (allows for redundant instruction).

Many academies exceed those numbers. Orange County Sheriff Academy is closer to 1000 hours.

[wrestlingnrj]

I went through the Goldenwest academy and ours was 1100 hours and I know they want to bump it up another 80.

[Ron-Solo]

It varies by state

[bigkyle72]

Thanks for all the responses guys! Big help.

[bigkyle72]

Thanks for all the responses guys! Big help.

[NineteenElev3n]

My academy was minimum 880 hours.