Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Probation/Parol Officer Certification Frequently Asked Questions

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We field a lot of criminal justice related questions here at Southwest Florida College’s Legal Studies department. Chiefly among them are questions like, “How do I become a Law Enforcement or Correctional Officer in the State of Florida?” Or, do I need to have a college degree to become a Law Enforcement Officer in the State of Florida?

As a response to these common inquiries, I have posted the following FAQ courtesy of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s / Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s website.

Feel Free to contact us at Southwest Florida College if you are interested in pursuing an Associates degree in Criminal Justice or a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Service Administration.
Patrick Flahive
Legal Studies Program Manager

1685 Medical Lane
Fort Myers, FL 33907

Office: 239-939-4766
Fax: 239-790-2118

Question: How do I become a certified officer in Florida?

Answer: There are three certifications in Florida; Law Enforcement, Corrections and Correctional Probation.

First, you must take and pass a Basic Abilities Test (BAT) in the discipline for which you want to become certified.

Upon passage of the BAT, you must be fingerprinted for purposes of a criminal history background check.

Once accepted, the next step is to complete the Basic Recruit Training Program at one of the CJSTC-certified training schools.

The candidate then must apply for and pass the State Officer Certification Exam for the discipline.

Finally, you must gain employment and comply with the requirements of Chapter 943.13, F.S. within four years of the date you started training.

Once all statutory requirements are met, the employing agency will apply for your certification. FDLE Staff will review your officer file at the agency to ensure statutory compliance, and approve your certification.


Question: Who pays for basic recruit training?

Answer: The individual may receive the training at his/her own expense before applying with an agency to become an officer.

Based on need, agencies have the ability to hire a person on a Temporary Employment Authorization and sponsor the applicant through the academy.
In some cases the potential employing agency may pay the tuition and salary of the officer trainee candidate. If this is done, the applicant may be required to sign an agreement to remain with that agency for a period of two years after completion of the training or they may be responsible to repay the agency for any expenses incurred during the training period.

You can refer to Chapter 943.16, F.S. for further information on possible pay back implications.


Question: If I am certified in another state, can I transfer my certification to Florida?

Answer: Yes, in most cases. You must contact one of the approved selection centers or an employing agency and provide them with documentation proving that you have worked at least one year as a full-time certified officer and have comparable training to Florida’s basic recruit training program.

Once the selection center or agency determines your eligibility, you will be issued an approved Application for Equivalency, CJSTC Form 76.

Upon receipt of this approval, you will have one year to demonstrate proficiency in the high liability areas (which may take up to two weeks) and pass the State Officer Certification Exam.

If you do not complete the process within one year from receiving the approved Application for Equivalency, you must complete the full basic recruit training program pursuant to Chapter 943.131(2), F.S. You are only allowed one Equivalency.


Question: What do I have to do to keep my certification?

Answer: All certified officers must complete 40 hours of training every four years to maintain their certification. This training can be taken at the employing agency or local training school, an must be approved by the agency administrator. It must be updated by the employing agency no later than June 30th, starting four years after the certification was granted. Mandatory retraining can only be updated when an officer is employed in a sworn position and is updated by the employing agency, FDLE does not update the mandatory retraining.

Law Enforcement Officers

1. Professional Traffic Stops and Discriminatory Profiling (no minimum hour requirement)

2. Domestic Violence (no minimum hour requirement)

3. Juvenile Sex Offender Investigation (no minimum hour requirement)

4. Human Diversity training (no minimum hour requirement and Professional Traffic Stops may be credited for Human Diversity Training)

5. Additional training the agency administrator approves for a total of 40 hours.

6. For mandatory retraining cycle starting on or after July 1, 2005, Use-of Force Scenario Based training is required. There are no hour requirements, but the training must include scenario-based firearms training, physiological response dynamics training, the Use-of-Force matrix and less lethal force options available within the agency, agency policies on Use-of–Force training and the legal aspects regarding Use-of-Force.

7. All certified law enforcement officers are required qualify once every two years with a firearm. This 40 round qualification course must be conducted by a Commission-certified firearms instructor. All certified law enforcement officers must qualify by June 30, 2008 and then by June 30th every two years thereafter.

8. Law enforcement officers who are authorized to carry a dart-firing stun gun must have a minimum of 1 hour of annual training on the use of dart-firing stun guns.

Correctional and Correctional Probation Officers
1. Human Diversity training (no hour requirement)

2. Additional training the agency administrator approves for a total of 40 hours.

3. For mandatory retraining cycle starting on or after July 1, 2005, Use-of-Force Scenario Based training is required. There are no hour requirements, but the training must include scenario-based firearms training (correctional officers only), physiological response dynamics training, the Use-of-Force matrix and less lethal force options available within the agency, agency policies on Use-of–Force training and the legal aspects regarding Use-of-Force.

4. Correctional and correctional probation officers who are authorized to carry a dart-firing stun gun must have a minimum of 1 hour of annual training on the use of dart-firing stun guns.


Question: How long is my certification valid?
Answer: Once certified, an officer’s certification is valid for 4-years following the date of certification. The officer must maintain active employment and meet the mandatory retraining requirements to keep the certification active.

If the officer separates from employment for any reason other than military duty, the officer has exactly four years from the date of separation before the certification expires.

During that time, the officer may need to take the 40-hour mandatory training to become re-employed. If the officer has a 4-year but less than 8-year break in service, he/she must contact one of the approved selection centers or an employing agency in order to verify previous Florida certification.

Once the selection center or agency verifies your eligibility, you will be issued an approved Application for Equivalency, CJSTC Form 76.

Upon receipt of this approval, you will have one year to demonstrate proficiency in the high liability areas (which may take one to two weeks) and pass the State Officer Certification Exam.


Equivalency of Training (EOT) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)


Question: Can I complete the Equivalency of Training CJSTC Form 76 and submit it to FDLE?

Answer: No. FDLE does not determine if you are eligible for an exemption from training. By law, criminal justice employing agencies or selection centers are responsible for reviewing out-of-state or federal officer's employment and training to initially determine eligibility for exemption. You would need to contact one of these entities to apply for an exemption from training.


Question: What does it cost for the Equivalency of Training process?

Answer: The cost to review your information and process the EOT is set by each selection center. You would need to contact them directly to determine what their individual price is. Additionally, each Criminal Justice Training Center


Question: Once I receive my Equivalency of Training CJSTC Form 76, what do I need to do?

Answer: Contact a Commission-certified Criminal Justice Training Center to register for the training class that will allow you to demonstrate proficiency in the high-liability skills for the sworn discipline you were granted your EOT in.


Question: How long do I have to complete the training and pass the State Officer Certification Examination?
Answer: You have four years from the date that you started your training course for your EOT to become employed.


Question: I had family problems and was not able to come to Florida to take the training and the State Certification Examination within the one year, can I apply for an extension of time?
Answer: No. The requirement to complete the demonstration of proficiency and pass the State Officer Certification Examination within one year is found in Chapter 943.131(2), Florida Statutes and because it is in Florida Statute, neither the Commission nor FDLE has any authority to extend the time period in such a situation.


Question: What happens if I fail the State Officer Certification Examination?

Answer: Provided you still have time remaining before your one year time limit expires, you may have up to two additional attempts to pass the exam. If you are unable to pass the exam after three attempts, you would have to complete a full basic recruit training program in order to be eligible to take the exam again. You can find additional information about the State Certification Exam here.


Question: If I am hired on a Temporary Employment Authorization (TEA), do I have to follow the time limits for the TEA or for the EOT?

Answer: You must abide by both. For example: Under the requirements for the EOT, you have one year to take the training and pass the State Officer Certification Examination. You could wait until the last few months to actually take the training and pass the exam if you chose to. If you are on a TEA, you are required to start the training course within 180 days of your appointment on a TEA, so you could not wait until near the end of your one year time limit to enter the training. Additionally, under the requirements for the TEA, you must pass the State Officer Certification Examination within 180 days of completing the training so if you complete your training very early in your one year time limit for the EOT, you would have to complete the exam prior to the end of the one year time limit to remain employed on the TEA. Also, if you are employed on a TEA, the 180 day time limit to pass the exam following your training does not extend the one year time limit to complete the requirements for the EOT.


Question: Once I complete the requirements of the EOT, how long do I have to get hired in a sworn position?

Answer: You only have one (1) year from the date you receive your EOT to complete the demonstration of proficiency and pass the State Officer Certification Examination.
If you do not complete the requirements of EOT within the one year time limit, pursuant to Florida Statutes, you will have to attend a full basic recruit training academy.


Question: What happens if I am not able to find a sworn position or decide to remain where I am after I complete the requirements of the EOT?
Answer: If you do not get employed in a sworn position within four years of the start date of the training course for the EOT, you can apply for another EOT provided you are still eligible or you would have to complete a full basic recruit academy.


Question: Is there a central location I can contact to apply for multiple agencies at once?
Answer: No, each agency is responsible for their own hiring and hiring standards above the minimum requirements found in Chapter 943.13, Florida Statutes. Some agencies do utilize a regional screening service in their area, but you would need to contact the agency to determine if they use a screening service or not. Contact information for Florida’s criminal justice employing agencies can be found here


Question: I did not work full time as an officer, but I completed a full basic recruit course in the state I was employed. Can I qualify for an EOT?
Answer: No. Chapter 943.131(2), Florida Statutes mandates that the one year of service must have been as a full-time sworn officer.


Question: My employing agency does not list me as a full-time officer, but my normal working hours for a week equal 40. Can I qualify for an EOT?
Answer: You may qualify provided your normal hours have equaled 40 for at least one year and you meet the other requirements. Rule 11B-35.009, Florida Administrative Code defines “full-time” as “any employed or appointed status in which a normal work week consists of forty or more on-duty hours, exclusive of overtime, holidays, regular days off, leave, or other authorized or ordered absence from work.” You will likely need payroll records from your employing agency in order for the selection center conducting your review to document you meet the employment requirement.


Question: Is there an EOT process for Auxiliary Officers?
Answer: No. Due to the very wide range of training requirements and the way auxiliary officers are used throughout the country, no EOT process has been authorized by the Commission.


Question: I am dual certified in corrections and law enforcement in my home state. Can I do an EOT for both disciplines at the same time?
Answer: Yes, you will have to have two separate Equivalency of Training CJSTC Form 76 completed for you, one for each discipline. Your demonstration of proficiency for the law enforcement discipline can be counted for your corrections as the law enforcement covers everything required for the corrections with the addition of vehicle operations required for law enforcement. You will also have to take both the corrections and the law enforcement versions of the State Officer Certification Examination and they can not be taken at the same time.


Question: I am certified in corrections in my home state, but want to become certified in law enforcement in Florida. Will I have to compete the full basic recruit training for law enforcement?
Answer: You can apply for and complete the requirements for the EOT for corrections. Once you have passed the State Officer Certification Examination, you would be eligible to complete a cross-over basic recruit class to cross-over from corrections to law enforcement.


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About Southwest Florida College: Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call 1-877-455-0107 or visit http://www.swfc.edu.