POST Certificates

Required Peace Officer Certificates

Proof of Eligibility - All peace officers who do not currently possess or are not eligible for a Basic Certificate are required to obtain a Proof of Eligibility (POE) within 10 days of appointment.  The Proof of eligibility is required for specified peace officers employed by both POST-participating and non-POST-participating agencies.

Basic Certificate - Any full-time peace officer employed by a POST-participating agency who successfully completes the appropriate basic course requirement for their classification and successfully completes their agency’s probationary period of not less than 12 months is eligible for the Basic Certificate.

Professional Peace Officer Certificates

The Commission on POST issues seven professional certificates to peace officers: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Management, Executive, Reserve Officer, Specialized Certificate and Coroner Certificate. These certificates are awarded as defined in Commission Regulation 1202.

Non-Peace Officer Certificates

Public Safety Dispatcher Certificates are awarded, as defined in Commission Regulation 1011, to currently employed full-time dispatcher employees of an agency that participates in the POST Public Safety Dispatcher program.

The Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate is awarded to employees who have satisfactorily completed the Public Safety Dispatchers’ Basic Course and the agency’s probationary period.

The Dispatch Supervisor Certificate is awarded to employees who have successfully completed a POST-certified Supervisory Course, and possess a minimum of two years law enforcement experience as a permanent first-level supervisor or higher.

Records Supervisor Certificates are awarded, as defined in Commission Regulation 1011 to currently employed full-time records supervisor employees of a POST-participating agency who have satisfactorily completed a minimum of two years satisfactory service as a records supervisor, have completed the Records Supervisor Course (40-hour minimum) and the Public Records Act Course (16-hour minimum) listed in the POST Catalog of Certified Courses.