Course Certification

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the first thing I should do before developing a POST-certified course?

   Contact your Regional Consultant for guidance before starting work on a new course certification. Your consultant will help you with the required training needs assessment process.

2. What are the components of a POST-certified course?

   POST-certified courses are administered via the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) program and are composed of a Course Administration Information page, instructor resumes, an expanded course outline, and an hourly distribution schedule. Certain courses will also require a safety plan and/or a budget.

3. What is the difference between Certification I and Certification II?

   Certification I is intended for courses that are POST Plan N/A. These courses include conferences, agency-specific training, and other courses not financially subsidized by POST. Certification II is designed for all other courses, including those with legislative mandates, in the Perishable Skills Program (PSP), and containing manipulative skills training.

4. What is required in an expanded course outline (ECO)?

   Certification I and II require a statement of purpose (what the course will do for the student) on the first page of the outline of all courses. Certification I ECO shall minimally include: presenter name, presenter identification number, course name or title on each page, page numbers, statement of purpose, revision date, and subject topics to the second level of detail to sufficiently indicate technical information in the subject areas. Student activities and methods for assessing student learning are recommended. Certification II ECO shall minimally include: presenter name, presenter identification number, course name or title on each page, page numbers, statement of purpose, revision date, subject topics to the third level of detail or learning objectives, and minimum topics to sufficiently indicate the technical information in the subject areas, student activities, and methods for assessing student learning.

5. How are instructor resumes submitted?

   Course coordinators can manually input instructor resumes into the EDI program. However, POST has developed the Instructor Resume Builder and the Resume Manager to facilitate the entry of resumes in the course certification process. The Instructor Resume Builder is a tool for instructors to create and edit POST resumes, which are then submitted electronically to their selected presenters in EDI. The Instructor Resume Manager allows presenters to organize and edit their instructor resumes, then easily copy to courses being created or modified.

6. When is an hourly distribution schedule needed?

   Certification I courses require completion of Part 1 (Course Hourly Distribution Schedule Summary) of the hourly distribution schedule (total hours per course presentation, total number of days of class, and days per week). Certification II courses require Part 1 and Part 2 (an hourly breakdown of the major topics and the instructors) for those courses with a legislative or regulation mandate on the minimum length of the training. Other Certification II courses require Part 1 only.

7. When is a budget required?

   A budget is needed when POST provides reimbursement for training or training presentation. However, a budget is not required when the total course tuition is not more than $125 per day of instruction AND the reimbursement is limited to subsistence, commuter lunch, and travel (POST Plan IV). Please contact your Regional Consultant to discuss the assignment of a POST Plan.

8. When does a course need a Safety Plan?

   Commission Regulation 1052 requires each training presenter of POST-certified courses involving manipulative skills training or when student safety is involved to implement a formal written safety policy. For assistance in creating a safety policy, and for sample policies, refer to POST Guidelines for Student Safety in Certified Courses 2020 (pdf).

9. What is webinar training?

   A webinar is synchronously facilitated training that is delivered via the internet. If a course will be presented in a live webinar format, regardless of certification level, the following additional information must be included in the ECO: method in which trainee attendance and course completion is verified, method in which trainee interaction with the instructor for questions or exercises occurs, and method in which instructor evaluates trainee performance and verifies the learning took place.

10. How does someone who is not with a law enforcement agency in California get a training course certified?

    Please contact the POST Regional Consultant assigned to the county where your business is located for information on the vetting process.

11. Where can I find additional information about course certification?

    Commission Regulations 1051-1059 govern the requirements for course certification. The POST Regional Consultants are available to assist with the course certification process.