Procedure H - Reserve Officer Program Procedures
Commission Procedure H-3

Reserve Officer Training

3-1. Purpose

This Commission procedure sets forth the minimum training standards for reserve officers, explains exemptions, and the application of previous training as a method of meeting standards.

Training Standard

3-2. Reserve Officer Minimum Training Standards

Reserve officers are required to complete minimum training prior to assignment of peace officer duties. Past and current minimum training standards are as follows:

Minimum Hour Requirements

7-15-82 thru 6-30-86
Module A – 40 hours
Module B – 40 hours
Module C – 120 hours
Field Training – 200 hours
7-01-86 thru 6-30-88
Module A – 56 hours
Module B – 40 hours
Module C – 120 hours
Field Training – 200 hours
7-01-88 thru 6-30-92
Module A – 56 hours
Module B – 90 hours
Module C – 68 hours
Field Training – 200 hours
7-01-92 thru 12-30-95
Module A – 64 hours
Module B – 90 hours
Module C – 68 hours
Field Training – 200 hours
1-01-96 thru 1-02-97
Module A – 64 hours
Module B – 90 hours
Module C – 68 hours
Module D – 442 hours
Field Training – 200 hours
1-01-96 thru 6-30-99
Module A – 64 hours
Module B – 90 hours
Module C – 68 hours
Module D – 442 hours
7-01-99 thru 1-18-07
Level III Module – 162 hours
PC 832 – 64 hours*
Level III – 98 hours
Level II Module – 228 hours
Level I Module – 340 hours
Field Training – 400 hours
1-19-07 thru 6-30-08
Level III Module – 162 hours
Level II Module – 228 hours
Level I Module – 340 hours
Field Training – 400 hours
7-01-08 thru present
Module III – 144 hours
Module II – 189 hours
Module I – 394 hours
Field Training – 400 hours

Minimum Training Requirements

Level Course(s)
Level III Reserve appointed prior to 7-1-99 Module A
Level III Reserve appointed between 7-1-99 and 6-30-08 Level III Module
Level III Reserve appointed on or after 7-01-08 Module III
Level II Reserve appointed prior to 7-1-99 Modules A and B
Level II Reserve appointed between 7-1-99 and 12-31-99  
The Level III and Level II Modules  
Level II Reserve appointed between 1-1-00 and 6-30-00 Modules A and B or the Level III and Level II Modules
Level II Reserve appointed between 7-1-00 and 6-30-08 The Level III and Level II Modules
Level II Reserve appointed on or after 7-1-08 Modules III and II
Non-designated Level I Reserve appointed on or before 1-1-97 Modules A, B, and C plus field training
Designated and non-designated Level I Reserve appointed between 1-2-97 and 6-30-99 Regular Basic Course**
Designated and non-designated Level I Reserve appointed on or after 7-1-99 Regular Basic Course** plus field training
Designated Level I Reserve Regular Basic Course**

* Module A and PC 832 are the same course ** or equivalent (Commission Regulation 1008 and Commission Procedure D-1)

3-3.Exemption to Minimum Training

The Commission has established the following exemptions to the reserve peace officer training requirements:

(a) Any reserve peace officers appointed prior to January 1, 1979, may be exempted by the appointing authority from Level I or Level II training requirements. (See (a) Penal Code section 832.6, Stats. 1977 C.987)

(1)Transfer of Exemption

Any reserve peace officer appointed prior to January 1, 1979, and exempted by the appointing authority from the minimum training standards for Level I or Level II reserve peace officers, cannot after that date be appointed to either of these levels by another law enforcement department, unless the reserve peace officer has been awarded the POST Reserve Officer Certificate or has met the training requirements for the appropriate level of reserve peace officer assignment on or before the date of the person’s appointment as a reserve peace officer by the subsequent appointing law enforcement agency.

(2)Changing Exemption Designation

Each reserve officer appointed prior to January 1, 1979, and exempted from training requirements should be designated to a specific reserve officer level by the appointing authority. This level designation may be changed by the appointing authority irrespective of the January 1, 1979, operative date of Penal Code Section 832.6. Level I reserve officers exempted from training requirements (whom the appointing authority may wish to be designated to have full powers of a peace officer as provided by Penal Code section 830.1, effective January 1, 1981) must have been issued the POST Reserve Officer Certificate prior to that date.

(b) To be eligible to exercise full powers and duties of a peace officer as provided by Penal Code section 830.1 [Reference Penal Code section 832.6(b)], any reserve peace officer appointed prior to January 1, 1981, who has not satisfactorily met the Commission’s training requirements of the Regular Basic Course (Commission Procedure D-1-3) and has been determined by the appointing authority to be qualified to perform general law enforcement duties by reason of the person’s training and experience, must have been issued the Reserve Officer Certificate prior to January 1, 1981.

(c) Between January 1, 1981, and January 1, 1984, the minimum 200 hours of non-designated Level I Reserve Peace Officer Training may also be fulfilled by satisfactory completion of any POST-certified reserve training course(s) of 200 or more hours and 200 hours of structured field training, provided the reserve peace officer’s department head attests that all requirements of Modules A, B and C have been met. (During this period, completion of less than 200 hours of POST-certified Reserve Peace Officer Training, that includes Modules A and B, shall in addition require completion of a POST-certified Module C Course to meet the minimum training standards for non-designated Level I reserves.)

(d) A reserve peace officer who has previously satisfied the training requirements specified in H-3-2 above, and who has served as a Level I or II reserve peace officer, shall be deemed to remain qualified in POST minimum reserve training requirements if the reserve peace officer accepts a new appointment at the same or lower level within three years of the date of last service as a Level I or II reserve peace officer [see Commission Regulation 1007(a)]. A Level I or II reserve peace officer who has more than a three-year break in service shall satisfy current training requirements. [ Penal Code section 832.6(a)(5)]

Training Documentation

3-4. Training Files and Records

Departments shall document reserve officer training and experience by establishing and maintaining files and procedures which are similar to those used for regular officer training. Commission Procedure H-3 was adopted and incorporated by reference into Commission Regulation 1007 on July 15, 1982, and subsequently amended February 14, 1987, June 15, 1990, July 1, 1992, February 22, 1996, September 12, 1998, July 1, 1999, January 1, 2000, March 10, 2000, March 24, 2000, August 18, 2001, April 10, 2002, September 21, 2005, January 19, 2007, and July 1, 2008.