Reserve Peace Officer Program

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

The term “automatic weapon” and “machine gun” are used interchangeably and defined in Section 16880 (a) PC.

  1. How many hours does a reserve officer have to work each month?
    There is no requirement for a reserve officer to work a minimum number of hours each month. However, Level I reserves who have completed the Regular Basic Course, and want to maintain qualifying service must serve an average monthly minimum of 16 hours. Qualifying service prevents a break in service for purposes of the Three-Year Requalification requirement. [Commission Regulation 1008(b)(1)(A)]
  2. Can a reserve officer transfer from one agency to another?
    Level I and II reserve officers may transfer from one agency to another, without meeting current training requirements, if there is less than a three-year break in service between agencies. If the break in service is longer than three years, the individual will have to meet current training requirements. Level III reserve officers must meet current entry-level training requirements regardless of the length of the break in service. [832.6(a)(5) PC]
  3. What does the term “grandfathering” mean?
    An individual must meet the training standard that is in effect on the date of his or her appointment to a peace officer position. If the entry-level training standard is changed after the date of appointment, no additional training is required if he or she remains with the present agency. Transferring to another agency may require additional training.
  4. What is the Three-Year Rule?
    If an individual does not become a peace officer within three years of completing the PC 832 Course or the Regular Basic Course or has a three-year or longer break in service as a peace officer, he or she must requalify prior to exercising the powers of a peace officer.
    • PC 832 COURSE – Requalification may be accomplished by repeating and successfully completing the course or taking and passing the three tests required for the course. [Commission Regulation 1080]
    • REGULAR BASIC COURSE – Requalification may be accomplished by repeating and successfully completing the course or by successfully completing a POST-certified Requalification Course. [Commission Regulation 1008(b)]
  5. How can a Level II reserve officer become a Level I?
    The entry level training requirement to be a Level I reserve officer is successful completion of the Regular Basic Course.
    • Reserve officers who completed Modules III and II, of the Regular Basic Course – Modular Format, must complete Module I.
    • Reserve officers who completed Modules A and B or A, B and C must complete the Regular Basic Course in one of the following formats:
      • Intensive,
      • Extended, or
      • Modular
  6. What does a former reserve officer have to do to become a reserve again?
    Individuals who were previously Level I or II reserve officers may accept an appointment at the same or lower level, without meeting current training standards, if their break in service is less than three years. If the individual has more than a three-year break in service he or she must meet current training standards. [832.6(a)(5) PC] Former Level III reserve officers must meet current entry-level training requirements regardless of the length of the break in service. Agencies must complete the peace officer selection process as specified in Commission Regulation 1002.
  7. Can an individual who completed Modules A, B and C, but never served as a reserve officer, become a reserve officer based on that training?
    No, the last date that an individual could be appointed and assigned as a reserve officer, based on completion of Reserve Modules A and B or A, B and C was June 30, 2000. [Commission Procedure H-3-2]
  8. Does completion of Reserve Modules A, B, C and D meet the training requirement to become a regular officer?
    Yes, Reserve Modules A, B, C and D was one of the approved formats of the Regular Basic Course. Even though that format has been discontinued, prior completion still meets the Regular Basic Course training requirement. [Commission Procedure D-1-3(a)(6)(D)]
  9. Where is Module D being presented?
    Module D is no longer available. The Module A, B, C and D Format was replaced by the Regular Basic Course - Modular Format on July 1, 1999. Modules B and C were decertified effective July 20, 2000. Module D was dropped by the legislature effective January 1, 2002.
  10. Why is there no reimbursement for reserve training?
    Penal Code section 13523 specifies that POST shall only provide aid for training expenses of full-time regularly paid employees as defined by the Commission. Reserve officers do not meet the definition of “full-time” in Commission Regulation 1001(p).
  11. What is the difference between designated and non-designated Level I reserve officer?
    The authority of a “designated” Level I reserve includes the full powers and duties of a peace officer as provided by a Penal Code section 830.1. A Level I reserve is “designated” by authority of a city ordinance or a county resolution. [Penal Code section 830.6(a)(2)] The authority of a “non-designated” Level I reserve shall extend only for the duration of assignment to specific police functions. [Penal Code section 830.6(a)(1)]
  12. Can a reserve officer get a Basic Certificate?
    No, Basic certificates are only issued to full-time paid officers. [Commission Procedure F-1-2(a)] Reserve officers do not meet the definition of “full-time” in Commission Regulation 1001(p).
  13. Can an individual be a reserve officer with more than one department?
    There is nothing in law or regulation that prohibits dual status. An agency can have a policy that prevents one of their officers from serving with another law enforcement agency. The individual would have to go through a complete peace officer selection process with each agency and meet all of the training requirements for each position.
  14. Can Reserve Officers be paid?
    Compensation for reserve officers is a local agency issue.
  15. What is the supervision requirement for Level II reserve officers?
    Level II reserve officers assigned to the prevention and detection of crime and the general enforcement of the laws of this state must be under the immediate supervision of a peace officer who has completed the basic training course for deputy sheriffs and police officers (Regular Basic Course) prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Level II reserve officers may be assigned, without immediate supervision, to those limited duties that are authorized for Level III reserve officers. [832.6(a)(2) PC] "Prevention and detection of crime and the general enforcement of laws" refers to the peace officer authority of a Level I or Level II reserve officer assigned to investigate crime, or patrol a geographic area and personally handle the full range of requests for police services, and take enforcement action on the full range of law violations for which the reserve’s department has enforcement responsibility. [Commission Procedure H-1-2(f)] "Immediate supervision for Level II reserves" means the reserve officer acts under the direction of a peace officer who has completed the basic training course for deputy sheriffs and police officers prescribed by the Commission, and is routinely in the physical proximity of and available to the reserve officer; however, allowance is permitted for necessary temporary separations. [Commission Procedure H-1-2(e)]
  16. Can Level III reserve officers carry firearms?
    Level III reserve officers are peace officers and are authorized to carry firearms in the course of their duties. Their entry-level training requirement includes firearms training. However, some agencies have chosen to restrict their Level III reserves from carrying firearms.
  17. Can reserve officers carry automatic weapons or weapons with silencers?
    No, the exemption for possessing these weapons only applied to “regular salaried, full-time” peace officers [ 32610 (b) and 33415 (b) PC]
  18. Will a current reserve officer have to apply for a Proof of Eligibility from POST?
    No. Current reserve officers who were properly appointed to an agency will not need to apply separately. The POE will be issued administratively by POST. However, POST will be reviewing training records to ensure appointed reserves have the necessary training for their appointment status reflected on their POST profile prior to issuing a POE. If they do not, additional information may be required prior to issuing the POE.
  19. Will a new Proof of Eligibility be needed when a reserve officer gets reclassified to a new position within the same agency (e.g., such as an RII becoming and RI or an RI becoming a full-time peace officer)?
    No. A POE will remain valid as long as the officer remains appointed as a peace officer to that agency. The POE will also remain active unless or until it is replaced by a Basic certificate. Changes in peace officer classification for the assigned agency will not require a new POE.
  20. Will a new Proof of Eligibility be needed when a reserve leaves one agency and is hired by another agency?
    Yes. POE’s are agency specific (like other hiring and selection requirements such as background, psych and medical). When a peace officer separates from an agency, they will need a new POE upon appointment to a new agency.

Minimum Standards for Reserve Officers

  1. What are the selection requirements to be appointed as a reserve officer?
    Reserve officers are required to meet the same selection standards as regular officers. [Commission Regulations 1950-1955]
  2. If a reserve officer wants to become a regular officer with the same department, does POST require the reserve officer to undergo a new background investigation, medical, and psychological evaluation?
    No, provided that the department has documentation verifying that the officer has previously met the current minimum selection requirements and s/he has worked continuously for the department since the time of initial appointment. [Commission Regulation 1950(c)(1)(A)]

Entry Level Training Requirements

  1. What are the training requirements for reserve officers?
    The current training system for reserve officers is the Regular Basic Course - Modular Format. The entry-level training requirements for the three levels of reserve officer are as follows:
    * Level III
    Module Required hours
    Module III  
    Module III 144 hours
    * Level II
    Module Required hours
    Module III 144 hours
    Module II 189 hours
    Total Hours 333 hours
    * Level I
    Module Required hours
    Module III 144 hours
    Module II 189 hours
    Module I 394 hours
    Total Hours 727 hours
    The entry-level training requirement for Level I may also be met by successful completion of either the Intensive or Extended format of the Regular Basic Course.
  2. What other training formats meet the entry-level requirements for reserve officers?
    The only entry-level training formats that meet reserve training requirements are the standard and modular formats of the Regular Basic Course. An alternative is the Basic Course Waiver Process providing the individual can meet the requirements.
  3. Can training received in an incomplete Standard Format of the Regular Basic Course be credited toward becoming a reserve officer?
    No, all components of the Standard Format must be successfully completed to receive credit for the course.
  4. Can an individual who completed Modules A, B and C, take Module I?
    No, the reserve Modules and the Modular Format are different training systems.
  5. Can an individual who has previously completed the PC 832 Course receive partial credit toward Module III?
    No, effective January 1, 2007 the Level III Module was revised from a two-part format into a single component format which includes PC 832 training. All components of Module III must be successfully completed to receive credit for the course. Individuals who completed both components of the former two-part format have met the entry-level training requirements for Level III.
  6. Does the Regular Basic Course – Modular Format meet the training requirement to become a regular officer?
    Yes, successful completion of the Intensive, Extended or Modular Formats meets the training requirement to become a Level I reserve officer or a regular officer.
  7. How does the July 1, 2008 revision of the Regular Basic Course – Modular Format affect individuals who have previously completed the Level III and/or Level II Modules?
    Individuals who successfully completed the Level III Module may take Module II if their PC 832 training is current and they have passed the POST-constructed Comprehensive Module III End-of-Course Proficiency Test within the preceding 12 months. Individuals who successfully completed the Level III and II Modules may take Module I if their PC 832 training is current and they have passed the POST-constructed Comprehensive Module II End-of-Course Proficiency Test within the preceding 12 months.

Field Training Program

  1. What are the field training requirements for reserve officers?
    All Level I reserve officers, upon completing the Regular Basic Course or its equivalent, shall complete a POST-approved Field Training Program prior to working alone in a general law enforcement assignment. The Field Training Program shall be delivered over a minimum of 10 weeks (400 hours). [Commission Regulation 1007(a)(1)(C)] There is no field-training requirement for Level II or III reserve officers.
  2. Is there an exemption from field training for reserve officers?
    A Level I reserve peace officer is exempt from the Field Training Program requirement if the Level I reserve peace officer is reappointed to a Level I position with less than a three year break in service and has successfully completed:
    • Modules A, B and C and 200 hours of structured field training; or
    • The Regular Basic Course or its equivalent and 400 hours of a POST-approved Field Training Program. [Commission Regulation 1007(a)(1)(D)]

In-Service Training

  1. Do reserve officers have to complete Continuing Professional Training?
    Level I and II reserve officers shall satisfy the same Continuing Professional Training (CPT) requirement as full-time regular officers (24 hours every two years). There is no CPT requirement for Level III reserve officers. [832.6(a) PC]
  2. Do reserve officers have to complete Perishable Skills training?
    The Perishable Skills training requirement does not apply to reserve officers. [Commission Regulation 1005(d)(3)]
  3. Are reserve officers required to complete Racial Profiling training?
    Yes, Penal Code section 13519.4(f) states that every law enforcement officer in this state shall participate in the training.