One of our officers was unable to complete training by the due date. Does he or she qualify for an extension?

Written requests for extension should be forwarded to the appropriate field services coordinator. It should be received by the coordinator prior to the officer's training due date, and should include the reason for which the officer could not complete training. Subsequent requests for additional extensions should be received prior to the expiration date of the first extension. Acceptable reasons for extensions include: Illness, injury, military service, special duty assignment required and performed in the public interest, and administrative leave involving the determination of worker's compensation or disability retirement issues, full-time education leave or suspension pending investigation of adjudication of a crime. Coordinators will review and consider other reasons for possible justification.

If my instructor certification expires, do I have to take the 40 hour instructor development course again?

No. In order to be recertified after certification has expired, you must complete instructor recertification training, followed by a successful apprenticehip (minimum of 4 hours) and submit an application requesting recertification.

If I am certified as a law enforcement officer and I leave my agency, how long does my certification last?

According to § 15.2-1706 of the Code of Virginia, law enforcement officers "must be certified through the successful completion of training at an approved criminal justice academy in order to remain eligible for appointment or employment."

This means that certification as a law enforcement officer is based upon two criteria:

1. Employment with a law enforcement agency that comes under the purview of the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS); and
2. Compliance with the compulsory minimum training standards.

When you no longer are employed by a law enforcement agency that comes under the purview of DCJS, you no longer meet both criteria. Therefore, attempts to maintain certification status by complying with compulsory minimum training requirements is moot. If you subsequently become employed by a law enforcement agency, the decision of whether or not you have to repeat entry-level training is the responsibility of the employing chief or sheriff. If the chief or sheriff decides that you should be exempted from entry-level training, an Application for Exemption Form (.pdf, 2 pages) must be submitted to the appropriate DCJS Field Services Coordinator. The Field Services Coordinator will determine the options that are available on a case by case evaluation of the officer's training, experience and the amount of time the officer has been out of law enforcement, using the DCJS Training Exemption Guidelines as a guide. Please see the Training Exemption Guidelines (.pdf, 17 pages).

If I leave law enforcement and later decide to return to law enforcement, do I have to take basic all over again?

The agency administrator decides how much training is required. Some agencies require all of their officers to attend the entire entry-level training regardless of previous training or employment.