Entry, Certification & Renewal Requirements

To become a police officer in Connecticut, you must complete a Basic Training Program. This training happens at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden or at another Council-approved academy.

Before you can attend, you must first be hired by a police department or law enforcement agency in Connecticut. Departments usually post job openings and require applicants to go through several tests and evaluations before hiring. Job openings can be found via the following links:

https://www.policeapp.com/Connecticut-Police-Jobs/ 
CT.Gov Career Opportunities in Law Enforcement

If you pass all the entry-level tests, your name goes on an eligibility list. The department then chooses which candidates to hire and sends them to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) Basic Training Program.

There are six satellite academies in the state that run their own training programs under POST’s supervision. However, about 90% of recruits attend the main Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden. The training program lasts about 28 weeks. Recruits stay at the Academy from Monday 8 a.m. to Friday 6 p.m. each week.

To graduate, recruits must:

• Score 70% or higher in 12 academic subjects,
• Pass 9 practical skill areas, and
• Complete at least 400 hours of field and departmental training.

After finishing all parts of the program, including field training, recruits receive initial certification as a police officer in Connecticut.

Initial (Original) Certification

A police officer earns initial certification after completing:

  • A Council-approved basic training program (or an approved equivalent), and
  • A supervised field and departmental training program that meets the Council’s minimum standards.

Timeline for Certification

You must earn your initial certification within one year from your date of hire as a probationary police officer.

 

Length of Certification

Your certification is valid for three years. During each three-year period, you must complete the required number of review training hours (credits). These credits allow the Council to renew your certification for another three years.

 

Renewal Period

Each certification lasts for up to three years before it must be renewed.

 

Certification Card

Once certified, the Council will give you an official certification card showing that you are a certified police officer in the State of Connecticut.

Renewal of Certification

Every police officer must renew their certification every three years. To renew, officers must:

  • Complete all required review (refresher) training, and
  • Continue to be employed as a police officer.

a. Review of Training Records

The Council’s staff will review each officer’s training record to make sure they meet the renewal requirements.

b. Renewal Approval

If an officer has completed all required training, they will receive a new certification card with an updated expiration date.

c. Missing Training Requirements

If an officer has not completed the required training, they will receive a personal notice explaining what is missing. That officer must follow the Council’s instructions and schedule to finish the missing training. If they do not meet these requirements, the Council may refuse to renew the certification, and the officer’s employment may be terminated by their department.

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POST Council Authority and Policies

The Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) was created by the Connecticut Legislature. It has the legal power to certify, decertify, and regulate police officer training under Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 104, Part 1, Sections 7-294a through 7-294e.

 

POST follows these main rules and practices:

 

Who Can Attend the Academy

    • Only employed police officers or probationary candidates (those already hired as officers) can attend.
    • Recruits must be covered by their department’s insurance while in training.

Who Can Apply

    • Only a Chief of Police or an authorized representative can apply on behalf of an officer.
    • The State pays most training costs, expecting that graduates will serve Connecticut communities.
    • The Academy does not accept private citizens or students who are not employed by a law enforcement agency.

Employment and Pre-Hiring Standards

    • Departments must make sure recruits have completed all pre-employment requirements before sending their names to POST.
    • Recruits must have a formal job offer or contract and be official employees of the department.

Out-of-State Police Officers (Comparative Certification)

    • POST may grant certification to police officers who:
      • Were fully trained and certified in another state,
      • Have not been out of sworn service for more than two years, and
      • Can prove their previous training meets Connecticut’s standards.
    • The officer may need to complete specific approved courses to meet Connecticut’s requirements.
    • Requests for this type of certification must come from the department Chief of Police on behalf of the officer.

Officer Responsibility

 

Every police officer in Connecticut who needs certification to work is personally responsible for keeping that certification active. (Some agencies, such as the State Police, have separate rules and are exempt from POST certification requirements.)