La. Admin. Code tit. 22 § III-4703

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section III-4703 - Basic Certification

A. All full-time peace officers, as defined R.S. 40:2403, shall complete a basic training course as prescribed and certified by the Council on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST Council) within one year of employment as a peace officer. All part-time, reserve, or auxiliary peace officers shall complete a basic training course within three years of employment as a peace officer. Military police officers stationed in Louisiana are eligible for certification if they successfully complete a basic training course prescribed for peace officers and pass the POST statewide examination.

1. Level 1 Certification for Basic Law Enforcement Peace Officers

a. The student will complete a basic training course with the minimum number of training hours specified by the council for full certification. Level 1 certification requires that the student meet the POST requirements for firearm certification.

b. The curriculum for the basic law enforcement training course of Level 1 peace officers shall be developed and approved by the POST council. Curriculum updates shall be authorized and implemented by the council as needed.

c. The POST Basic Training Curriculum (utilizing the Adult Learning Model) is required for any basic Level 1 training class that begins at an accredited academy after July 1, 2018.

d. The council shall conduct a statewide job task analysis (JTA) at least once every five years to ensure that mandated standards remain valid and reflect current law enforcement practices. Results of the analysis shall be used to update the basic curriculum as needed.

2. Level 2 Certification for Basic Correctional Peace Officer

a. The student will complete a training course with the minimum number of training hours specified by the council and is limited to those peace officers whose duties are the care, custody, and control of inmates. The training course consists of corrections core curriculum plus a sufficient number of hours to obtain POST certification. POST Firearm certification for Level 2 students is required (effective March 26, 2001).

b. Correctional peace officers with Level 2 certification must meet the POST firearms requirements for annual requalification as outlined in §4721. B and §4721 C

c. The curriculum for the basic training course for Level 2 correctional officers shall be developed and approved by the POST Council. Curriculum updates shall be authorized and implemented by the council as needed.

3. Level 3 Certification for Jailer Training Officers

a. The student will complete a training course with the minimum number of training hours specified by the council and is limited to those correctional officers whose duties are the care, custody, and control of inmates. This course consists of the core correctional officer curriculum. POST firearm certification for level 3 students is not required.

B. Students shall adhere to all standards, rules and regulations established by the accredited training center. Certification will not be awarded to students who are physically unable to complete every aspect of the basic training course. A student may not be certified for successful completion if:

1. the student's excused absences exceed 10 percent of the total hours of instruction;

2. the student fails to achieve a passing grade of 70 percent or higher on each block of instruction;

3. the student fails to achieve a grade of 80 percent or higher on the requirements for firearm certification;

4. all aspects of the training course have not been successfully completed.

C.

1. Students shall be required to pass the POST statewide written examination for peace officers as prescribed by state law. Seventy percent shall constitute a passing score. The time limit for completing the statewide written examination is 90 minutes unless specifically modified by the council.

2. In the event a student fails the written examination, one retest may be administered if the agency head requests it. However, the student must wait a minimum of 15 working days before the retest can be administered with a maximum time limit of 30 working days. If the respective student fails the retest, the student shall be required to complete another basic training course and satisfy all POST requirements to obtain certification.

3. Oral testing on the statewide examination is prohibited.

D. When a basic student injures themselves during a basic training course, the student must have the nature of the injury immediately documented. Should the injury later prevent the student from being tested on a basic training course requirement, then upon written request of the agency head, the student will have eight weeks from the time of the medical release to take and pass those course requirements, unless the time between the academy graduation and medical release exceeds a one year period. In that case, the student will be required to complete another basic training course.

La. Admin. Code tit. 22, § III-4703

Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, LR 13:434 (August 1987), amended LR 25:663 (April 1999), LR 27:49 (January 2001), LR 28:475 (March 2002), LR 31:2008 (August 2005), LR 35:1235 (July 2009), LR 36:992 (May 2010), LR 37:1606 (June 2011), Amended LR 42:274 (2/1/2016), Amended LR 441007 (6/1/2018), Amended LR 46693 (5/1/2020), Amended LR 501645 (11/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 15:1204 and R.S. 15:1207.