FAQs

Can I pay my own way through an academy without being employed by a criminal justice agency?
  1. Certified criminal justice academies may allow individual to attend mandated entry level training programs who are not currently employed by a Virginia criminal justice agency as defined in §9.1-101.  Details to include tuition must be obtained by contacting the individual academy.  This training is solely based upon a private contract between the academy and the individual seeking the training.
     
  2. This training does not guarantee an offer of employment by a Virginia criminal justice agency. 
     
  3. Successful completion of the pre-employment training is valid for up to 24 months from the date of completion of the pre-employment training program.

 



Do I need to be Certified General Instructor prior to being certified as a specialty instructor i.e. CT, Firearms, Driving
  1. DCJS requires successful completion of the General Instructor Development training course; certification is not required. (6VAC20-80-20)

 



I am a field training officer and also a certified general instructor. Can I count hours conducting field training toward my general instructorship required hours?
  1. Yes.  General instructors who are also field training officers may count field training hours toward the required general instructor hours.  Documentation must be submitted to the academy of record.

 



I am a former law enforcement officer in Virginia. How long does my certification last after I leave employment?
  1. All DCJS certifications expire on the date of departure from a criminal justice agency.  Employment is required for certification.
     
  2. This includes all types of criminal justice certifications under DCJS purview (jail officer, DOC correctional officer, etc.).
     
  3. See FAQ 2. for reinstatement procedures for former Virginia Certified law enforcement officers.

 



I am not currently employed with an agency and my in-service is running out at the end of the year. Can I go to an academy and pay for training to keep my certification?
  1. No.  All DCJS certifications require employment with a criminal justice agency.  In-service training is only recorded for those employed with the function associated with the training.

 



I changed agencies, is my instructorship still valid?
  1. Employment related instructorship reinstatement
    1. Instructor certification expires when the certified instructor is no longer employed by the agency that requested the certification.
       
    2. Upon reemployment with a Virginia criminal justice agency or certified academy, the agency or academy may request the instructorship be reinstated by submitting an Instructor Reinstatement Form (IC-2) with the agency administrator’s signature and the academy director’s signature to DCJS for approval.

 

 



I have been out of Virginia LE employment for a few years, what do I need to do to become recertified?
  1. Law enforcement officer certification reinstatement:
    1. A fully certified law enforcement officer may reinstate his/her LE certification by returning to law enforcement employment within 24 months and completing 40 hours of law enforcement in-service training within 120 days of hire.  Jail officers must complete 24 hours jail in-service and court security/civil process officers must complete 16 hours in-service.
       
    2. Former Virginia certified law enforcement officers, jail officers, court security/civil process officers who have been out of such employment for more than 24 months may be eligible for a partial training waiver upon return to employment as a law enforcement officer:
      1. Applicant officer must have at least 5 years continuous previous experience as a certified law enforcement officer; and/or
         
      2. Applicant must be out of such employment for less than 5 years.
         
    3. The final decision on the waiver and details of the training requirements is based upon the reason and number of years since separation from law enforcement service. (6VAC20-20-30)
       
    4. This reinstatement procedure is only for former officers certified in Virginia.


I was a Federal agent for 20 years what do I need to do to become LE certified in Virginia?
  1. There is no complete exemption or lateral for former federal officers seeking law enforcement certification in Virginia. Applications for partial training waivers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, reviewing prior training and experience as a law enforcement officer.  Partial training waivers are only available for certified officers separated from a law enforcement agency as a certified officer for less than 2 years.
    1. Applicant officer must have at least 5 years continuous previous experience as a certified law enforcement officer; and
       
    2. Be out of such employment for less than 2 years.  (§ 9.1-116)
       
  2. The training requirements for prior federal officers are based upon a comparison of the officer’s prior training and experience.  Virginia law enforcement certification is for local law enforcement, which is significantly different than federal agents.  The training requirements will include at a minimum, training in the high liability areas to including legal issues, patrol techniques, defensive tactics, use of force, weapons use and driver training.  This training includes successful completion of the Virginia Certification Exam and a minimum of 100 hours of field training in conjunction with answering law enforcement calls for service with the employing Virginia agency.
     
  3. These exemptions are only available at the request of a Virginia law enforcement agency and would not be available to you on a pre-employment basis.  There are also some Virginia agencies that will not accept any exemptions and do mandate the completion of the entire basic academy regardless of the certification status of the officer. (§ 9.1-116)


I was an officer in another state what do I need to do to become certified in VA? Is there an abbreviated school?
  1. There is no complete exemption or lateral for out-of-state officers in Virginia. DCJS reviews applications for partial training waivers on a case-by-case basis based upon prior training and experience as a law enforcement officer.
    1. Applicant officer must have at least 5 years continuous previous experience as a certified law enforcement officer; and
       
    2. Be out of such employment for less than 2 years.  (§ 9.1-116)
       
  2. The training requirements for those with prior out-of-state experience include training in the high liability areas such as (but not limited to) legal issues, some patrol techniques, defensive tactics, use of force, weapons use and driver training.  You will also be required to pass the Virginia Certification Exam and complete a minimum of 100 hours of field training in conjunction with answering calls for law enforcement service with the Virginia agency that employs you.
     
  3. These exemptions are only available at the request of a Virginia criminal justice agency and would not be available to you on a pre-employment basis.  There are also some Virginia agencies that will not accept any exemptions and do mandate the completion of the entire basic academy regardless of the certification status of the officer.


If I can’t get my in-service hours in before my due date, is there a grace period before I lose my law enforcement certification?
  1. No, in-service training is required to be completed within the 2 year period following your last in-service completion.  Certifications expire on the due date.
     
  2. Officers who fail to comply with in-service training within the 2 years shall forfeit his office, upon receipt of notice. Such forfeiture shall create a vacancy in the office and all pay and allowances shall cease. (§ 9.1-115) 
     
  3. Failure to comply with mandated training requirements is grounds for decertification as a law enforcement or jail officer.  (§ 15.2-1707 (A)(v))

 



If I fail one section in the academy, can I go back to the next academy to make it up?
  1. All criminal justice officers (law enforcement, jail, court security, civil process, DOC correctional officers are required to complete the compulsory minimum training standards within 12 months of the date of hire or appointment. (6VAC20-20-40)
     
  2. Your agency and/or academy policy will determine whether or not you can repeat failed training if it can be completed within the 12 months.
     
  3. There are no training extensions available for class failures.

 



If I hire an officer currently employed with another agency, do I have to do another background investigation?
  1. Yes.  Background investigations including fingerprint-based criminal history records inquiries to both the Central Criminal Records Exchange and the FBI are required for all new hires of law enforcement officers, deputy sheriffs and jail officers.  (§ 15.2-1705)

 



My instructorship expired last year. What do I need to do to become a certified instructor again?
  1. Expired certification
    1. If the instructorship has been expired less than 12 months, the agency or academy may request the instructorship be reinstated by submitting an Instructor Reinstatement Form (IC-2) with the agency administrator’s signature and the academy director’s signature to DCJS form approval.
       
    2. The expired instructor must complete an approved instructor recertification course through a certified academy and complete a subsequent apprenticeship.
       
    3. If the instructorship is expired due to lack of the 8 hour instruction requirement, the reinstatement apprenticeship shall include the remaining hours of the required instruction in addition to the minimal 4 hours apprenticeship (2 hours for speed measurement).
       
    4. All instructorship certifications expired for more than 12 months shall not be eligible for reinstatement.  A new instructor development course would be required.

 



What are the steps that a recruit officer/deputy has to follow to be certified by DCJS?
  1. Be employed as an officer with a Virginia criminal justice agency under DCJS purview that has authority/ability to perform duties associated with the function.   (The agency is required to report to DCJS all officers assigned to specific functions through the records management system)
     
  2. Complete the Virginia compulsory minimum training standards in basic training through a DCJS certified criminal justice academy
     
  3. Successfully pass the law enforcement certification exam (for law enforcement certification only). (§ 15.2-1706)
     
  4. Complete field training requirements
    1. Law enforcement officers must complete at least 100 hours of field training in conjunction with answering calls for law enforcement service
       
    2. All compulsory minimum training standards to include field training must be completed within the 12 months training period from date of hire and reported to DCJS.

 



What happens if I do not get my apprenticeship for an Instructor certification completed in the allotted 12 months?
  1. If the apprenticeship is not completed within 12 months of completion of the instructor development training, the officer would have to repeat the basic requirements for the instructorship.


What happens if I do not instruct the required hours in a 3 year period as required by DCJS?
  1. The academy director must verify each instructor has taught a minimum of 8 hours per instructorship from initial certification or last recertification date to be eligible for recertification.  If the hours have not been met, the instructorship will not be recertified without going through the instructorship reinstatement process.
     
  2. If the instructorship expires due to lack of the 8 hour instruction requirement, the reinstatement apprenticeship shall include the remaining hours of the required instruction in addition to the minimum of 4 hour apprenticeship (2 hours for speed measurement).

 



What if I get injured and cannot qualify with my firearm?
  1. The Chief of Police, Sheriff or Agency Administrator may request a Training Extension of the time limit for completion of in-service training under the following conditions 6VAC20-20-40 (if submitted prior to the training due date):
    1. Illness,
       
    2. Injury,
       
    3. Military service,
       
    4. Special duty assignment required and performed in the public interest,
       
    5. Administrative leave involving the determination or worker’s compensation or disability retirement issues, full-time educational leave or suspension pending investigation or adjudication of a crime; or
       
    6. Any other reason documented by the agency administrator.
       
    7. Failing to pass in-service compulsory minimum training standards and requirements within specified time limits is NOT a valid reason for a training extension.

 



When do we have to enter our newly hired Officers/Deputies in the TREX system?
  1. New officers/deputies must be reported to DCJS through the records management system within ten (10) days of employment or appointment.

 



When we hire a new officer/deputy how much time do we have to get them certified?
  1. All officers are required to satisfactorily complete the compulsory minimum training standards and requirements within 12 months of the date of appointment as an officer.  (6VAC20-20-40)