Requirements for issuance of a certificate of completion
Compiled text through Mar 31, 2022
Register checked through Jul 29, 2026
No later Register activity identified in this check.
Dates and status
- Compiling agency
- Executive Department
- Text status
- Source receipt
- Compiled text through
- Mar 31, 2022
- Register checked through
- July 29, 2026/Vol. XLVIII, Issue 30 (2026-07-29)
- Activity status
- No later Register activity identified in this check.
- Latest notice
- CJS-52-15-00018-P · Proposed rule · Apr 6, 2016
- Source snapshot
- Jun 6, 2026
(a)All basic course requirements, including classroom instruction and supervised field training review and orientation, must be completed as a single and cohesive unit.
(b)Attendance shall be required of each police officer at all sessions of the basic course except for valid reasons. The course director is authorized to determine the validity of and excuse absences of not more than 10 percent of the total hours of instruction as provided for in the curriculum of the course. An absentee from any scheduled class session shall make up such absence as required by the course director. However, no police officer may be issued a certificate of completion without receiving the full program of instruction in firearms, the defense of justification (use of physical force/deadly physical force), and physical agility/arrest techniques.
(c)A police officer who is unable to satisfactorily complete the full curriculum of a basic course due to excessive absence may apply for authorization to complete the requirements of that curriculum in an alternately approved basic course. Such applications shall be subject to the approval of the course director. If the course director approves the application, it shall be forwarded to the commissioner by the course director. The commissioner may authorize such officer to make up required hours at another basic course in satisfaction of the requirements for a certificate of completion. Such determination shall be subject to review and approval by the council at its next scheduled meeting subsequent to such determination.
(d)Each police officer enrolled in a basic course shall keep a notebook. The notebook shall contain an outline of major points and pertinent information for each topic presented. The course director will evaluate notebooks based upon criteria such as, content, organization, regularity of entries, accuracy and legibility.
(e)The taking and passing of written examination(s) is required of each police officer prior to issuance of a certificate of completion. If a series of examinations is required by the course director, the candidate must achieve a total passing average for the series. The course director shall assemble examination material, give and supervise the examination(s) and grade the examination(s). The course director and sponsoring agency shall retain the examination papers as required by the appropriate schedule for records retention and disposition promulgated by the Commissioner of Education. Such records shall be available for inspection by members of the council or the commissioner.
(f)Upon certification by a course director stating that a police officer has satisfactorily completed all basic course requirements, the commissioner shall issue a certificate of completion to such police officer.
(g)A certificate of completion shall attest to fulfillment of the training requirements for police officers set forth in section 209-q(1) of the General Municipal Law.
(h)Only a sworn police officer enrolled in a basic course for police officers is eligible for the issuance of a certificate of completion upon satisfactory completion of all course requirements. A peace officer who attends a basic course for police officers is eligible only for the issuance of a certificate documenting his or her successful completion of the peace officer training requirements. A civilian who attends a basic course for police officers shall not be awarded a certificate.