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AR15.COM
6/25/2008 3:12:14 PM EDT
Hi.  I'm a resident of PA, and I'm entering into a regional police academy this fall to get my ACT 120become a municipal officer. My question is, if after I get my ACT 120 to be certified to be an officer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, would that enable me to also get a job in a different state? Would I need to take a re-certification course for any other state's different laws, or would I need to complete training in another state's police academy?

Thank you for the help.  I appreciate it greatly!
6/25/2008 3:17:27 PM EDT
[#1]
You will have to contact a specific state and see what the requirement is.  Here in Florida, I had to take a 90 hour course to transfer from South Carolina.  That's granted the fact that you are provided with an approved exception from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  

In South Carolina, I remember out-of-state officers only had to successfully complete the first three weeks of the academy (legals section) but that may have changed by now.

I'm not aware of a state that offers an across-the-board transfer, but I could be wrong.  Maybe POST states do it.  Try looking up a specific state and see what the process is for out-of-state transfers.
6/25/2008 3:43:21 PM EDT
[#2]
I can't imagine any state would accept another's certification without making them become familiar with the traffic and criminal law in the new state.

Other than that, I've seen it go both ways. Why not just find a job in PA?
6/25/2008 4:10:59 PM EDT
[#3]
At least you coppers have POST that will (usually) transfer.

AFAIK there's no standard for firefighter training that's as widely accepted.

My VFD Captain 'retired' with 20+ years of service in IL and a slew of certs and was going to take a job as a Brigade Chief at a plant up in northern WI/UP, until he found out that they wouldn't recognize any of his certs  - or allow him to 'test in'; he was going to have to take FF I on up all over again.

IIRC they found a way around the requirement for state certification (think they added an "or equivalent" clause in his job description).
6/25/2008 4:53:57 PM EDT
[#4]
Which academy are you attending?
6/25/2008 5:01:52 PM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:
At least you coppers have POST that will (usually) transfer.

AFAIK there's no standard for firefighter training that's as widely accepted.

My VFD Captain 'retired' with 20+ years of service in IL and a slew of certs and was going to take a job as a Brigade Chief at a plant up in northern WI/UP, until he found out that they wouldn't recognize any of his certs  - or allow him to 'test in'; he was going to have to take FF I on up all over again.

IIRC they found a way around the requirement for state certification (think they added an "or equivalent" clause in his job description).


How widely accepted is 'ProBoard'? Virginia just went to that in the last few years...
6/25/2008 5:41:17 PM EDT
[#6]

Quoted:
How widely accepted is 'ProBoard'? Virginia just went to that in the last few years...


Not sure - IL still does the POST thing; out of staters with the following:


Candidates for the waiver of basic training must first be hired by a bona fide Illinois law enforcement agency. Candidates must meet all applicable Illinois premployment standards. Applications for waiver must come from the hiring agency. Documents regarding prior training and experience must be submitted to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board by the hiring agency. Candidates will be required to attend firearms training and a 40-hour Law for Police course. All waiver candidates must pass a 200-question equivalency exam with a passing score of at least 70%. Failure of the exam will necessitate attendance at a full basic academy.

Candidates must first be hired by a law enforcement agency.

Applications for waiver and all documentation must come from the hiring agency.

The Standards Board then assesses whether the training and experience are equivalent and whether the candidate is able to waive basic training.

The candidate must pass: (1) mandatory firearms training; (2) Law for Illinois police – 40 hours; and (3) equivalency exam (200 questions).
6/26/2008 5:54:08 AM EDT
[#7]
Here, your academy would have to be at least 480 hours, then you would have to take an 80 hour AL refresher academy to receive your AL POST.