Historically, POST has administered course certification requests through hard copies and paper packages. Since the inception of the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system in 2006, the steps and information required to process new course requests and course modifications have remained relatively unchanged.

In 2015, the California Commission on POST approved a 5-year Strategic Plan intended to coordinate and direct the organization's efforts and resources. The document identifies goals, objectives, and strategies that would allow POST to better support its mission: to continually enhance the professionalism of California Law Enforcement in serving its communities.

In November of 2016, TPS assumed the responsibility for the Strategic Plan Goal of increasing efficiency in POST systems and operations, as they pertain to the course certification and modification processes. The intent is to streamline and make more efficient the current course certification process. TPS will accomplish this task by inviting POST staff and POST stakeholders to take an in depth look at the current process and bring forward fresh ideas for improvement.

The Course Certification Project team began by reviewing the steps required by POST staff and constituents seeking to have a course certified. Staff are reviewing the following components of the course certification process to determine what is necessary going forward, what requires updates, and how the processes can be streamlined:

• Course Certification Regulations in the POST Administrative Manual (PAM)
• Training Administrator’s Course
• Training Needs Assessment
• Course budget
• Hourly Distribution schedules
• Expanded Course Outlines
• POST Standardized Curriculum
• Instructor Resumes
• Communication between POST and presenters
• EDI
• Conferences
• Continuing Professional Training/Perishable Skills Program
• Workflow
• Standardization

In order to involve as many stakeholders as possible, TPS staff will use both a survey distributed to stakeholders throughout California, and a series of workshops involving internal and external subject matter experts.

A survey for the field is currently being developed with Dr. Shelley Weiss Spilberg of POST staff. The survey will give both past and present training managers and presenters an opportunity to participate in the Course Certification Project. Participants will be asked to identify the challenges they have encountered obtaining course certification and to offer constructive solutions. Participants may choose to be anonymous. The survey will be made available in January 2017, with the resulting data available for use in February 2017.

Beta testing the survey will begin at the first workshop on January 19th, 2017. A series of workshops will continue monthly until June 2017.  The workshops will utilize information derived from the survey to inform the process of course certification review and create change that is relevant to POST's mission, Strategic Plan, and stakeholders. The workshops will include an analysis of survey data, a brief exploration into the history of course certification, a study of best practices, and the collaborative development of strategies for change. Strategies will include an element of stewardship and long-term vision for course certification. The current tentative project timeline will conclude the research, analysis, best practices, and strategies phase by July 2017. Implementation should be completed by December 2017.