The Academy Instructor Certificate Program (AICP) establishes instructor training and certification requirements for academies.  The program was designed to promote general instructional excellence in Regular Basic Courses through demonstrated skills, competencies and knowledge that emphasize the retention and application of knowledge through adult learning methods.   The goal was to improve the overall professionalism, quality and effectiveness of law enforcement instructors in all basic training courses. 

Regulation 1009 was presented and approved by the Commission in 2007, effective March 2, 2008.

A review of the current process identified three components of the Academy Instructor Certificate Program which have proved to be both burdensome and incomplete.  The triennial Academy Instructor Certificate re-certification requirement is problematic for both individual instructors and presenters.  A clarification of the initial Academy Instructor training and certification requirements is suggested, and the proposal to remove the triennial recertification mandate will allow instructors to continue to provide training without interruption.

Revising Commission Regulation 1009,  Academy Instructor Certificate Program (AICP), will clarify the process of instructor training and certification while ensuring efficiency within the program.  To teach in the Regular Basic Courses, Certified Academy Instructors must complete the Academy Instructor Certification Course (AICC) or successfully complete the AICC Equivalency Process.  Once the training/equivalency are completed the Academy Director or Modular Format Coordinator notify POST when an individual meets all standards to become a Certified Academy Instructor.  The AICP Certificate authorizes the individual to instruct in any Regular Basic Course.   Regular Basic Course instructors who teach certain specialized subjects must also satisfy additional requirements as specified in Regulation 1070.

Academy Directors and Modular Format Coordinators have determined the triennial recertification requirement for Certified Academy Instructors is burdensome. The obligation to attest to the delivery of a minimum of 24-hours of teaching and 8 hours of unspecified “professional development” training is time-consuming. Instructors failing to meet the triennial recertification requirement within the three-year period are removed from the AICP list and must attend additional training in order to recertify. 

The mandated ongoing professional development training is not specified nor specifically tracked, causing presenters to question the value of the requirement.  The proposal to revise Regulation 1009 will include the removal of the Triennial recertification and allow a POST-Certified Academy Instructor to maintain his/her status with no additional training or ongoing certification requirements.