The applicant shall meet the following education requirements:

1. (1) Possess a valid high school diploma, OR, possess a valid General Educational Development (GED) certificate (On-line, correspondence, or mail order GED certificates are not acceptable) AND possess a valid certification of having passed the Basic Ability Test (BAT) for Law Enforcement Officers or Correctional Officers as approved by the Commission. OR,
2. (2) Possess an earned Associate’s Degree or higher Degree from a College or University accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), or its regional equivalent.
3. (3) The Basic Ability Test is required of all applicants except those applicants who are already APOSTC certified and who are required to complete Refresher training for reinstatement of their Certification, or those applicants who meet the requirements set forth in preceding paragraph (2).

4. (4) The applicant shall not engage in conduct that subverts or attempts to subvert the Basic Ability Test process or violate the standards of the Basic Ability Test administration.

   1. (a) The applicant shall not violate the application identification process. Conduct that violates the process is identified as, but not limited to, the following:

      1. 1. Falsifying or misrepresenting information required for taking the Basic Ability Test.
      2. 2. Impersonating an applicant.
      3. 3. Having an impersonator take the Basic Ability Test on one’s behalf.
      4. 4. Any action on the part of the applicant, agency, or appointing authority which impugns the integrity of the testing process including the reporting of the test results to the Commission.
   2. (b) Any violation of this provision shall be documented and reported to the Commission’s Executive Secretary in writing. The Executive Secretary shall then conduct an immediate investigation of the reported violation(s).

   3. (c) When the Commission finds that a violation of Section (4) of this rule has occurred, the Commission shall impose one or more of the following sanctions:

      1. 1. Declare the applicant has failed the Basic Ability Test;
      2. 2. Declare the applicant ineligible to apply for employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer or correctional officer for a period of five years;
      3. 3. Deny certification by the Commission;
      4. 4. Take action to revoke any currently held certification obtained as a result of falsification or fraud.

Author: R. Alan Benefield, Executive Secretary

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§36-21-40 et seq.

History: Effective date: September 29, 1983. Amended: Filed June 12, 2000; effective July 17, 2000. Amended: Filed November 3, 2006; effective December 8, 2006. Amended: Filed August 8, 2014; effective September 12, 2014. Amended: Filed August 8, 2017; effective September 22, 2017.