1. A. Certified status mandatory. An individual who is not certified by the Board or whose certified status is inactive shall not function as a peace officer or be assigned the duties of a peace officer by an agency, except as provided in subsection (B).
2. B. Sheriffs who are elected are exempt from the requirement of certified status.
3. C. An individual shall satisfy the minimum qualifications and training requirements to receive certified status.

4. D. Peace officer categories. The categories for which certified status may be granted are:

   1. 1. Full-authority peace officer, and
   2. 2. Specialty peace officer.

5. E. Application for certification. An individual who seeks to be certified as a peace officer shall make application as follows:

   1. 1. Submit to an agency an application that contains all documents required by R13-4-105, R13-4-106(A) and (B), and R13-4-107;
   2. 2. Obtain an appointment from the agency; and
   3. 3. Obtain either a certificate of graduation from a Board-prescribed full-authority Peace Officer Basic Training Course or a certificate of successful completion of the waiver of training process prescribed by R13-4-110(D).

6. F. An open enrollee shall obtain an appointment from an agency within one year after graduating from a Board-prescribed full-authority Peace Officer Basic Training Course.

   1. 1. If more than one year but less than three years elapse after graduation from a Board-prescribed full-authority Peace Officer Basic Training Course before an open enrollee obtains an appointment from an agency, the open enrollee shall again take the CE required under R13-4-110 and satisfactorily perform the practical demonstrations of proficiency in physical conditioning, vehicle operations, pursuit operations, and firearms, including firearms qualifications, as required under R13-4-116(E)(1).
   2. 2. If more than three years elapse after graduation from a Board-prescribed full-authority Peace Officer Basic Training Course, an open enrollee may pursue certification only by repeating the Board-prescribed full-authority Peace Officer Basic Training Course.
7. G. Establishing or enforcing qualifications, standards, or training requirements. The Board may waive in whole or in part any provision of this Article upon a finding that the best interests of the law enforcement profession are served and the public welfare and safety is not jeopardized by the waiver. The Board may place restrictions or requirements on a peace officer as a condition of certified status.
8. H. This Section is effective six months after filing with the Secretary of State as required by A.R.S. § 41-1823(A).

Historical Note

Adopted effective March 23, 1989 (Supp. 89-1). Amended effective October 20, 1995; filed with the Secretary of State April 20, 1995 (Supp. 95-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 3201, effective January 11, 2003 (Supp. 02-3). Amended by final rulemaking a 22 A.A.R. 555, filed in the Office of the Secretary of State on February 8, 2016; effective six months after the date filed in accordance with A.R.S. § 1823 (Supp. 16-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 28 A.A.R. 1044 (May 20, 2022), effective six months after filing with the Secretary of State as required under A.R.S. § 41-1823(A); filed May 4, 2022, effective date November 4, 2022 (Supp. 22-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 924 (March 28, 2025), effective six months after filing with the Secretary of State as required under A.R.S. § 41-1823(A); filed March 5, 2025, effective date September 5, 2025 (Supp. 25-1).