1. A. Before appointment as a state correctional officer, an individual shall complete a Board-approved basic correctional officer training program. This program shall meet or exceed the requirements of this Section.

2. B. Basic course specifications.

   1. 1. The Department shall develop the curriculum for the basic correctional officer training program.

      1. a. The curriculum shall include courses in the following functional areas.

         1. i. Functional Area I - Ethics and Professionalism;
         2. ii. Functional Area II - Inmate Management;
         3. iii. Functional Area III - Legal Issues;
         4. iv. Functional Area IV - Communication Skills;
         5. v. Functional Area V - Officer Safety, including firearms;
         6. vi. Functional Area VI - Applied Skills;
         7. vii. Functional Area VII - Security, Custody, and Control;
         8. viii. Functional Area VIII - Conflict and Crisis Management; and
         9. ix. Functional Area IX - Medical Emergencies, and Physical and Mental Health.
      2. b. The curriculum shall also contain administrative time for orientation, counseling, testing, and remedial training.

   2. 2. The Department shall ensure curriculum submitted to the Board for approval contains lesson plans that include:

      1. a. Course title,
      2. b. Hours of instruction,
      3. c. Materials and aids to be used,
      4. d. Instructional strategy,
      5. e. Topic areas in outline form,
      6. f. Success criteria, and
      7. g. The performance objectives or learning activities to be achieved.
   3. 3. After initial approval by the Board, the Director or the Director’s designee shall submit changes to a lesson plan to the Board for approval.

   4. 4. The Department shall ensure the following three components are specified for each performance objective:

      1. a. The learner, which is an individual or group that performs a behavior as the result of instruction;
      2. b. The behavior, which is an observable demonstration by the learner at the end of instruction that shows the objective is achieved and allows evaluation of the learner’s capabilities relative to the behavior;
      3. c. The conditions, which is a description of the important conditions of instruction or evaluation under which the learner will perform the stated behavior. Unless specified otherwise, the instruction and evaluation shall be in written or oral form.
   5. 5. The Department shall ensure instructors of basic correctional officer training courses meet proficiency requirements developed by the Department. The Department shall ensure proficiency requirements for instructors include education, experience, or a combination of both. The Department shall ensure each instructor has the necessary qualifications before the instructor delivers any instruction. In addition to these requirements, instructors of courses dealing with the proficiency skills of defensive tactics, physical conditioning, firearms, and medical emergencies shall complete specialized training developed by the Department. Instructors shall use lesson plans described in subsection (B)(2).

3. C. Academic requirements.

   1. 1. A cadet shall be given a combination of written, oral, or practical demonstration examinations capable of measuring the cadet’s attainment of the performance objectives in each approved lesson plan.
   2. 2. Academy staff shall review examination results and academic progress with each cadet weekly. Academy staff shall ensure each cadet is informed of correct responses.

   3. 3. A cadet shall complete all examinations before graduating from the academy. To successfully complete a written or oral examination, a cadet shall score at least 70 percent.

      1. a. If a cadet receives a score of less than 70 percent, the academy shall provide the cadet with remedial training in areas of deficiency.
      2. b. The academy shall not offer a cadet more than one re-examination per lesson plan.
   4. 4. A cadet shall qualify with firearms as specified in subsection (B).
   5. 5. A cadet shall meet success criteria described in the Board-approved curriculum for the proficiency skills of self-defense, physical conditioning, and medical emergencies, as approved under subsection (B).
   6. 6. The academy shall provide a cadet who does not attend a lesson with remedial training before graduation.
   7. 7. The academy shall not graduate a cadet who attends less than 90 percent of the total hours of basic training.

4. D. Exceptions. A cadet shall not function as a state correctional officer except:

   1. 1. As part of an exercise within the approved basic training program, if the cadet is under the direct supervision and control of a state correctional officer; or
   2. 2. At the discretion of the Director, for the duration of an emergency situation including, but not limited to, riots, insurrections, and natural disasters. A cadet shall not carry a firearm in the course of duty unless the cadet has successfully met the requirement of subsection (C)(4).

5. E. Waiver of required training. The Board shall grant a complete or partial waiver of the required basic training, at the request of the Director, upon a finding by the Board that the best interests of the corrections profession are served and the public welfare and safety is not jeopardized by the waiver if an applicant:

   1. 1. Successfully completes a basic corrections officer training course comparable to or exceeding, in hours of instruction and subject matter, the Board-approved basic correctional officer training course and has a minimum of one year of experience as a correctional officer. The applicant shall include verification of previous experience and training with the application for waiver;
   2. 2. Meets the minimum qualifications specified in R13-4-202; and
   3. 3. Successfully completes a comprehensive examination measuring comprehension of the Board-approved basic correctional officer training course. The comprehensive examination shall be prepared by the Department, approved by the Director, and include a written test and practical demonstrations of proficiency in firearms, physical conditioning, and defensive tactics.

Historical Note

Adopted effective December 16, 1992, filed June 16, 1992 (Supp. 82-2). References to “Council” changed to “Board” (Supp. 94-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 3201, effective July 11, 2002 (Supp. 02-3). Amended by final rulemaking a 22 A.A.R. 555, effective April 8, 2016 (Supp. 16-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 924 (March 28, 2025), effective May 4, 2025 (Supp. 25-1).