Fla. Admin. Code R. 11B-20.001 – Definitions and Minimum Requirements for General Certification of Instructors

(1) Definitions:
1. (a) “Successful completion” of a course is documented as a “Pass” on the completed Training Report, form CJSTC-67, revised August 14, 2025, effective 5/2026, hereby incorporated by reference HYPERLINK "https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19447"https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19447. Form CJSTC-67 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at (850)410-8615.
2. (b) “Training school” means those training academies and training schools that are certified by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
3. (c) “Instructor” means an individual certified by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, hereafter referred to as “Commission” or “CJSTC,” and is affiliated with a Commission-certified criminal justice training school or criminal justice employing agency and is authorized to instruct Basic Recruit Training Programs, Advanced Training Programs, or Specialized Training Programs.
4. (d) “Affiliated” means an instructor who is currently employed by a Commission-certified criminal justice training school or criminal justice agency, whether or not the instructor receives compensation.
5. (e) “Active certification” means a certification held by an instructor who is affiliated with a Commission-certified criminal justice training school or criminal justice agency.
6. (f) “Inactive certification” means a certification held by an instructor who is not affiliated with a Commission-certified training school or criminal justice agency.
7. (g) “ATMS” means the Commission’s Automated Training Management System.
8. (h) “Basic Recruit Training Programs,” “Advanced Training Programs,” and “Specialized Training Programs” mean training administered by training schools pursuant to rule Chapter 11B-35, F.A.C.
9. (i) “Agency” means criminal justice employing agency.
10. (j) “Romantic or sexual relationship” means a relationship that may be evidenced by one or more of the following: kissing; fondling of the genital area, buttocks, or breasts; oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object.
(2) Instructor applicants applying for instructor certification shall:
1. (a) Complete the Instructor Certification Application, form CJSTC-71, revised August 14, 2025, effective 3/2026, hereby incorporated by reference HYPERLINK "http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19445"http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19445. Form CJSTC-71 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at (850)410-8615;
2. (b) Be affiliated with a training school or agency;
3. (c) Possess good moral character pursuant to subsection 11B-27.0011(4), F.A.C., as applied to instructor applicants and certified instructors;
  1. Not have been convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement, or received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States; and,
  2. After July 1, 1981, any person who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement is not eligible for instructor certification, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication; and,
  3. Notwithstanding subsections (3), (4) of this rule section, any person who has pled nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false statement, prior to December 1, 1985, and has had such record sealed or expunged shall not be deemed ineligible for instructor certification.
(3) General Instructor Certification.
1. (a) Instructor applicants shall comply with the following requirements to obtain General Instructor Certification:
  1. Instructor applicants shall successfully complete the Traditional Instructor Techniques Course (Retired 6/30/2004), CMS Instructor Techniques Course (Retired 11/14/08), or Florida General Instructor Techniques Course delivered through a training school or complete equivalent instructor training. The training center director is authorized to have instructor applicants complete only those portions of the Instructor Techniques Course for which the instructor applicant is deficient.
  2. Instructor applicants who apply for General Instructor Certification shall have completed the required instructor training within four years of the date the instructor applicant applies for certification. Instructor applicants who apply more than four years from the date training was completed shall be required to complete the General Instructor Refresher Course.
  3. After successful completion of the mandatory instructor training, instructor applicants shall complete an internship.
  a. The instructor applicant shall be supervised by and have his or her instructional abilities evaluated by a training center director or agency administrator, who is currently an instructor, or a designee who is currently an instructor. The training center director, agency administrator, or designee shall complete the Instructor Competency Checklist, form CJSTC-81, revised August 15, 2024, effective 3/2025, hereby incorporated by reference HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-17834"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-17834. Form CJSTC-81 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at (850)410-8615.
  b. The instructor applicant shall demonstrate the applicable competencies listed on form CJSTC-81, which shall be maintained in the instructor’s file at the training school or agency.
  c. The instructor applicant shall be evaluated by his or her students. Student evaluations shall be reviewed with the instructor applicant by a training center director, agency administrator, or an instructor designated by the training center director or agency administrator, and documented on form CJSTC-81.
  4. Instructor applicants shall complete the Instructor Certification Application form CJSTC-71 and attach all required documentation prior to submitting the application for approval. The training center director, agency administrator, or designee is required to submit form CJSTC-71 to Commission staff or electronically transmit through the Commission’s ATMS. Form CJSTC-71 and supporting documentation on each affiliated instructor shall be maintained in the instructor’s file.
  5. Instructor Separation or Change of Affiliation.
  a. When an instructor requests a change of affiliation, the training center director, agency administrator, or designee shall complete an Affidavit of Separation, form CJSTC-61, revised August 15, 2024, effective 3/2025, hereby incorporated by reference HYPERLINK "https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-17835"https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-17835, and submit to Commission staff, or immediately transmit through the Commission’s ATMS. Form CJSTC-61 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at (850)410-8615. A copy shall be maintained in the instructor’s file.
  b. Instructor Separation. When a training center director, agency administrator, or designee separates an instructor, the training center director, agency administrator, or designee shall notify the instructor of the separation and submit form CJSTC-61 to Commission staff or electronically transmit through the Commission’s ATMS. A copy of form CJSTC-61 shall be maintained in the Instructor’s file. An instructor’s certification shall become inactive upon separation and remain inactive until the instructor is affiliated with a training school or agency. If the separation involves a violation of Section 943.13(4), F.S., or moral character violation, the training center director, agency administrator, or designee shall also complete the Internal Investigation Report form CJSTC-78, revised August 15, 2024, effective 3/2025, hereby incorporated by reference HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-17836"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-17836, and form CJSTC-61, and submit to Commission staff or immediately transmit through the Commission’s ATMS. Form CJSTC-78 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at (850)410-8615.
  c. Request for new Affiliation. The instructor requesting the change shall submit to the employing agency or training school the Instructor Certification Application form CJSTC-71, the training center director, agency administrator, or designee shall enter the employment into the Commission’s ATMS, and the instructor’s ATMS Global Profile Sheet shall be maintained in the instructor’s file.
2. (b) Equivalent Instructor Training.
  1. Instructor applicants who request an exemption from the required instructor training shall be evaluated by the training center director or designee for completion of equivalent instructor training by documenting the instructor applicant’s qualifications. Documentation shall include the instructor applicant’s training in all of the following competencies, or the training center director or designee may authorize the instructor applicant to complete only those portions of the Florida General Instructor Techniques Course for which the instructor applicant is deficient:
  a. Training liability.
  b. Ethics.
  c. Human diversity training required by Section 943.1758, F.S.
  d. Adult learning theory.
  e. Communication skills.
  f. Instructional aids.
  g. Principles of instruction.
  h. Lesson plan preparation.
  i. Evaluation, measurement, and simulation.
  j. Demonstration of instructional ability.
  k. Group management.
  l. Facilitation skills.
  m. Applied Learning Concepts.
  2. Instructor applicants shall complete an internship.
  a. The instructor applicant shall be supervised by and have his or her instructional abilities evaluated by a training center director or agency administrator, who is currently an instructor, or a designee who is currently an instructor. The training center director, agency administrator, or designee shall complete the Instructor Competency Checklist form CJSTC-81.
  b. The instructor applicant shall demonstrate the applicable competencies listed on form CJSTC-81, which shall be maintained in the instructor’s file at the training school or agency.
  c. The instructor applicant shall be evaluated by his or her students. Student evaluations shall be reviewed with the instructor applicant by a training center director, agency administrator, or an instructor designated by the training center director or agency administrator, and documented on form CJSTC-81.
  3. Instructor applicants shall complete the Instructor Certification Application form CJSTC-71 and attach all required documentation prior to submitting the application for approval. The training center director, agency administrator, or designee is required to submit form CJSTC-71 to Commission staff or electronically transmit through the Commission’s ATMS. Form CJSTC-71 and supporting documentation on each affiliated instructor shall be maintained in the instructor’s file.
3. (c) Exemption from Instructor Techniques Courses.
  1. Instructor applicants are exempt from the Florida General Instructor Techniques when the instructor applicant is a full-time instructor at a vocational technical institution or an accredited community college, college, or university. The instructor applicant shall provide documentation of his or her full-time status and identify the name and location of the vocational technical institution, community college, college, or university.
  2. Instructor applicants shall complete an internship pursuant to subparagraph (3)(b)2. of this rule section.
  3. Instructor applicants shall complete the Instructor Certification Application form CJSTC-71 and attach all required documentation prior to submitting the application for approval. The training center director, agency administrator, or designee is required to submit form CJSTC-71 to Commission staff or electronically transmit through the Commission’s ATMS. Form CJSTC-71 and supporting documentation on each affiliated instructor shall be maintained in the instructor’s file.
(4) Exemption from General Instructor Certification. An individual, who has a professional or technical certification or three years of experience in the specified subject matter to be instructed, shall be exempt from General Instructor Certification. The training center director or designee shall document the individual’s qualifications by completing the Instructor Exemption, form CJSTC-82, revised August 13, 2020, effective 5/2021, hereby incorporated by reference HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14224" http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14224, which shall be maintained in the course file at the training school. Form CJSTC-82 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at (850)410-8615.
(5) An individual, whose certification has been revoked, relinquished, or is currently suspended, shall not instruct Commission-approved Basic Recruit Training, Advanced Training or Specialized Training Program Courses.
(6) An individual found in violation of Section 943.13(4), F.S., or is guilty of the offenses set forth in paragraphs 11B-20.0012(2)(a)-(f), F.A.C., shall not instruct Commission-approved Basic Recruit Training, Advanced Training, or Specialized Training Program Courses.

Rulemaking Authority 943.03(4), 943.12(1), 943.14(3) FS. Law Implemented 943.12(3), (9), 943.14(3) FS. History–New 7-21-82, Formerly 11B-20.01, Amended 10-26-88, 5-14-92, 12-8-92, 1-10-94, 1-2-97, 7-7-99, 8-22-00, 7-29-01, 11-5-02, 11-30-04, 3-27-06, 3-21-07, 6-9-08, 9-28-09, 6-3-10, 5-21-12, 3-13-13, 5-29-14, 7-29-15, 9-4-16, 7-19-17, 8-15-18, 7-9-19, 5-20-21, 6-23-22, 8-30-23, 6-20-24, 4-9-25, 6-4-26.