10.29.5.11

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION; TIME LIMITATIONS

1. A. Students who successfully complete a department of public safety training and recruiting division accredited satellite program will be allowed to take the law enforcement officer certification examination. Only those students who have successfully completed all requirements under the minimum standards of training, as determined by the director of the department of public safety training and recruiting division, will be administered the law enforcement officer certification examination.

   (1) Students will be allowed two (2) opportunities in which to pass the law enforcement officer certification examination within one year from the date of completion of the satellite program. Students who fail the exam two (2) times must attend the academic portion of the certification by waiver of previous training program prior to taking the exam a third (3^rd) time. Students who fail the test three (3) times will be required to successfully complete the New Mexico law enforcement academy’s basic police training program. Students will not be allowed to attend a regional/satellite program.

   (2) Students who achieve a passing score on the law enforcement officer certification examination will be allowed one year from the date of the test in which to be eligible for certification. Certification can be granted only when the eligible student is hired by a recognized New Mexico law enforcement agency in a law enforcement position.

   (3) If a student secures a law enforcement position after one year from the date of successful completion of the law enforcement officer certification examination, he will be required to attend the certification by waiver of previous training program (short course) conducted by the department of public safety training and recruiting division.

   (4) Students will be allowed three (3) years from the date of successful completion of the law enforcement officer certification examination to secure a law enforcement position. After three (3) years, they will be required to attend and successfully complete another basic police officer training program certified by the New Mexico law enforcement academy board.

2. B. Students who have successfully completed a satellite program and passed the law enforcement officer certification examination will be provided a letter from the director of the department of public safety training and recruiting division attesting to the student’s eligibility for certification as a police officer in New Mexico.
3. C. An application for certification and required supporting documentation must be submitted to the department of public safety training and recruiting division within fourteen days of the student’s employment as a police officer as required under New Mexico law enforcement academy board rule 10.29.9.10 NMAC. Any officer (or department) not submitting the required documents is in violation of NMSA 1978, Section 29-7-1 et. al., (Repl. Pamp. 1994), and will be required to forfeit his position.
4. D. When all paperwork is completed to the satisfaction of the director of the department of public safety training and recruiting division for any student requesting certification by successful completion of a certified satellite program, or any other previous comparable training, the request will be submitted to the New Mexico law enforcement academy board for final approval and award of certification under NMSA 1978, Section 29-7-1 et. al., (Repl. Pamp. 1994).
   [2-14-87, 4-11-89, 11-12-89, 10-1-97, 4-16-98, 9-1-99; 10.29.5.11 NMAC – Rn, 10 NMAC 29.5.11, 7/1/01]