Wyo. Code R. 015-0009-11
Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission
Chapter 11: Minimum Standards for Instructors
Effective Date: 01/05/2018 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 015.0009.11.01052018
(a) Any person serving as a training officer in a law enforcement agency or an accredited criminal justice training course of program in or for the State of Wyoming shall first be certified as an instructor by the director.
(b) The director shall certify instructors, pursuant to W.S. 9-1-703(b)(iii). An instructor will be certified or recognized on the basis of documented qualifications as set out in this chapter and shown on the applicant's application for certification or request for in-service training.
(c) The director may deny, or the Commission may suspend or revoke an instructor's certification when the instructor:
(i) Does not meet any of the requirements or qualifications for certification;
(ii) Has failed to provide proof of continuing education in his/her area of expertise that is current and within two (2) years of the application date received at POST, or has failed to maintain hours of instruction or other eligibility requirements for renewal as an instructor prior to the expiration date, in their area of expertise;
(iii) Has demonstrated instructional incompetence in knowledge of material, in preparation of course material or safety; or
(iv) Is in violation of the rules.
(a) To qualify for a general instructor certificate, an applicant shall satisfactorily demonstrate, to the director, a combination of education and experience in criminal justice, as well as proficiency in the instructional process. The applicant shall satisfy the following requirements:
(i) Will be employed as an instructor on a full-time basis or instruct a minimum of eighty (80) hours per year;
(ii) At a minimum, is a high school graduate, or has passed the General Education Development Test (GED) indicating high school equivalency;
(iii) Has acquired five (5) years of full-time continuous practical experience as a peace officer, detention officer, dispatcher, correctional officer, or as an administrator or specialist in a field relevant or related to the criminal justice system; and
(iv) Has completed, or within two years of becoming an academy instructor, completes an approved instructor development training course, or equivalent instructor training program approved by the director which meets the minimum standards for instructor certification both in content and hours.
(b) Certification as a general instructor shall remain effective for two (2) years from the date of issuance. The instructor shall apply for recertification at or before the end of the two (2) year period. Application for recertification must meet the requirements in of subsection (a) and must be current within two (2) years of being submitted.
(a) The director may certify an instructor who has developed specific skills and abilities by virtue of special training, practical experience and demonstrated experience.
(b) To qualify for certification as a Practitioner Lecturer Instructor in a topic area, the applicant shall:
(i) Show the training of the applicant in the specific topic or skill for which certification is sought by documenting the completion of training in the specific topic area from a recognized institution which frequently presents such training programs in the ordinary course of its business or activities that is current and within two (2) years of application;
(ii) Has acquired three (3) years of practical full-time continuous experience as a peace officer or as an administrator or specialist in a field relevant or related to the criminal justice system;
(iii) Has completed, or within two (2) years of becoming an Instructor, completes an approved instructor development training course, or equivalent instructor training program approved by the director which meets the minimum standards for instructor certification both in content and hours; and
(iv) Has obtained the endorsement and recommendation of the applicant’s administrator which:
(A) Specifically designates the applicant’s area of expertise; and
(B) State the topic areas and criminal justice training courses in which the applicant is expected to participate.
(c) Certification as a Practitioner Lecturer Instructor shall remain effective for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance. The Instructor shall reapply for certification at or before the end of the two (2) year period. Application for recertification must meet the requirements listed above in subsection (b) and must be current within two (2) year of application.
(d) To qualify for Practitioner Lecturer recertification, the applicant shall provide documentation of sixteen (16) teaching hours per year.
(a) To qualify for a Subject Matter Instructor, an applicant shall demonstrate to the director proof of skills, successful experience, and/or training in the high risk areas of law enforcement instruction that is current and within two (2) years of application.
(b) Included topics of instruction include but are not limited to: Firearms, Custody and Control, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Search and Seizure, Drug Recognition Experts and Use of Force instruction.
(i) Training of the applicant in the specialized topic at a minimum, should be conducted by the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy or an equivalent recognized institution which frequently presents such training programs in the ordinary course of its business or activities;
(ii) Has completed, or within two (2) years of becoming an Instructor, completes an approved instructor development training course, or equivalent instructor training program approved by the director which meets the minimum standards for instructor certification both in content and hours; and
(iii) Has acquired three (3) years of full-time continuous practical experience as a peace officer, detention officer, correctional officer, or as an administrator or specialist in a field relevant or related to the criminal justice system.
(c) Certification as a specialized topic instructor shall remain effective for the period granted by the certifying agency. The Instructor shall reapply for certification at or before the end of the two (2) year period. Application for recertification and must be current within two (2) year of application and satisfy both subsections (a) and (b) above.
(d) The director may grant an extension of time for completion of continuing training required by these rules upon a presentation of evidence by the certifying agency that a recertification course is not available at the time of expiration.
Section 5. Waiver of Certification for Certain Individuals. Licensed members of the State Bar, the medical profession and other similar professions; high school, community or junior college, college and university faculty members; certified emergency medical care or advanced first aid instructors; and employees of United States governmental agencies; or of agencies which have police training assignments which are of such short duration as to make certification impractical, the Director may waive any of the requirements of this section if he finds a person, although not meeting all of the eligibility requirements, is otherwise qualified to be an instructor.