Wyo. Code R. 015-0009-7
Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission
Chapter 7: Certification, Employment, and Training Standards for Correctional Officers
Effective Date: 01/05/2018 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 015.0009.7.01052018
Section 1. Temporary Certification. To qualify for temporary certification correctional officers shall meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(a) To qualify for reserve certification, a correctional officer shall meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(b) No person shall receive a reserve certification unless within two (2) years from the date of appointment he/she has completed a Commission approved correctional officer basic training program and has demonstrated the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission.
(c) A reserve correctional officer certification awarded to an individual complying with this section shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from date of issuance.
(d) Correctional officers awarded reserve certification shall meet continuing training requirements of twenty (20) hours every two (2) years to maintain their reserve certification. Verification of the required training shall be provided to the Commission within two (2) years of the date of the reserve certification and every two (2) years thereafter.
(e) Failure of any reserve correctional officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
(a) To qualify for basic certification, an officer shall:
(i) Meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(ii) Be a permanent full-time employee of the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
(iii) Have completed a Commission approved correctional officer basic training program.
(b) A person shall not be appointed as a correctional officer on a permanent basis unless within one (1) year from the date of his/her original appointment he/she is awarded a certification by the director attesting that he/she satisfactorily completed a Commission approved correctional officer basic training program and has demonstrated the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission.
(c) The Director may extend the one (1) year time requirement of this section upon the written application of the correctional officer and their employer. The application shall explain the circumstances which make the extension necessary. Factors which the Director may consider in granting or denying the extension include the illness of a correctional officer or a member of their immediate family or the absence of reasonable access to the basic course. The Director shall not grant an extension exceeding one hundred eighty (180) days.
(d) Basic certification of permanent employees shall be valid for two (2) years from date of issuance.
(e) Failure of an officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of certification by the Commission.
(a) Advanced certification shall be awarded to an officer who meets any of the following requirements:
(i) Holds a permanent appointment and holds a basic certification as a correctional officer in the state of Wyoming,
(ii) Completes an additional twenty (20) hours of Commission approved training, and
(iii) Completes one (1) year of additional experience as a correctional officer,
(b) The advanced training requirements in this section shall be completed within two (2) years following the date of basic certification.
(c) Failure of any correctional officer to complete advanced training as provided by this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
(a) Professional certification shall be awarded to a correctional officer who meets any of the following requirements:
(i) Has been awarded advanced correctional officer certification, has completed an additional forty (40) hours of Commission approved training, and has acquired three (3) additional years of experience as a full-time correctional officer;
(ii) Has been awarded an associate’s college degree, has been awarded advanced correctional officer certification, has completed an additional twenty (20) hours of Commission approved training, and has two (2) additional years of experience as a full-time correctional officer; or
(iii) Has been awarded a baccalaureate college degree, has been awarded advanced correctional officer certification, and has completed one (1) year additional experience as a full-time correctional officer.
(b) The professional training requirements of this section shall be completed no later than three (3) years following the date of advanced certification.
(c) Correctional officers awarded professional certification shall complete twenty (20) hours of continuing training every two (2) years. Verification of required training shall be provided to the Commission within two (2) years following the date of professional correctional officer certification, and every two (2) years thereafter.
(d) Failure of any correctional officer to complete the requirements of professional training as provided by this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
Section 6. Extension of Time Requirements for Training. The director may grant an extension of time for completion of continuing training required by these rules upon a presentation of evidence by the department that a correctional officer is unable to complete the required training within the time prescribed because of illness, injury, military service, special duty assigned or required in the public interest of the concerned jurisdiction, or because of restriction on the availability of required training.
(a) The Commission may, upon recommendation of the employing agency, waive the basic, or mini basic, correctional officer training program and certify those applicants who can pass a written examination provided by the Commission and an oral interview attesting to the applicant’s ability and core competencies in corrections.
(b) The applicant shall prove that he satisfactorily completed a basic correctional officer training program which in the Commission’s opinion is comparable to that required by this section before waiver is granted.
(c) The applicant must complete the Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedure course as outlined by WLEA.
Currently certified Wyoming correctional officers may be employed subject to the following conditions:
(a) The employing agency completes all the requirements set forth in Chapter 2, Section 1(c) (vii); and
(b) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment in writing or by electronic filing.
Correctional officers previously, but not currently certified may be certified subject to the following conditions:
(a) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment in writing or by electronic filing.
(b) Those applicant correctional officers who have been out of corrections less than three (3) years may be certified provided the applicant satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(c) Those applicant correctional officers who have been out of corrections for more than three (3) years but less than five (5) years may be certified provided the applicant satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, and;
(i) Passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(ii) Successfully completes the Wyoming criminal law and procedures course for correctional basic;
(iii) Provides proof of current CPR certification; and
(iv) Demonstrates the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission.
(d) Applicant correctional officers who have not been employed as a correctional officer during the last five (5) years or more and have had less than five (5) continuous years as a full-time correctional officer shall satisfy the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, successfully complete a full correctional basic course, and demonstrate the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission to become certified.
(e) Applicant correctional officers who have not been employed as a correctional officer during the last five (5) years, but were employed as a correction officer less than ten (10) years ago, and had been employed for five (5) or more continuous years as a full-time correctional officer may attend the Commission approved mini correctional basic in lieu of the full correctional basic course. Upon successful completion of the mini correctional basic, the correctional challenge process, demonstration of the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission, and compliance with the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, the officer shall be granted correctional officer certification. Approval to attend the mini correctional basic may only be granted by the Commission.
(a) Officers, who have been employed as a correction officer within the last five (5) years, who were certified/trained in states other than Wyoming may be certified as long as the individual meets the following criteria:
(i) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment in writing or by electronic filing.
(ii) The applicant correctional officers has been employed as a correctional officer within the last five (5) years;
(iii) Can provide documentation of the successful completion of a correctional officer basic program that is, in the Commission's opinion, comparable to the Wyoming correctional officer basic offered during the same time period;
(iv) Satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1;
(v) Passes a written correctional officer challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(vi) Successfully completes the Wyoming criminal law and procedures course for correctional basic;
(vii) Provides proof of current CPR certification; and
(viii) Demonstrates the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission.
(b) Applicants who have not been employed as a correctional officer during the last five (5) years or more and have had less than five (5) continuous years as a full-time correctional officer shall satisfy the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, successfully complete a full correctional basic course, and demonstrate the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission to become certified.
(c) Applicant who have not been employed as a correctional officer during the last five (5) years, but were employed as a correction officer less than ten (10) years ago, and had been employed for five (5) or more continuous years as a full- time correctional officer may attend the Commission approved mini correctional basic in lieu of the full correctional basic course. Upon successful completion of the mini correctional basic, the correctional challenge process, demonstration of the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission, and compliance with the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, the officer shall be granted correctional officer certification. Approval to attend the mini correctional basic may only be granted by the Commission.
Section 11. Credit for Accredited College Hours. Correctional officers may receive training hours for accredited college credits as follows: