Level I and II Basic Training
Level I and II Certification – Limited Scope: A 3 Phase Process.
To obtain a Level I or II certification, one must successfully complete a 3-phase process. The Council has stipulated they must attend a minimum 80-hour academy (Phase One). Upon successful completion of Phase One, they must take a minimum 50 hours of additional training consisting of required and elective courses (Phase Two) and 60 hours in a Field Training and Evaluation Program with a Council certified Field Training Officer. 20 VSA§ 2358 - Minimum Training Standards Statute
Letter to incoming Level II Applicants
Download the Level I and II Certification Paperwork.
(Not intended for individuals - your hiring agency will provide you with required paperwork.)
Email Dan Pennington or call 802-483-2744 with questions concerning this process.
Level I and II Certification Course description: This course will begin the applicant’s journey towards certification as a police officer by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council. Upon successful completion, the participant will be granted a provisional certification and have law enforcement authority only in the presence of a fully certified police officer until successful completion of Phase Two and Three. Details of this process are covered by Council Rules 15-18.
- Level I and II Police Officer Basic Training - Phase One Schedule
- No person, unless exempted by statute, shall exercise law enforcement powers as a Level I or II law enforcement officer in any municipal, county or state law enforcement agency before satisfactorily completing a basic training course consisting of a minimum number of hours of training (Phase I).
- Length of Course: 10 days (80 hours)
- Course hours: 0730 – 1600 hrs.
- Location: Vermont Police Academy
- Level I and II Police Officer Basic Training -Phase Two
- Upon successful completion of the Academy Course described above, the Level I or II law enforcement officer will be issued a provisional 12-month certification that grants law enforcement authority but only under the direct supervision and control of a fully certified officer.
- During the 12-month period following the provisional certification, the officer must enroll in a program of core and elective courses approved by the sponsoring law enforcement agency totaling a minimum number of hours (Phase Two) as established by the Council, but no fewer than fifty (50) hours. These courses may be offered at the Academy and at various field locations around the state.
- Level I and II Police Officer Basic Training - Phase Three
- During the same 12-month period as stated above the officer must satisfactorily complete a Council certified Field Training and Evaluation Program. This can be accomplished concurrently with the completion of Phase Two training and must include a minimum number of hours as established by the Council, but no fewer than sixty (60) hours, on performance of pertinent tasks observed and evaluated by a Council certified Field Training Officer who attests to successful completion of those tasks.
- FTEP-1 Daily Observation Reports
- FTEP-2 task check sheets
- FTEP-3 final recommendations
- Signatures by Agency Head, Field Training Officers, and Provisional Officer are required on both FTEP-2 and FTEP-3 forms.
- Upon successful completion of all phases of training, the Executive Director shall issue a Level I or II Officer certification to replace the provisional 12-month certification, thereby granting law enforcement authority limited to the provisions of their Level I or II status. [T20 VSA 2358 (c) (3)]
Rule 20: Mandatory Annual In-service Training - To maintain their certification, Level I and II officers must have a minimum of 30 hours of training each year.
Level III Basic Training – Full Scope of Authority
To obtain Level III certification, individuals attend a comprehensive residential Basic Training Academy for 17 weeks. In addition, individual police agencies may have a pre- and/or post-basic training program.
To submit Level III packets or any required paperwork email Jennifer Hier
For questions about Level III Basic Training email Kenneth Hawkins
Level III Certification Course Description:
The Vermont Police Academy conducts two level III basic training classes each year. The course is conducted in an environment consisting of both police discipline and academics, designed to prepare an individual for a career in policing.
- Students must maintain acceptable academic standards to remain in the program (minimum 70% average and maximum of four failures on graded assignments/practicals or competencies).
- Athletics and physical training are mandatory and are as much a part of the training program as academics.
- Classes run from Monday through Friday.
- During the week students are required to remain at the Academy and adhere to Academy rules and regulations.
- Upon satisfactory completion of the program students will be certified or certifiable by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council.
Level III Certification Curriculum Summary
118th Basic Training Class for Police Professionals (Level III Certification)
- Graduation of the 118th Basic Training course will be November 27, 2024, at 10:00
119th Basic Training Class for Police Professionals (Level III Certification)
- A seat for attendance will not be reserved until all paperwork processes are completed including the registration sheet, statement of background completion and medical / examination have been received by the academy. Once received and reviewed for completeness, you will be notified of your reserved seat.
- PT testing is offered monthly at the Academy, and anyone may sign up to assess their performance.
- However, all potential recruits for the 119th Basic must attend and pass the PT test held at the Academy. There are three (3) sessions available, only one has to be attended and successfully completed. the dates are:
- Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 0830
- Wednesday, December 30, 2024 at 0830
- Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 0830
- All incoming recruits who pass must then attend orientation at the Academy on January 10, 2025, at 0830 hours
- Day one of the 119th Basic Training course will be February 3, 2025, at 0800
- 119th Deadlines
- Level III registration sheet for the 119th Basic Training Course
- Statement of Completion for the 119th Basic Training Course
- Medical History and Physical Examination
- (Pages 1 - 12 & 18 to be completed by the candidate, 13 - 17 to be completed by a physician).
- Medicals must be completed no more than 6 months prior to being due.
- Anything older than 6 months will not be accepted.
OOJ – Lateral Transfer for Vermont Level III Certification
A police agency seeking to hire an individual who is certified as a law enforcement officer in another jurisdiction may apply for a certification transfer request, exempting the applicant from Basic Training. Upon successful completion of the process, the applicant receives Level III certification by waiver and a full scope of enforcement authority under Vermont law.
Below are a list of forms that you should complete to initiate the process for an OOJ.
- VCJC Transfer of Certification Request - This should be filled out to initiate the process. This form should accompany the following forms:
- Registration Form - https://vcjc.vermont.gov/document/ooj-registration to include the
- Statement of completion and Background Investigation form - https://vcjc.vermont.gov/document/ooj-statement-completion
The applicant should concurrently request records from their state to include:
- Certificates
- Annual Training transcript
- Basic Training Transcript
Your agency staff should review the basic training transcript and align with the current Basic Curriculum Summary Basic Training Curriculum Summary | Criminal Justice Council (vermont.gov) to identify areas of training that correspond with VT.
When all documentation has been gathered. Submit in one packet to the Director of Administration (lindsay.thivierge@vermont.gov). The request will be reviewed and simultaneously a waiver subcommittee meeting will be initiated.
At any point that you have made the hire you can submit the Employment Notification Form - https://vcjc.vermont.gov/sites/vcjtc/files/documents/Employment%20Notification%20Form%202024.pdf
A Complete list of requirements for OOJ Hire:
- Registration Form
- Background, fingerprint, and polygraph
- Statement of completion
- Medical Packet
- Government issued identification
- HS Diploma or GED and/or transcripts
- Employee resume/CV
- Previous training records to include basic academy transcripts and in-service training.
- Memo stating that the employee successfully completed an FTO program in their prior out-of-state agency.
- Memo of support from the Vermont agency head employer.
Annual Waiver and/or Certification Extension Requests
All requests must be submitted prior to certification expiration date.
- Rule 20 extension requests or requests for extensions due to a lapse in service, may be requested by agency heads for any officer did not complete annual training in the calendar year required. This request should include what training is still needed and an expected time frame of completion.
- OOJ and Level II extension requests may be requested by agency heads for any officer that did not complete the training requirements for certification in the time allotted.
- Canine extension requests may be requested by agency heads for any canine team that did not complete the in-service training or recertification requirements in the time allotted.
- Military extension requests may be requested by agency heads for an officer that has been deployed on active military orders for a period of at least six months in a calendar year (a copy of the military orders must accompany the request) and they will not be able to fulfill their annual training requirements. Upon returning to duty the agency must notify the Academy to receive updated training requirements and the officer must requalify with their duty weapon and attend first aid training within thirty days.
- Instructor extension requests may be requested by agency heads for any Instructors that did not complete the training requirements for certification in the time allotted.
- Waived Requirements – any agency that is requesting a waiver of requirements must submit the request in writing to the Executive Director stating why the waiver is being requested and must include documentation to support the request.
Recertification Requests
Any Level II or Ill law enforcement officer who has not been employed as a Level Ill law enforcement officer in Vermont or as a training coordinator for the Vermont Police Academy for a period of more than three (3) consecutive years must submit the form below to the Director of Administration and Compliance.
Any level II or III law enforcement officer that has been decertified pursuant to Council rule, has not been employed in law enforcement for a period of three (3) years or less and is eligible for recertification must submit a request for recertification in writing to the Executive Director for review. All requests must include documentation of prior law enforcement experience, what has been done as a background on the candidate, what their talents are in law enforcement, why a recertification is being requested, and how they will be used in the agency.