In order to become a certified peace officer in Arizona, the candidate must contact a law enforcement agency for a job. If the applicant is hired, the agency will notify AZPOST, who will perform an audit to confirm that the applicant meets the qualifications for certification. Applicants must apply through the agency. Minimum qualifications are established by AZPOST and the agency may have additional requirements. Only when the agency has appointed the applicant does the certification process begin.
Newly appointed peace officer trainees will be enrolled in a law enforcement training academy chosen by the agency. The trainee will be provided by the selected academy with the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board Basic Peace Officer Training Course. The course consists of a minimum of 585 hours of mandated training. In order to become AZPOST certified, the trainee must successfully complete all requirements of the academy. The trainee must also pass a comprehensive final examination.
There is an option whereby experienced police officers may avoid retaking the basic training course through a test. The test consists of driving proficiency, firearms qualification, a written exam, and a physical agility test (POPAT). The agency that hired the officer will decide whether to send the officer through the academy or allow them to pursue the waiver process. In order to qualify for the waiver, the candidate must have served as a peace officer, completed comparable basic and advanced training, obtain an appointment from an Arizona agency, and meet the minimum qualifications as an Arizona peace officer.
Some Arizona police academies allow applicants to enroll at their own expense and without an appointment to a law enforcement agency. The open enrollee must meet the same qualifications as the appointed enrollee. The completion of the academy does not mean that the open enrollee is a peace officer. Additionally, the open enrollee does not have AZPOST certification. Upon passing a background check, hiring process and AZPOST audit, the open enrollee may be appointed by an agency. The open enrollee may be required to pass the waiver process depending upon the amount of time that has passed.
The full authority peace officer is required to attend eight hours of training per year. The specialty or limited authority peace officer is required to attend eight hours of training every three years.
Peace officers not in supervisory positions shall be required to complete eight hours of proficiency training every three years. The proficiency training will require physical demonstration of one or more of the performance objectives covered in the basic training course.
Peace officers authorized to carry firearms shall retain this authorization by taking a firearms identification and judgment course each year.