This procedure, which took effect on August 21, 2006, allows out-of-state, military and federal officers/agents who wish to avoid taking the full basic training prior to sitting for the state exam to request an exemption based upon their prior training and experience. In order to be eligible for an exemption you must have:
At least one continuous year of full time, paid, sworn experience volunteer, part-time and reserve duty does not qualify, in the discipline for which you are seeking an exemption (law enforcement, corrections, or parole/probation). If you have a break in service or work for more than one department, then the one year of experience must occur within an eighteen month time frame at not more than two agencies. This time period must begin after you completed your basic academy training. If you are not currently employed as a criminal justice officer, there cannot be more than an 8-year gap from the end of your most recent qualifying employment to the submission of your complete Equivalency of Training Application; and;
Received training in the discipline which is comparable to Florida's full basic curriculum.
VERIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE: We must contact your employing agency to verify employment.
DOCUMENTATION OF TRAINING: From your first basic academy we need a copy of the academy training curriculum broken down by hours, i.e. 40 hours report writing, 25 hours criminal law, etc. This is sometimes referred to as the training/class schedule, outline or syllabus. If you have been awarded college credit for any of your training, we need a copy of your college transcripts. If you have completed any in-service, advanced or specialized courses, please provide us with copies of the certificates or a print out from your department's training section. We must verify your training with the training academy you attended.
In order to qualify for an exemption and comparable training you must have successfully completed the following topical areas.
Law Enforcement Officers/Federal Agents
Law enforcement constitutional law and legal issues
Report writing
Interpersonal skills
Firearms
Defensive tactics
First Aid or it's equivalent
Vehicle operations
Law enforcement patrol (most federal agents lack this training requirement)
Criminal investigations
Traffic crash investigations (most federal agents lack this training requirement)
Traffic control and stops (most federal agents lack this training requirement)
Correctional Officers
Correctional legal issues
Report writing
Interpersonal skills
Firearms
Defensive tactics
First Aid or it's equivalent
Correctional facility operations
Parole/Probation Officers
Parole/Probation legal issues
Report writing
Interpersonal skills
Firearms
Defensive tactics
First Aid or it's equivalent
Probationer supervision
How to apply:
To apply for an exemption please submit the following items:
Print out and complete an Equivalency of Training application. The application is 7 pages long and the last page is a CJSTC Form 58. Be sure you have the last page of the application and the CJSTC Form 58 notarized.
A personal check or money order for $200.00 made payable to Gulf Coast Community College.
A copy of the training schedule, calendar, syllabus or outline for your basic training academy showing the subject areas and classroom hours for your basic standards academy along with a copy of your basic training academy graduation certificate.
ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL: You need to submit proof of your military law enforcement or corrections training and assignment. If you are no longer in the service we need a copy of your DD 214 and a copy of your graduation certificate from your law enforcement or corrections training school. If you are still on active duty we need an official printout of your training and duty assignments. For Air Force security forces personnel this would be your VMPF (Virtual Military Personnel File) which you can print out yourself. For the other armed services we need a copy of your OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) which is also available online.
Copies of any other professional training certificates or college transcripts that you may have.
If mailing these items, send them to:
Criminal Justice Selection Center
Gulf Coast Community College
5230 West U. S. Highway 98
Panama City, FL 32401-1058
If you live in the area and wish to hand deliver these items, our office is located at:
North Bay Campus
637 Highway 2300
Southport, Florida
If you do not hear from us within 8-10 working days, you can consider that we found no problems with your application for exemption. We must verify your employment and training, which sometimes can take several weeks. After the verifications have been done, if you qualify for an exemption, we will enter your approval into the FDLE computer system. We will then send you a Form 76 by certified mail officially granting your exemption and allowing you to enroll in the Review Course and sit for the State Exam.
NOTE: Once you receive the certified letter you must complete the required proficiency demonstration or Review Course and pass the state exam within 12 months. If you fail to complete these requirements in the 12 month time period, you will be required to take the full basic academy in order to become certified. The state exam is NOT offered as part of the Review Course, it is given at a different location and time by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. You can obtain information about test dates and locations and register for the exam at this website http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/exam/
If you have any questions or need further assistance you can contact us at:
Gulf Coast Community College no longer offers the Comparative Compliance Review Course or Equivalency Course. There is only one training academy in northwest Florida that offers the course on a regular basis, Chipola College. Any questions concerning this course should be directed to:
Steve Anderson
Chipola College
Criminal Justice Training Center
3094 Indian Circle
Marianna, FL 32446-1701
Phone: 850.718.2479
FAX: 850.718.2497
E-Mail: andersons@chipola.edu
