About Peace Officer Certification
As a condition of continuing employment as peace officers, all Washington officers regardless of rank or position shall meet the requirements for certification in a timely manner by attending the basic academy, equivalency academy or obtaining an exemption
from those requirements. This law went into effect January 1, 2002.
The primary purpose of peace officer certification is to ensure that law enforcement agencies do not hire or retain officers who:
(A) have been discharged by a law enforcement employer for serious misconduct
(B) have convictions for certain criminal offenses; or
(C) have otherwise proved themselves to be unsuitable to be peace officers.
All local and state governmental agencies employing general authority peace officers, including the Washington State Patrol and Fish and Wildlife as well as public four-year college and university police departments are directly affected, because their officers are subject to certification.
This process also authorizes the Commission to revoke or deny certification to any peace officer after a written notification and hearing process. The causes for revoking or denying certification status to a peace officer are a relatively narrow band of causes when compared to other states.
There are certain circumstances under which a peace officer, who has had their certification revoked or denied, may apply to have their certification reinstated.
Understanding that policing is a difficult and complex profession, it becomes the responsibility of labor and management to insist upon the highest ethical and professional standards. Police misconduct has a disastrous effect on virtually every aspect of our society and the public trust. The certification process affords us a tool to combat police misconduct and hold ourselves accountable to the people in the communities we serve.
Requirements
Agencies are required to report all peace officer hires immediately to the WSCJTC. Terminations/separations must be reported within fifteen (15) days of the termination/separation being final per RCW 43.101.135.
Contacts
If you have any questions regarding Peace Officer Certification, please contact the following staff
Valerie Jenkins-Weaver, Certification Manager
(206) 835-7376
vjweaver@cjtc.wa.gov
If you have any questions regarding Peace Officer academies, please contact the following staff:
Application Documents
Please use the forms below for hires and separations; all forms are to be submitted to certmail@cjtc.wa.gov. As of 05/01/2020, these revised forms will be required; any outdated forms will not be processed and returned for resubmission.
Equivalency Information
Information for laterals and the equivalency process for out of state peace officers can be found on our Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency page.FAQ
Question | Answer |
---|---|
In order to meet the requirements of RCW 43.101.080 (19), can an agency share the results of the criminal backgrounds check, psychological testing and polygraph/similar testing? |
Criminal Backgrounds Check: The Rules and Statues are silent in regards to the sharing of the background information.
Yes, with conditions. WAC 139-07-030(10) explains that the psychological examination may be shared with more than one law enforcement agency under the following circumstances: (a)The agency which initiated the psychological examination and the qualified professional conducting the examination agreed to share the psychological examination report and recommendations with the other law enforcement agency; (b) The applicant signed a release permitting the other agency to have the psychological examination report; (c) The psychological examination was completed within six months of the request by the other law enforcement agency; and (d)The job analyses of the initiating and other law enforcement agencies must be substantially similar.
No. WAC 139-07-040 (1)(d) explains that pre-employment tests and assessments are considered screening devices and are conducted in the absence of a known incident, allegation, or particular reason to suspect someone's involvement. The truth verification assessment questions should be simple, direct, and easily understood by the applicant. Test information and results should be considered confidential within the screening process to be used exclusively by the county, city, or state law enforcement agency to assist with the selection of their applicant. |
What happens if I refuse to sign the "Application for Peace Officer Certification" form? |
Signing the form is one of the statutory requirements of becoming certified as a peace officer. If the form is not signed by the officer, certification cannot occur. |
Who has the authority to “commission” a peace officer? |
The WSCJTC is not involved in peace or reserve officers’ oaths of office or commissions. The following organizations may be able to assist you: |
Which officers are required to certify? |
Every fully commissioned peace officer in Washington state, including the Washington State Patrol, and Fish and Wildlife officers regardless of rank. Reserve Officers are not eligible for peace officer certification. |
Does a peace officer have to be “terminated” in order for the Commission to take action against their peace officer certification, what if the officer resigns? |
No, RCW 43.101.010 (9) explains that a peace officer is "discharged for disqualifying misconduct" within the meaning of RCW 43.101.010 (8) under the ordinary meaning of the term and when the totality of the circumstances support a finding that the officer resigned in anticipation of discipline, whether or not the misconduct was discovered at the time of resignation, and when such discipline, if carried forward, would more likely than not have led to discharge for disqualifying misconduct within the meaning of RCW 43.101.010 (8). |
Who can file a complaint challenging an officer's certification status? |
RCW 43.101.145 explains that a law enforcement officer or a duly authorized representative of a law enforcement agency may submit a written complaint to the WSCJTC charging that a peace officer's certification should be denied or revoked. The complaint must specify the grounds for the charge. The WSCJTC has sole discretion whether to investigate the complaint. |
What are the requirements a peace officer must meet to become certified? |
RCW 43.101.095 requires as a condition of continuing employment. All Washington peace officers shall:
|
I have an employee who is transferring to a fully commissioned or reserve officer position, can I use the polygraphy/psychological/background check with fingerprint submission for when they were original hired? |
No, as per RCW 43.101.080(19) and RCW 43.101.095, your agency must conduct a new polygraph, psychological, and background check on the employee transferring to a fully commissioned or reserve officer position.
|
How will I know if my peace officer certification has lapsed or expired? |
Under RCW 43.101.125, a peace officer’s certification lapses automatically when there is a break of more than 24 consecutive months in the officer’s service as a full-time law enforcement officer. |
What are the reasons a peace officer certification is denied or revoked? |
RCW 43.101.105 explains that a peace officer’s certification can be denied or revoked by the WSCJTC upon request by the peace officers employing agency or on its own initiative after written notice and hearing for the following reasons:
Interference with an investigation or action for denial or revocation of certificate by: Knowingly making a materially false statement to the WSCJTC; or Tampered with evidence or tampered with or intimidated a witness in any matter under investigation by the WSCJTC. |
What is LAPSE vs. EXPIRED? |
When certification has lapsed, the applicant must gain employment and attend an equivalency academy under WAC 139.05.210. Peace officer certification will expire after a 60-month break in service and the applicant must gain employment and attend the full basic law enforcement academy under WAC 139-05-200. Examples:
|
What is considered to be disqualifying misconduct? |
RCW 43.101.010(8) defines “Discharged for disqualifying misconduct" as terminated from employment for: (a) Conviction of (i) any crime committed under color of authority as a peace officer, (ii) any crime involving dishonesty or false statement within the meaning of Evidence Rule 609(a), (iii) the unlawful use or possession of a controlled substance, or (iv) any other crime the conviction of which disqualifies a Washington citizen from the legal right to possess a firearm under state or federal law; (b) conduct that would constitute any of the crimes addressed in (a) of this subsection; or (c) knowingly making materially false statements during disciplinary investigations, where the false statements are the sole basis for the termination. |
What other state’s basic academies do you recognize? |
To determine if your basic academy training is recognized, review the CJTC Equivalency Reciprocity listed above. Please note: A recognized law enforcement agency must first hire an academy applicant. The WSCJTC is not the employing agency and we do not determine if you are eligible as a lateral officer. |
Who do I contact with questions regarding peace officer certification? |
Please contact the Peace Officer Certification Manager with questions. |
How will you know if a peace officer is terminated? |
RCW 43.101.135 requires the agency of termination to notify the WSCJTC on the “Termination” form of any separation of a peace officer or any reason including resignation. The agency has within fifteen days of the termination action being final to submit the form. |