Expert: Chris Wagoner - 3/24/2009

Question
I have a friend who's a police officer in California, but may soon be moving to Florida.  She's curious about what she may have to do in order to be qualified to 'transfer' to a department here.  She passed her POST exam and graduated the police academy in 2007, and has been an officer for 1.5 years now in California.  Are there courses or tests she'd have to take here as well?  Thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Geoffrey,

In Florida its called the EOT or Equivalency of Training.

The Equivalency of Training (EOT) process is for Out-of-State, Federal Officers, and or previously certified Florida officers with a four year or more break-in-service pursuant to section 943.131(2), Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 11B-35.009(4)(5).

The EOT is an avenue by which an officer can request an exemption from the full academy.

You may be eligible for an exemption from the full basic training requirements if you were an officer in another state or with the federal government and meet the following requirements:
(1) you worked at least one year, full-time as a sworn officer in the discipline you are seeking exemption;

(2) you received training in that discipline which is comparable to Florida's full basic curriculum and/or;

(3) you were previously certified in Florida.  

There can be no more than an 8 year break in employment has an officer, which is measured from the separation date of the most recent qualifying employment to the time a complete application CJSTC-76 is submitted for exemption.  

In order to become a certified officer in Florida, you will need to demonstrate proficiency in the high liability areas and pass the state certification exam in the same discipline within 1 year of receipt of the approved CJSTC-76Equivalency of Training form.

By law, criminal justice employing agencies or selection centers are responsible for reviewing out-of-state or federal officer's employment and training to initially determine eligibility for exemption. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement does not determine a person's eligibility.

Upon collection, verification and authentication of documentation which establishes that you meet the training and experience requirements, a criminal justice employing agency or an assessment center must submit a completed CJSTC-76 Equivalency of Training form to the FDLE for approval.  (The applicant does not complete the CJSTC-76 form)

Documentation of one year's experience as an out-of-state or federal officer may consist of authentic copies of one or more of the following:
payroll records
employment records
verification of employment letters/affidavits
Documentation of prior training may consist of authentic copies of one or more of the following:
training records from prior employers
training records from academies
transcripts
curricula summaries
certificates of completion
verification of training /letters affidavits
Once the request is processed, and if approved, you should enroll in the appropriate pre-exam training, demonstrate proficiency in the high liability areas, and pass the state certification exam.

Contact the criminal justice agency of your choice for specific information concerning job vacancies.   

Go here they can answer all your questions on this: http://ips.sfcollege.edu/ips/selection/equivalency.htm

Be well and good luck!