California Penal Code § 832 PC requires peace officers to complete an introductory training course and pass an exam. If they take a three-year or longer break in employment, they may need to retake the exam to work as a peace officer again.
The full text of the statute reads:
832. (a) Every person described in this chapter as a peace officer shall satisfactorily complete an introductory training course prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. On or after July 1, 1989, satisfactory completion of the course shall be demonstrated by passage of an appropriate examination developed or approved by the commission. Training in the carrying and use of firearms shall not be required of a peace officer whose employing agency prohibits the use of firearms.
(b)(1) Every peace officer described in this chapter, prior to the exercise of the powers of a peace officer, shall have satisfactorily completed the training course described in subdivision (a).
(2) Every peace officer described in Section 13510 or in subdivision (a) of Section 830.2 may satisfactorily complete the training required by this section as part of the training prescribed pursuant to Section 13510.(c) Persons described in this chapter as peace officers who have not satisfactorily completed the course described in subdivision (a), as specified in subdivision (b), shall not have the powers of a peace officer until they satisfactorily complete the course.
(d) A peace officer who, on March 4, 1972, possesses or is qualified to possess the basic certificate as awarded by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training is exempted from this section.
(e)(1) A person completing the training described in subdivision (a) who does not become employed as a peace officer within three years from the date of passing the examination described in subdivision (a), or who has a three-year or longer break in service as a peace officer, shall pass the examination described in subdivision (a) prior to the exercise of the powers of a peace officer, except for a person described in paragraph (2).
(2) The requirement in paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who meets any of the following requirements:
(A) Is returning to a management position that is at the second level of supervision or higher.
(B) Has successfully requalified for a basic course through the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
(C) Has maintained proficiency through teaching the course described in subdivision (a).
(D) During the break in California service, was continuously employed as a peace officer in another state or at the federal level.
(E) Has previously met the requirements of subdivision (a), has been appointed as a peace officer under subdivision (c) of Section 830.1, and has been continuously employed as a custodial officer as defined in Section 831 or 831.5 by the agency making the peace officer appointment since completing the training prescribed in subdivision (a).(f) The commission may charge appropriate fees for the examination required by subdivision (e), not to exceed actual costs.
(g) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission may charge appropriate fees for the examination required by subdivision (a) to each applicant who is not sponsored by a local or other law enforcement agency, or is not a peace officer employed by, or under consideration for employment by, a state or local agency, department, or district, or is not a custodial officer as defined in Sections 831 and 831.5. The fees shall not exceed actual costs.
(h)(1) When evaluating a certification request from a probation department for a training course described in this section, the commission shall deem there to be an identifiable and unmet need for the training course.
(2) A probation department that is a certified provider of the training course described in this section shall not be required to offer the course to the general public.
Legal Analysis
California Penal Code 832 PC requires peace officers to finish an introductory training course successfully. People who do not successfully complete this course do not have the powers of a peace officer.
This introductory training course requires passing a test approved by POST (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training). Firearms training is not required if the peace officer’s employing agency forbids gun use.
With some exceptions, past peace officers who do not work for at least three years must pass the introductory training exam to work as a peace officer again.
Example: Fred quits being a peace officer on January 1, 2019. He decides he wants to go back to his old job on January 1, 2022. Since three years have passed, he would need to pass the POST-approved examination first (unless an exception applies to his case).
Peace officers who have taken a three-year-or-longer break do not have to retake the exam if:
- they are returning to a management position that is at the second level of supervision or higher;
- they have successfully re-qualified for a basic course through POST;
- they have maintained proficiency by teaching the introductory training course;
- they were continuously working as a peace officer for the federal government or in another U.S. state; or
- they previously passed the exam, have been appointed as a peace officer under subdivision (c) of Section 830.1, and have been continuously employed as a custodial officer as defined in Section 831 or 831.5 by the agency making the peace officer appointment since completing the introductory training course.1
PC 832 requires California peace officers to successfully complete an introductory training course.
Frequently-asked-questions
Can I be a peace officer in California without completing the training course?
No. You must “satisfactorily complete” the training course and exam in order to be vested with the powers of a peace officer.
Are there any exemptions?
Only if you were a peace officer as far back as March 4, 1972. Most people who were have since retired or passed away.
Is it free to take the exam?
The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) can charge an exam fee as long as it does not exceed actual costs. If you are a recruit or trainee sponsored by a police department, they will likely pay for you.
Related articles
- California Penal Code 830.3 PC – Investigators and Inspectors as Peace Officers
- California Penal Code 830.5 PC – Probation and Parole Officers as Peace Officers
Legal References
- California Penal Code 832 PC – Training course for peace officers. See, for example, In re Acknowledgment Cases (Cal. App. 4th Dist., 2015), 239 Cal. App. 4th 1498; Rendon v. Fresno Police Dep’t (E.D. Cal., 2006), No. 1:05-CV-00661 OWW/DLB.