Virginia Law

A. Pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 2 of § 9.1-102 of the Code of Virginia, the department under the direction of the board establishes the compulsory minimum training standards for full-time and part-time law-enforcement officers.

B. An individual hired as a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101 of the Code of Virginia shall comply with the following law-enforcement certification requirements:

1. Successfully complete law-enforcement basic training at a certified criminal justice training academy, which includes receiving a minimum of 480 hours of department approved training in the following categories:

a. Professionalism;

b. Legal;

c. Communication;

d. Patrol;

e. Investigations;

f. Defensive tactics and use of force;

g. Weapons; and

h. Driver training.

2. Successfully complete a minimum of 100 hours of approved training in the category of field training by meeting or exceeding the field training performance outcomes identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Field Training and On the Job Training Performance Outcomes.

C. Law-enforcement officers become certified upon meeting all compulsory minimum training standards and other requirements that include documented completion of all performance outcomes, the law enforcement certification exam, and field training.