Virginia Law

Individuals instructing mandated training shall possess one of the following certifications authorized by the department, excluding those enumerated in 6VAC20-80-50:

A. Provisional instructor certification. For the individual who has not previously met the requirements for instructor certification, this certification:

1. Requires a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate (GED);

2. Requires that the individual has met the compulsory minimum training standards for the primary function for which employed by a criminal justice agency, if applicable;

3. Does not authorize an individual to instruct or qualify others in mandated firearms, defensive tactics, driver training, or speed measurement courses; and

4. Is valid for not more than two years and is not renewable. An individual may apply for instructor certification upon meeting the requirements of this section and 6VAC20-80-60.

B. General instructor certification. For individuals who have professional or proficiency skills in a field directly related to criminal justice, this certification:

1. Requires a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate (GED);

2. Requires the applicant to be a sworn officer or an employee of a Virginia criminal justice agency, academy instructional staff, or an academy director. Nonsworn employees may apply for a general instructor certification provided that they only conduct training in their particular areas of expertise;

3. Requires a minimum of two years' experience in a criminal justice agency or two years of experience in the subject area the individual will instruct;

4. Requires the applicant to have successfully completed an instructor development course that meets or exceeds the standards of the instructor development course enumerated in 6VAC20-80-30;

5. Is valid for not more than three years, but may be renewed;

6. Requires the applicant to serve an apprenticeship, as specified in 6VAC20-80-40, with a certified instructor until the applicant can demonstrate the ability to successfully instruct without supervision. The certified instructor shall document this successful completion of the apprenticeship. This documentation shall be maintained at the certified academy at which certification is obtained;

7. Does not authorize an individual to instruct or qualify others in mandated firearms, defensive tactics, driver training, or speed measurement operator courses; and

8. Certification becomes null and void when the certified instructor is not employed by an agency that comes under the purview of the department.

C. Firearms instructor certification. For the individual who has had extensive firearms training and experience, this certification:

1. Requires a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate (GED);

2. Requires the applicant to be a sworn officer or an employee of a Virginia criminal justice agency, academy instructional staff, or an academy director. Nonsworn employees may apply for general instructor certification provided that they only conduct training in their particular area of expertise;

3. Requires a minimum of two years' experience in a criminal justice agency;

4. Requires the applicant to have attended and successfully completed an instructor development course that meets or exceeds the standards of the instructor development course enumerated in 6VAC20-80-30;

5. Requires the applicant also to have successfully completed a firearms instructors course that meets or exceeds the standards of the firearms instructors course approved by the department;

6. Is valid for not more than three years, but may be renewed;

7. Requires prequalification on a department "Modified Double Action Course or Virginia Tactical Qualification Course" with a minimum score of 90%;

8. Requires the applicant to serve an apprenticeship, as specified in 6VAC20-80-40, with a certified instructor until the applicant can demonstrate the ability to successfully instruct without supervision. The certified instructor shall document this successful completion of the apprenticeship. This documentation shall be maintained at the certified academy at which certification is obtained;

9. Authorizes an individual to instruct mandated firearms training courses and to conduct annual firearms qualifications only; and

10. Certification becomes null and void when the certified instructor is not employed by an agency that comes under the purview of the department.

D. Defensive tactics certification. For the individual who has had extensive training and experience in the area of defensive tactics, this certification:

1. Requires a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate (GED);

2. Requires the applicant to be a sworn officer or an employee of a Virginia criminal justice agency, academy instructional staff, or an academy director. Nonsworn employees may apply for general instructor certification provided that they only conduct training in their particular area of expertise;

3. Requires a minimum of two years experience in a criminal justice agency;

4. Requires the applicant to have attended and successfully completed an instructor development course that meets or exceeds the standards of the instructor development course enumerated in 6VAC20-80-30.

5. Requires the applicant also to have successfully completed a defensive tactics instructors course that meets or exceeds the standards of the defensive tactics instructors course approved by the department;

6. Is valid for not more than three years, but may be renewed;

7. Requires the applicant to serve an apprenticeship, as specified in 6VAC20-80-40, with a certified instructor until the applicant can demonstrate the ability to successfully instruct without supervision. The certified instructor shall document this successful completion of the apprenticeship. This documentation shall be maintained at the certified academy at which certification is obtained;

8. Authorizes the individual to instruct defensive tactics subjects only; and

9. Certification becomes null and void when the certified instructor is not employed by an agency that comes under the purview of the department.

E. Driver training instructor certification. For the individual who has had extensive training and experience in the area of driver training, this certification:

1. Requires a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate (GED);

2. Requires the applicant to be a sworn officer or an employee of a Virginia criminal justice agency, academy instructional staff, or an academy director. Nonsworn employees may apply for general instructor certification provided that they only conduct training in their areas of expertise;

3. Requires a minimum of two years experience in a criminal justice agency;

4. Requires the applicant to have attended and successfully completed an instructor development course that meets or exceeds the standards of the instructor development course enumerated in 6VAC20-80-30;

5. Requires the applicant also to have successfully completed a driver training instructors course that meets or exceeds the standards of the driver training instructors course approved by the department;

6. Is valid for not more than three years, but may be renewed;

7. Requires the applicant to serve an apprenticeship, as specified in 6VAC20-80-40, with a certified instructor until they can demonstrate the ability to successfully instruct without supervision. The certified instructor shall document this successful completion of the apprenticeship. This documentation shall be maintained at the certified academy at which certification is obtained;

8. Authorizes the individual to instruct driver training subjects only; and

9. Certification becomes null and void when the certified instructor is not employed by an agency that comes under the purview of the department.

F. Speed measurement instructor certification. This certification:

1. Requires a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate (GED);

2. Requires the applicant to be a sworn officer or an employee of a Virginia criminal justice agency, academy instructional staff, or an academy director. Nonsworn employees may apply for general instructor certification provided that they only conduct training in their particular area of expertise;

3. Requires a minimum of two years experience in a criminal justice agency, including two years experience in speed measurement;

4. Requires the applicant to have attended and successfully completed an instructor development course that meets or exceeds the standards of the instructor development course enumerated in 6VAC20-80-30;

5. Requires the applicant to have attended and successfully completed a speed measurement instructor school that meets or exceeds the standards established by the department;

6. This provision applies to all new personnel employed after July 1, 2007;

7. Is valid for not more than three years, but may be renewed;

8. Requires the applicant to serve an apprenticeship, as specified in 6VAC20-80-40, with a certified instructor until the applicant can demonstrate the ability to successfully instruct without supervision. The certified instructor shall document this successful completion of the apprenticeship. This documentation shall be maintained at the certified academy at which certification is obtained;

9. Authorizes an individual to instruct speed measurement subjects only; and

10. Certification becomes null and void when the certified instructor is no longer employed by an agency that comes under the purview of the department.