Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) oversees the process for instructor certification, renewal, and revocation. POST certification is required for individuals instructing law enforcement subjects or general subjects pertinent to law enforcement personnel.
Prior to becoming a POST-certified instructor, individuals must first meet minimum requirements. Individuals must be employed by a law enforcement agency in a certified position; they must have a minimum of three years (3) years in law enforcement and have taken a POST Certified Instructor Development Course or equivalent. Having met all those requirements, then individuals may apply for Instructor Certification.
Once an application is submitted to POST, it will go through a series of reviews for approval. Once approved, a Regional Training Coordinator will notify the applicant of that approval and that they must arrange a date for a teaching assessment. When scheduling a date, the applicant must have a POST-certified instructor present during their assessment. A Regional Training Coordinator may request a current copy of the course/training curriculum, training/sign in roster, and/or an updated copy of the applicant’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) during an applicant’s teaching assessment. The applicant should instruct on a topic they have experience in.
Obtaining High Liability Certification:
A high liability endorsement is an addition to the basic instructor certification. The instructor must complete all requirements of the POST Instructor Course specific to the topic area before applying to receive their high liability certification.
Maintaining High Liability Certification:
High Liability Endorsements have expiration periods as determined by the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act (IDAPA).
Firearms endorsements have a one-year (1) expiration and instructors must sign an attestation and have it submitted to POST by June 30th each year.
High liability instructors must complete a minimum of eight (8) hours of continuing instructor training every two years (2), including use of force law, liability, and further instructor training specific to the endorsed topic area(s).
Requirements and Forms for Becoming a High Liability Instructor:
High Liability Endorsement Instructor Requirements
Instructor Certification Packet – High Liability
General Topics Instructor certifications do not expire. However, if an instructor fails to instruct during a two-year period, they will be deemed inactive and may not instruct as a POST instructor.
Instructors are required to instruct at least one (1) POST course during a two-year (2) period. Instruction must be documented on an official POST roster and submitted to POST via the agency portal within thirty (30) days of completion of the course.
If your certification has been inactivated, please contact your regional coordinator for instructions on changing your status.
For more information about maintaining your instructor certification please reference the following procedures:
Procedure 12.10 Instructor Certification, Renewal, Reinstatement, Suspension, and Revocation.
Procedure 12.11 Master Instructor Certification
Idaho POST will grant training credit for in-service training according to the following criteria:
- The training was provided by Idaho POST-certified instructor(s). At minimum one (1) instructor present at in-service training must be a POST-certified instructor. Instructors who are not POST-certified will not be given credit for POST instructor hours.
- The training was at least thirty (30) minutes in length.
- Or the school is certified – see tab for application of school