The Law Enforcement Equivalency of Training (EOT) Certificate Program is designed to prepare out-of-state officers and federal officers, as well as previously certified Florida officers with a four-year or more break in service to sit for the FDLE exam in Law Enforcement, pursuant to section 943.131(2), Florida Statutes, and Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 11B-35.009(4)(5). The EOT process exempts an officer from taking or repeating the full basic recruit academy.

An individual may be eligible for an exemption from the full basic training requirements if he or she has served as an officer in another state or with the federal government and has the following requirements:

• Full-time employment of at least one year as a sworn officer in the discipline for which the individual is seeking exemption;
• Proof of training in a discipline that is comparable to Florida’s full basic recruit curriculum and/or;
• Previous certification in Florida.

There can be no more than an eight-year break in employment as an officer. The break in employment is measured from the separation date of the most recent qualifying employment to the time a complete application requesting an exemption from training is submitted to a Criminal Justice Selection Center or criminal justice employing agency.

Once an individual is approved for equivalency of training, he or she must attend an EOT course at an approved training center and pass the State Officer Certification Exam in the same discipline within one year of receipt of the approved Equivalency of Training CJSTC Form 76.

If an individual does not complete the training or pass the State Officer Certification Examination within the one-year time limit, he or she may apply for another exemption from training only if still eligible for this exemption at the time of application, pursuant to Chapter 943.131(2), Florida Statues.

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 an individual meets the training and experience requirements, a criminal justice employing agency or an assessment center must submit a completed Equivalency of Training CJSTC Form 76 to the FDLE for approval. (The applicant does not complete the CJSTC-76 Form.)

This program is extremely concentrated and consists of four practical exams for Law Enforcement. The intent of this course is to measure the student’s acquisition of information, skills and abilities in the following high liability areas: Defensive Tactics, CMS Criminal Justice Firearms, First Aid and CMS Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations. The course does not cover all areas of the curriculum mandated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Students must study the curriculum independently to prepare for the State Officer Certification Exam. This program meets the training requirements of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

The Law Enforcement EOT Program requires enrolling individuals to be physically and mentally strong, fair-minded, and constantly alert. Candidates must submit an application for the program to the Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety Office.