Annual In-Service Training - Generally
The Police Training and Standards Commission (Commission) General Regulations require that a certified police officer complete a minimum of 18 hours of Commission-approved in-service training each calendar year. Only Commission-approved training may be accepted toward this training requirement (COMAR 12.04.01.12).
Among the elements of an in-service training program that are required (COMAR 12.04.02.12C) to be approved by the Commission are:
the topics to be studied;
the time allocated to each topic;
an explanation of why the topic is included in the training program; and
the instructors who will teach each topic and the number of hours that each instructor will be scheduled to teach.
Commission-approved training may only be provided by an instructor certified by the Commission or the Correctional Training Commission (COMAR 12.04.06.02B). The Commission's regulations (COMAR 12.04.06.04A) provide an exception to the requirement that the instructor be certified, if the instructor provides training of three hours, or less, for specific training.
Electronic Instruction in a Classroom Setting with an Instructor
Annual in-service instruction provided in a classroom, or other setting such as a computer laboratory, may utilize electronic or computer-based teaching aids under the supervision of a certified instructor. This instruction provided in a classroom or computer laboratory setting may be approved under COMAR 12.04.01.12C as an annual in- service training program. However, if the instruction is provided by an individual who is not certified by the Commission or the Correctional Training Commission, it may not exceed three hours. Therefore training on a single topic or multiple topics using electronic learning instructional methods provided by an instructor who is not certified, may be approved if the training does not exceed three hours.
Independent Electronic Instruction
Definition – “Independent Electronic Instruction” means a process by which information on an identified topic is provided to a police officer for annual in-service training through the officer’s interaction with an electronic medium, and without the immediate supervision or assistance of an individual identified as the training instructor.
Protocols for approving and delivering Independent Electronic Instruction – The following are protocols approved by the Police Training and Standards Commission (PTSC) to review and approve independent electronic instruction that may be used for police officer annual in-service training:
Application for Independent Electronic Instruction Approval – A law enforcement agency or academy requesting approval of independent electronic instruction shall submit an application for the instruction’s approval to the Police and Correctional Training Commissions (PCTC) at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the training. The application shall include the following:
A description of the topic on which instruction is to be provided;
The objectives to be met by the independent electronic instruction;
A description of the method by which the independent electronic instruction is to be provided;
A copy of the instruction materials;
A description of the testing method;
The measures that will be used to ensure the integrity of the testing process, including verification that any test is completed by the police officer:
Who took the instruction; and
For whom the instruction is being credited;
- An affirmation that:
The information in the instruction materials is accurate; and
The test will evaluate the police officer’s knowledge and comprehension of the material presented by the instruction.
The training time that is requested to be approved for the independent electronic instruction on the topic.
Review of Application and Instruction Materials -
The Deputy Director shall designate an individual or individuals to review the application and accompanying instruction materials. Each of these individuals shall be an instructor certified by the PTSC or the Correctional Training Commission (CTC).
The individual or individuals designated by the Deputy Director shall review the application and accompanying instruction materials to determine whether the proposed instruction:
Meets the stated objectives in the application;
Provides instruction relevant to law enforcement responsibilities or duties; and
Provides a testing method with the integrity to accurately measure the knowledge and comprehension of each police officer who participates in the instruction.
After completing the review of the application and accompanying instruction materials, the individual or individuals shall make a recommendation to the Deputy Director as to whether the independent electronic instruction should be approved or disapproved.
Application Approval or Disapproval – After receiving the recommendation of the individual or individuals who reviewed the application for independent electronic instruction, the Deputy Director shall approve or disapprove the application.
Assigning Number to Approved Independent Electronic Instruction – If independent electronic instruction is approved by the Deputy Director, the Certification Unit of the Police and Correctional Training Commissions shall assign it an approval number with a unique identifier.
Skills may not be taught through Independent Electronic Instruction – Independent electronic instruction may not be used for instruction that requires the police officer to physically demonstrate the officer’s competency of a skill. These include skills such as those related to firearms, electronic control devices, operation of a vehicle, participation in defensive tactics, etc.
- Testing.
An individual who has been provided independent electronic instruction shall be administered a test by the law enforcement agency or academy that provided the instruction, or by the vendor that provided the instruction on behalf of the agency or academy.
The test will assess the individual’s knowledge and comprehension of the information that has been imparted through the independent electronic instruction.
All testing shall be proctored or conducted electronically with a tracking process and random question/answer presentation, in a manner approved by the Commission to ensure the integrity of the test results.
The testing shall provide a method of verifying that any test is completed by the police officer:
Who took the instruction; and
For whom the instruction is being credited.
Required Minimum Passing Score – A police officer is required to achieve a minimum score of 80 percent on a test in order for the officer to receive annual in-service training credit.
(Approved by Commission – July 6, 2016)
The Correctional Training Commission General Regulations require that mandated employees
complete a minimum of 18 hours of Commission-approved in-service training each calendar year.
Only Commission-approved training may be accepted toward this training requirement (COMAR
12.10.01.16).
Among the elements of an in-service training program that are required to be approved by the
Commission are:
- the topics to be studied;
- the time allocated to each topic;
- an explanation of why the topic is included in the training program; and
- the instructor(s) who will teach each topic and the number of hours that each instructor
will be scheduled to teach.
Commission-approved training may only be provided by an instructor certified by the
Commission (COMAR 12.10.06.02B). The Commission's regulations (COMAR 12.10.06.04A)
provide an exception to the requirement that the instructor be certified, if the instructor provides
training of three hours, or less, for specific training.
Independent Electronic Instruction
Instruction provided in a classroom, or other setting such as a computer laboratory, that uses
electronic or computer-based teaching aids under the supervision of a certified instructor may be
approved by the Commission under COMAR 12.10.01.16C. Current regulations limit instruction
of a course by a non-certified instructor to three hours. Therefore, programs taught on a topic(s)
using electronic learning instructional methods provided by an instructor who is not certified,
may be approved if the program topic is three hours or less.
Protocols for Approving and Delivering Independent Electronic Instruction
The following are approved protocols for the Commission's review/approval of
independent electronic instruction, its delivery, and credit toward mandated in-service
training requirements:
Defined - "Independent Electronic Instruction" (IEI) means a process by which
information on an identified topic is imparted to a student as the direct result of his/her
interaction with an electronic medium, without the immediate supervision or assistance of
an individual identified as the course instructor.
Type of Training and Number of Hours - If approved by the Deputy Director,
independent electronic instruction may be provided for mandated annual in-service
training. Independent electronic instruction courses may be approved for a maximum of
three hours of in-service credit as these courses do not have an identified instructor.
Independent electronic instruction may not be used for skills courses that require the
discharge of a firearm, operation of a vehicle, participation in defensive tactics, etc.
Application - An application requesting approval of an independent electronic instruction
course shall be forwarded at least 30 days prior to the beginning of such training. The
application shall include the following:
A description of the topic on which instruction is to be provided;
The objectives to be met by the independent electronic instruction;
A description of the method by which the independent electronic instruction is to
be provided;
An outline of the independent electronic instruction's content; and, if available in
electronic format, a copy of the course materials through which the independent
electronic instruction is to be provided;
The training time that is requested to be approved for the independent electronic
instruction on the topic;
A description of the testing method, ensuring the integrity of the testing process,
as well as confirmation that the test will evaluate the mandated employee on
his/her knowledge and comprehension of the material; and
The method for evaluating the independent electronic instruction must be
identified in order to measure its relevance to the training objectives and the
mandated employee's job duties.
Review and Approval/Disapproval - The application and accompanying independent
electronic instruction material will be reviewed independently by a minimum of three
certified instructors having subject matter knowledge of the course content. Upon
completion of this review for objectives and assessment a summary of the reviewers'
findings will be provided to the Deputy Director for final approval. Independent
electronic instruction that passes the review process shall be assigned an approval number
with a unique identification. If independent electronic instruction materials from a
particular applicant are reviewed and approved on three separate occasions, future
independent electronic instruction materials from that presenter will be subject to existing
in-service program approval processes. Future submissions from approved presenters
may be subject to additional review on an as needed basis.
Testing - An individual who has been provided independent electronic instruction shall
be tested by the agency providing the instruction. Testing will focus on the individual's
knowledge and comprehension of the information that has been imparted through the
independent electronic instruction. All testing shall be proctored in a manner approved
by the Commission to ensure the integrity of the test results. An individual is required to
achieve a minimum score of 80 percent on a test in order for the mandated employee to
receive credit.
Approved April 20, 2010 By the Correctional Training Commission