OAR 259-008-0060: Public Safety Officer Certification

(1) Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Certificates are awarded by the Department to law enforcement officers and telecommunicators meeting prescribed standards of training, education, and experience. Emergency medical dispatchers may be awarded basic certification only. (2) Supervisory, Management, and Executive Certificates are awarded to law enforcement officers and telecommunicators meeting the prescribed standards in this rule and the ranks established by the employing law enforcement units, or public or private safety agencies. (3) Basic certification is mandatory and must be acquired by all police officers, parole and probation officers, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers, and regulatory specialists within 18 months of employment, and by all corrections officers within 12 months of employment, unless an extension is granted by the Department. (4) To be eligible for the award of a certificate, law enforcement officers must: (a) Be full-time employees as defined in OAR 259-008-0005 or part-time parole and probation officers, as defined in OAR 259-008-0005; (b) Meet the prescribed minimum employment standards in OAR 259-008-0010; (c) Subscribe to and swear or affirm to abide by the Board-approved Criminal Justice Code of Ethics; and (d) Have valid certifications in adult and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid . (5) To be eligible for the award of a certificate, telecommunicators and emergency medical dispatchers must: (a) Meet the prescribed minimum employment standards as established by OAR 259-008-0011; (b) Subscribe to and swear or affirm to abide by the Board-approved Telecommunicator Code of Ethics; and (c) Have valid certifications in adult and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid . (6) Applications for certification must be submitted through a Department-approved submission process. (7) In addition to the requirements in sections (1) through (6) of this rule, each applicant must have completed the designated education and training, combined with the prescribed corrections, parole and probation, police, regulatory specialist or telecommunications experience for the award of an Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Management, or Executive Certificate. (8) Training and Education: (a) Basic courses certified by the Department will be approved by the Board. (b) The Department may record training hours for departmental or other in-service training which is recorded and documented in the personnel files of the trainee's department. These records must include the subject, instructor, classroom hours, date, sponsor, and location. (c) Training completed in other states, military training, and other specialized training, if properly documented, may be accepted, subject to staff evaluation and approval. These records must include the subject, date, and classroom hours, and must be certified true copies of the original. (d) The Department must receive official transcripts, as prescribed in OAR 259-008-0045 (Education Credits), prior to entering education credits on an individual’s official record. (e) Education credits awarded based on training completed must be documented on an official transcript from a recognized source, as defined in OAR 259-008-0045, and may be applied toward an application for certification as either training hours or education credits, whichever is to the advantage of the applicant. These credits cannot be applied towards certification as both education credits and training hours. (A) Prior to applying an applicant's education credits toward any level of certification, the Department must receive documentation of the number of education credits awarded based on training completed. (B) The training hours identified under paragraph (A) above and submitted as education credit toward a certification will not be included in any calculation of whether the applicant has earned sufficient training hours to qualify for the requested certification level. (9) Experience/Employment: (a) Experience gained as a corrections officer, parole and probation officer, police officer, or regulatory specialist employed full time with municipal, county, state, or federal agencies, may be accepted if the experience is in the discipline the certification is requested and is approved by the Department. (b) Experience acquired as a telecommunicator or emergency medical dispatcher employed with a public or private safety agency may be accepted if the experience is in the discipline the certification is requested and is approved by the Department. (c) Experience acquired as a certified part-time telecommunicator or emergency medical dispatcher as defined in OAR 259-008-0005, or part time parole and probation officer as defined in OAR 259-008-0005, will count on a pro-rated basis. (d) Experience acquired as a multi-disciplined officer will be applied to the public safety officer’s primary discipline. (e) For the purpose of this rule, creditable service time for experience will not accrue under the following circumstances: (A) When an individual is employed in a casual, seasonal, or temporary capacity; (B) When an individual is on leave, other than full-time military leave; (C) From the date a public safety officer’s certification is suspended until it is reinstated by the Department; (D) When a public safety officer fails to obtain basic certification within a mandated timeframe and is prohibited from being employed as a public safety officer; (E) When a public safety officer is employed in a limited duration, administrative position, as described in OAR 259-008-0078; or (F) For a multi-disciplined officer toward a non-primary discipline. (10) The Basic Certificate. In addition to the requirements in sections (1) through (6) of this rule, applicants for basic certification must have satisfactorily completed the required basic training as prescribed in OAR 259-008-0025 in the discipline the certification is requested or have completed equivalent training as determined by the Department. (11) The Intermediate and Advanced Certificates. In addition to the requirements in sections (4) through (6) of this rule, applicants for Intermediate and Advanced Certification must have acquired a combination of work experience in the discipline the certification is requested, training hours and the education credits or college degree, as identified in the discipline specific Intermediate/Advanced Certification Charts. (a) The work experience, training hours and education credits or college degree being used to apply for certification must appear on the applicant’s training record or be properly documented and submitted as supporting documentation with the application for certification. (A) Applicants for Intermediate or Advanced Certification in the Police, Corrections, Parole and Probation and Regulatory Specialist disciplines must also submit a Form F-7WS (Intermediate/Advanced Certification Supplemental Worksheet), with a copy of their training record, to document the training hours that are being applied toward the certification. (B) The Form F-7WS must include meaningful descriptions of the training events and must be reviewed and signed by the employing agency and the applicant attesting that the information is true and correct and meets the requirements for the award of an Intermediate or Advanced Certification. (C) Applicants for Intermediate or Advanced Certification in the Telecommunications discipline must also submit a Portfolio that identifies the portfolio points submitted, includes supporting documentation of the portfolio points and includes a recommendation by the department head or an authorized designee. (b) To be awarded an Intermediate Certification, applicants must possess or be eligible to possess a Basic Certificate in the discipline for which the applicant is requesting intermediate certification. (c) To be awarded an Advanced Certification, applicants must possess or be eligible to possess the Intermediate Certificate in the discipline for which the applicant is requesting advanced certification. (d) The training hours used to obtain basic certification cannot be used toward intermediate certification. (e) The training hours used to obtain basic and intermediate certifications cannot be used toward advanced certification. (f) If making application for Advanced Telecommunications Certification, events, awards and experiences submitted as portfolio points for intermediate certification cannot be applied toward advanced certification. (12) The Supervisory Certificate. In addition to requirements in sections (2) and (4) through (6) of this rule, applicants for the Supervisory Certificate must have acquired a combination of work experience, training hours and education credits, as prescribed in this rule: (a) Applicants may determine eligibility for supervisory certification by referencing either: (A) The eligibility requirements for supervisory certification effective until December 31, 2018: or (B) The eligibility requirements for supervisory certification effective July 1, 2017. (C) Applicants may apply for supervisory certification using the set of eligibility requirements that best fits their experience, education and training. (b) Eligibility requirements for supervisory certification effective until December 31, 2018: (A) Applicants must possess or be eligible to possess the Advanced Certificate in the discipline the supervisory certification is requested; (B) Applicants must have satisfactorily completed no less than 45 education credits as defined in OAR 259-008-0045 and in accordance with section (8) of this rule; (C) Applicants must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed supervision training within five years of the application for the Supervisory Certificate; and (D) Applicants must be presently employed in and have satisfactorily performed the duties of a first-level supervisor as defined in OAR 259-008-0005 for a period of one year. The required experience must have been acquired within five years of the date of the application. (E) Upon request of the employing agency, the Department may waive the requirements of paragraphs (C) or (D), provided the employing agency demonstrates that the applicant performs supervisory duties on a regular basis. (c) Eligibility requirements for supervisory certification effective July 1, 2017: (A) Applicants must possess or be eligible to possess the Basic Certificate in the discipline the supervisory certification is requested; (B) Applicants must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed supervision training within five years of the application for the Supervisory Certificate; and (C) Applicants must be presently employed in and have satisfactorily performed the duties of a first-level supervisor as defined in OAR 259-008-0005 for a period of two years. The required experience must have been acquired within five years of the date of the application. (D) Upon request of the employing agency, the Department may waive the requirements of paragraphs (B) or (C), provided the employing agency demonstrates that the applicant performs supervisory duties on a regular basis. (13) The Management Certificate. In addition to requirements in sections (2) and (4) through (6) of this rule, the following are required for the award of the Management Certificate: (a) Applicants must possess or be eligible to possess the Supervisory Certificate in the discipline the management certification is requested; (b) Applicants must have satisfactorily completed no less than 90 education credits as defined in OAR 259-008-0045 and in accordance with section (8) of this rule; (c) Applicants must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed middle management training within five years of the application for the Management Certificate; and (d) Applicants must be presently employed in and must have satisfactorily served in a middle management position as a department head or assistant department head as defined in OAR 259-008-0005 for a period of two years. The required experience must have been acquired within five years of the date of the application. (e) Upon request of the employing agency, the Department may waive the requirements of section (13) (c) or (d), provided the employing agency demonstrates that the applicant performs management duties on a regular basis. (14) The Executive Certificate. In addition to requirements in section (2) and (4) through (6) of this rule, the following are required for the award of the Executive Certificate: (a) Applicants must possess or be eligible to possess the Management Certificate in the discipline the executive certification is requested; (b) Applicants must have satisfactorily completed no less than 90 education credits as defined in OAR 259-008-0045 and in accordance with section (8) of this rule; (c) Applicants must have satisfactorily completed 100 hours of Department-approved executive level training within five years of the application for the Executive Certificate; and (d) Applicants must be presently employed in and must have satisfactorily served in a middle management position as department head or assistant department head, as defined in OAR 259-008-0005 for a period of two years. The required experience must have been acquired within five years of the date of the application. (e) Upon request of the employing agency, the Department may waive the requirements of section (14) (c) or (d), provided the employing agency demonstrates that the applicant performs the duties of a department head or assistant department head on a regular basis. (15) Multi-discipline Certification. The Department may approve multi-discipline certification for a public safety officer when all of the following conditions have been met: (a)The employing agency employs public safety officers to work in the disciplines for which employment and certification are requested; (b) The employing agency notifies the Department of a personnel action in accordance with OAR 259-008-0020 identifying the public safety officer as employed in more than one discipline and specifying the public safety officer’s primary discipline; (c) The employing agency attests that a justified and demonstrated need exists, for the efficient operation of the employing agency, to employ and certify the public safety officer in more than one discipline; and (d) The public safety officer meets all of the minimum employment, training and certification requirements established in OAR chapter 259 division 008 for each identified discipline. (16) Employing agencies are exempt from the requirement specified in subsection (15)(c) of this rule when the employing agency is only seeking multi-discipline employment and certification for a public safety officer as a telecommunicator and an emergency medical dispatcher. (17) Certificates and awards are the property of the Department. The Department has the power to revoke or suspend any certificate or award as provided in the Act.