AUTHORITY: Implementing, and authorized by Section 10 of, the Illinois Police Training Act [50 ILCS 705].
SOURCE: Filed and effective July 26, 1966; codified at 7 Ill. Reg. 11232; amended at 8 Ill. Reg. 12259, effective July 1, 1984; amended at 11 Ill. Reg. 16692, effective October 6, 1987; amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 3728, effective February 2, 1988; amended at 13 Ill. Reg. 19957, effective December 11, 1989; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 14800, effective September 4, 1990; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 999, effective January 14, 1991; amended at 16 Ill. Reg. 4002, effective February 28, 1992; emergency amendment at 16 Ill. Reg. 727, effective January 1, 1992; amended at 16 Ill. Reg. 18811, effective November 19, 1992; emergency amendment at 28 Ill. Reg. 6479, effective April 12, 2004, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired September 8, 2004; amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 13537, effective September 23, 2004; emergency amendment at 29 Ill. Reg. 19708, effective November 15, 2005, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 7925, effective April 11, 2006; amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 14749, effective August 28, 2008; amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 21047, effective January 1, 2012; amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 2578, effective February 5, 2015; emergency amendment at 47 Ill. Reg. 216, effective December 15, 2022, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired May 13, 2023; amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 9369, effective June 23, 2023.
SUBPART A: CERTIFICATION OF POLICE OFFICERS
Section 1720.10 Course Requirements
a) Minimum Hours
1) The Board, from time to time, shall set the minimum number of hours in prescribed subjects of the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training Course. An hour of instruction is defined as being 50 minutes of actual instruction plus a 10 minute recess period.
2) The Board strongly recommends that the minimum number of hours set by the Board be exceeded whenever possible.
b) The Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training Course shall consist of concentrated study which is continuous and full time.
c) The Basic Course shall cover the prescribed subjects with the instructional time as specified in the approved curriculum and instructor's guides.
d) Training in advanced and specialized areas of police work must follow curricula approved by the Board to be reimbursable.
e) In-service refresher type training on a departmental or regional level should be designed to meet particular problems of that locale. Therefore, each proposed course of this type shall be considered for reimbursement on an individual basis by the Board.
(Source: Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 9369, effective June 23, 2023)
Section 1720.15 Equivalency Examination
a) The Executive Director may grant certification or a waiver of basic training requirements set forth by the Board if, by reason of extensive prior experience as a law enforcement officer or prior experience as a county corrections officer, the basic training requirement is illogical or unreasonable. The Executive Director may require the applicant to take and successfully pass the Board's Equivalency Examination if the Executive Director, in reviewing prior experience and training, determines that there is a need for the applicant to demonstrate current knowledge of Illinois law and procedures. Factors the Executive Director shall consider in determining the need for the Equivalency Exam shall include, but not be limited to, the type and length of prior experience as a law enforcement or county corrections officer, prior certificates for training, and education.
b) The Board shall establish a minimum passing score. In establishing a minimum score, the Board will ensure that the score reflects the knowledge and competency of the applicant. Any applicant who did not successfully complete the Trainee Basic Law Enforcement or Correctional Officers Training Course or a State academy, and is seeking certification based on other training must successfully pass the Equivalency Examination. Prior to December 15, 2022, the minimum passing score will be established by the Board within the range of 60 to 80% of the total score. Beginning, December 15, 2022, the acceptable passing score shall be 66%.
c) The content of the test shall include, but not be limited to, material in the areas specified in Section 7(a) of the Illinois Police Training Act (Act) and subjects covered in the Peace Officer and Probation Officer Firearm Training Act [50 ILCS 710].
d) The Board shall at least biennially review the content of the examination and minimum passing score to ensure accuracy and reliability.
e) Beginning December 15, 2022, an officer may challenge the Equivalency Examination three times in their career.
(Source: Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 9369, effective June 23, 2023)