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Basic Certifications

Below is an overview of the application process to become a POST certified peace officer. Download this How Do I Become a POST Certified Peace Officer? document for more details. 

  1. Submit an application for certification with the help of your employing agency or in coordination with a regional police academy if you are a pre-service candidate.
    • The agency or academy will assist you with completing the application in the POST Data Gateway system. 
    • Supporting documentation for the following requirements must be uploaded with your application:
      • Proof of Age
      • Proof of Citizenship
      • Proof of Education
      • Proof of Previous Out-of-State Law Enforcement (If applicable)
      • Military DD214 or Letter of Good Standing (If applicable)
      • Entrance Exam Results
      • Affidavit of a Physical Exam by a Licensed Physician
      • Psychological Evaluation Results
      • Fingerprints
      • Personal History Release
      • Code of Ethics
    • The completed application must be attested by you and the agency/academy. 
  2. Once your application is completed and attested by you and the agency/academy, the application will be processed by the POST Certification Division staff.
    • If the application is complete and meets all POST requirements, the application will be approved. 
    • If the application is incomplete or needs corrections, the application will be sent back to the candidate and agency/academy for corrections.
      • To make corrections, follow the How Do I Correct My Application instructions.
      • After corrections are made, you and the agency/academy must attest the application again.
  3. The approval process begins again. 

NOTE: POST requests certification applications to be submitted for approval at least ten calendar days prior to the start of a basic mandate course. This allows ample time for review and corrections prior to the start of the course. If an application needs to be submitted in less than 10 days prior to the start of a basic course, a rush processing fee can be paid to expedite review of the application.

Below is an overview of the application process to become a POST certified corrections officer. 

  1. Submit an application for certification with the help of your employing agency.
    • The agency will assist you with completing the application in the POST Data Gateway system. 
    • Supporting documentation for the following requirements must be uploaded with your application: 
      • Proof of Citizenship
      • Proof of Name Change if other than Marriage
      • Proof of Education
      • Entrance Exam Results
      • Affidavit of a Physical Exam by a Licensed Physician
      • Photo
      • Fingerprints
      • Personal History Release
      • Code of Ethics
      • Military Documents (if applicable)
      • Application Fees
    • The completed application must be attested by you and the agency. 
  2. Once your application is completed and attested by you and the agency, the application will be processed by the POST Certification Division staff. 
    • If the application is complete and meets all POST requirements, the application will be approved. 
    • If the application is incomplete or needs corrections, the application will be sent back to the candidate and agency for corrections. 
      • To make corrections, follow the How Do I Correct My Application instructions.
      • After corrections are made, you and the agency must attest the application again.
  3. The approval process begins again.

NOTE: POST requests certification applications to be submitted for approval at least ten calendar days prior to the start of a basic mandate course. This allows ample time for review and corrections prior to the start of the course. If an application needs to be submitted in less than 10 days prior to the start of a basic course, a rush processing fee can be paid to expedite review of the application.

Below is an overview of the application process to become a POST certified Community Supervision, Pardons, or Parole officer. 

  1. Submit an application for certification with the help of your employing agency.
    • The agency will assist you with completing the application in the POST Data Gateway system. 
    • Supporting documentation for the following requirements must be uploaded with your application: 
      • Proof of Citizenship
      • Proof of Name Change if other than Marriage
      • Proof of Education 
        • Applicant must have at minimum a four-year college degree.
      • Entrance Exam Results
      • Affidavit of a Physical Exam by a Licensed Physician
      • Photo
      • Fingerprints
      • Personal History Release
      • Code of Ethics
      • Military Documents (if applicable)
      • Application Fees
    • The completed application must be attested by you and the agency. 
  2. Once your application is completed and attested by you and the agency, the application will be processed by the POST Certification Division staff. 
    • If the application is complete and meets all POST requirements, the application will be approved. 
    • If the application is incomplete or needs corrections, the application will be sent back to the candidate and agency for corrections. 
      • To make corrections, follow the How Do I Correct My Application instructions.
      • After corrections are made, you and the agency must attest the application again.
  3. The approval process begins again.

NOTE: POST requests certification applications to be submitted for approval at least ten calendar days prior to the start of a basic mandate course. This allows ample time for review and corrections prior to the start of the course. If an application needs to be submitted in less than 10 days prior to the start of a basic course, a rush processing fee can be paid to expedite review of the application.

Below is an overview of the application process to become a POST certified communications officer. 

  1. Submit an application for certification with the help of your employing agency. 
    • The agency will assist you with completing the application in the POST Data Gateway system. 
    • Supporting documentation for the following requirements must be uploaded with your application: 
      • Proof of Age
      • Proof of Citizenship
      • Proof of Education
      • Driver’s History for the last 5 years
      • Background Investigation/Drug Test Results
      • Affidavit of a Physical Exam by a Licensed Physician
      • Fingerprints
    • The completed application must be attested by you and the agency. 
  2. Once your application is completed and attested by you and the agency, the application will be processed by the POST Certification Division staff. 
    • If the application is complete and meets all POST requirements, the application will be approved. 
    • If the application is incomplete or needs corrections, the application will be sent back to the candidate and agency for corrections. 
      • To make corrections, follow the How Do I Correct My Application instructions.
      • After corrections are made, you and the agency must attest the application again.
  3. The approval process begins again. 

NOTE: POST requests certification applications to be submitted for approval at least ten calendar days prior to the start of a basic mandate course. This allows ample time for review and corrections prior to the start of the course. If an application needs to be submitted in less than 10 days prior to the start of a basic course, a rush processing fee can be paid to expedite review of the application.

Below is an overview of the application process to become a POST certified jailer. 

  1. Submit an application for certification with the help of your employing agency.
    • The agency will assist you with completing the application in the POST Data Gateway system. 
    • Supporting documentation for the following requirements must be uploaded with your application: 
      • Proof of Age
      • Proof of Citizenship
      • Proof of Education
      • Affidavit of a Physical Exam by a Licensed Physician
      • Fingerprints
    • The completed application must be attested by you and the agency/academy. 
  2. Once your application is completed and attested by you and the agency/academy, the application will be processed by the POST Certification Division staff. 
    • If the application is complete and meets all POST requirements, the application will be approved. 
    • If the application is incomplete or needs corrections, the application will be sent back to the candidate and agency/academy for corrections. 
      • To make corrections, follow the How Do I Correct My Application instructions.
      • After corrections are made, you and the agency/academy must attest the application again.
  3. The approval process begins again. 

NOTE: POST requests certification applications to be submitted for approval at least ten calendar days prior to the start of a basic mandate course. This allows ample time for review and corrections prior to the start of the course. If an application needs to be submitted in less than 10 days prior to the start of a basic course, a rush processing fee can be paid to expedite review of the application.

Effective January 1, 2022 (Updated May 15, 2024)

The Equivalency of Training (EOT) process may allow an officer who does not possess a GA POST basic law enforcement certification to be exempt from having to complete the entire basic law enforcement training course. Types of officers who may be eligible for the EOT process:

  • Out-of-State Police Officers who have graduated from their states Uniform Police Academy and their certification is valid and in good standing;

  • Federal Peace Officers who have graduated from the FLETC Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP), Mixed Basic Police Training Program (MBPTP), or the equivalency of training.

  • United States Military Police Officers (Army, Air Force, and Marines) who have graduated from their branches Basic Military Police Course and possess a minimum of a general discharge under honorable conditions;

  • Graduates of the Department of Defense (DOD) Uniformed Police Training Program.

All others will be required to attend the entire basic law enforcement training course.

Your certification as a police officer from another state or with the federal government must be valid and in good standing (not revoked or suspended). If you are not eligible to work under your certification, you will not qualify for the Georgia certification. If your certification is currently under investigation your application will not be processed. A certification status verification form and Previous Agency Employment Chararistic of Service form must be completed and provided prior to application approval.

Upon application approval, the EOT candidate will be required to pass the following training requirements:

  • Georgia Criminal Law, Traffic Law, and Governor Initiative training -16 Hours (provided by Ga. POST in a Zoom format.)

  • Georgia’s Standard Qualification Course for Firearms (from a certified Georgia firearm instructor.)

Upon successful completion of this process, the candidate will be issued a GA POST basic law enforcement certification.

NOTE: Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-8-10 (a) No person required to comply with the certification provisions of this chapter shall be employed or appointed by any law enforcement unit without certification from the council that the applicant has met the pre-employment requirements established in this chapter, and no candidate shall perform any of the duties of a peace officer involving the power of arrest until such training shall have been successfully completed.

To begin the EOT application:

  1. Create a user name in the POST Data Gateway. (Go to the How do I…? page for instructions on how to register as a new user.)
  2. Once you have logged into the POST Data Gateway, click on the applications function.
  3. Click on the “New app” button next to “Start New Candidate Application for Basic Certification” on the screen.
  4. Complete the application menu items until you get to Agency/Academy information.
  5. When you have completed the menu items, send an e-mail to eot@gapost.org stating “I have completed the items for my EOT application. Please contact me to complete my application process.”
  6. If you have further questions about your application, you can call the Help Desk at (770)-732-5604 or send an e-mail to eot@gapost.org.

Fees

There is no fee for EOT and Application Processing.

You may be required to pay for Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS) fingerprints through IdentoGO and a background investigation, depending upon your employment status. Persons employed full-time with a Georgia law enforcement agency may have these services provided by the hiring authority.

To schedule a fingerprinting appointment, go to IdentoGO and use Service Code 2TGRGN and Reviewing Agency code GAGSPH800. A Requesting Agency code is not required.

EOT pdf