Officers typically must complete ~21 hours of continuing education annually to maintain certification. 📚 Curriculum & Content
Training is generally managed by a state's commission.
Heavy emphasis on firearms, driving, and arrest techniques. police training requirements
Averages 52 hours post-academy, ranging from 0 to 960 hours depending on the state.
Most academies use a focusing on discipline and physical hard skills. Officers typically must complete ~21 hours of continuing
Critics and task forces often cite a lack of training in de-escalation, communication, and mental health crisis response.
Some states are beginning to require specific training in bias awareness and de-escalation to reduce use-of-force incidents. State Law Enforcement Training Requirements police training requirements
~650 to 840 hours (approx. 21 weeks). State Extremes: Maryland: ~1,168 hours (highest). Oregon/Georgia: ~400 hours (lowest).