Out-of-State Trained Reciprocity

• Illinois Basic Academy: 400 hours minimum
• Candidates for the waiver of basic training must first be hired by a bona fide Illinois law enforcement agency. Candidates must meet all applicable Illinois premployment standards. Applications for waiver must come from the hiring agency. Documents regarding prior training and experience must be submitted to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board by the hiring agency. Candidates will be required to attend firearms training and a 40-hour Law for Police course. All waiver candidates must pass a 200-question equivalency exam with a passing score of at least 70%. Failure of the exam will necessitate attendance at a full basic academy.
• Candidates must first be hired by a law enforcement agency.
• Applications for waiver and all documentation must come from the hiring agency.
• The Standards Board then assesses whether the training and experience are equivalent and whether the candidate is able to waive basic training. NOTE: Board Policy requires the officer to have met a required probationary period (a minimum of 6 (six) months) as a full time law enforcement officer within the state the training was certified. Failure to meet these requirements will cause the waiver to be denied.
• The candidate must pass: (1) mandatory firearms training; (2) Law for Illinois police – 40 hours; and (3) equivalency exam (200 questions).

Responsibility of the Hiring Agency:

Must provide to the Training Board when hiring an out of state trained officer:

1. Form – E, Notice of Appointment
2. Application for Waiver of Training
3. Authorization to Release Information signed by the officer
4. A copy of the officer’s Basic Training Certificate (if available)

These forms must be completed and signed before submitting to the Board office for the review process.

After the Board has verified the Basic Training from the out-of-state POST, a letter will be sent to the hiring agency indicating the three requirements needed to fulfill the waiver process.

Note: No requirement may be met prior to the officer’s hire.