Law Enforcement Certification: Agencies

Information for Agencies

Certification requirements for new/probationary appointees, lateral transfers, and out-of-state transfers are listed below.

Law Enforcement Officer Application Guidelines

NOTE: Documentation of Criminal Charges

When an applicant has a criminal record, he/she must list ALL charges, regardless of the disposition or the date of the charge, on both the Personal History Statement (form F-3) and the Report of Appointment/Application for Certification (form F-5A). Even if a charge was dismissed by the court or the district attorney, it still must be listed under the Criminal Offense Record section of these forms.

All out of state charges must include true/certified copies of the charging documentation. This documentation may be obtained from the Clerk of Court’s Office in the county in which the applicant was criminally charged.

Failure to list ALL charges may result in denial of certification, or suspension/revocation of an existing certification.

New/Probationary Appointees

The following documents must be collected and/or completed before a new officer can be certified:

Form F-5A Report of Appointment
F-36 Form (Authorization for Release of Information)
Copy of birth certificate
Proof of high school graduation
Proof of Citizenship
Proof of BLET graduation
Form F1 – Medical History Report
Form F2 – Medical Examination Report
- Form F2A – Tuberculosis Questionnaire
Form F3 – LE Personal History Statement
Form F4 – Qualification Appraisal Interview
Form F8 – Background Investigation
Form F9A – Firearms Qualification
AOC CR 280 Response
Drug Screen results
Psychological Screening Examination results
If applicable, true/certified copies of documentation for all criminal charges, regardless of the dates or if dismissed/nol pros/not guilty, etc.
Submit electronic fingerprints in the Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System (SAFIS). The employing agency shall forward the applicant’s fingerprints to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for a criminal history record check utilizing fingerprints against State and federal files. The employing agency will receive a report of the results of the criminal history record check utilizing fingerprints against State and federal files. The employing agency shall include the results of the fingerprint criminal history record check with the applications submitted to the Commission. (12NCAC 09B.0103).

All forms listed below are located on the Forms page and in the Document Library in Acadis.

F-1(LE) Form (Medical History Statement)
F-2(LE) Form (Medical Examination Report)
F-3(LE) Form (Personal History Statement)
F-4 (Qualifications Appraisal Interview/agency alternate form)
F-5A(LE) Form (Report of Appointment/Application for Certification)
F-5D (LE) Form (Application for Lateral Certification)
F-8 Form (Mandated Background Investigation)
F-9A Form (Firearms Qualification)
F-36 Form (Authorization for Release of Information)

Lateral Transfer (holding Probationary or General Certification) 12 NCAC 09C .0306

Prior to employment, the hiring agency must:

(a) A North Carolina law enforcement officer is eligible to transfer from one state or local law enforcement agency to another and be certified by the Commission if the officer:

(1) has completed basic law enforcement training and holds a general certification or probationary certification from the Commission or the Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission; and

(2) has not had more than a 12-month consecutive break in service immediately preceding the current application.

(b) Prior to certification being transferred per this Rule, a state or local law enforcement agency considering the applicant for employment as a law enforcement officer shall submit an Application for Lateral Certification, Form F-5D, to the Division reporting that the employing agency has done the following:

(1) obtained and forwarded the applicant’s fingerprints to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, in compliance with the requirements set forth in 12 NCAC 09B .0102(a) and (b), reviewed the results of the criminal history record check provided as a result, and provided a copy of the results to the Division;

(2) completed the AOC-CR280 expungement form and provided the results to the Division;

(3) obtained a signed and notarized Authorization for Release of Information Form from the applicant, and reviewed the following documents of the applicant maintained by or on behalf of any North Carolina law enforcement agency where the applicant was employed for any part of the five-year period preceding the current application;

(A) the personnel file including confidential information as defined by G.S. 153A-98, G.S. 160A-168 and G.S. 126-24;

(B) Form F-5B, Affidavit of Separation, if the applicant has separated;

(D) any internal investigations.

(4) Confirmed that the applicant:

(A) has not had more than a 12-month consecutive break in service immediately preceding the current application;

(B) has completed all mandatory in-service training for the preceding calendar year;

(C) has no criminal convictions, outstanding criminal charges or an offense that would disqualify them from certification, pursuant to 12 NCAC 09B .0111, as verified through a comprehensive criminal background check;

(D) has not been the subject of any internal investigation, disciplinary proceeding or pre-disciplinary proceeding, within the last 18 months that contains allegations that could prevent the law enforcement officer’s certification; and

(E) has qualified pursuant to 09E .0106 of this Subchapter, with the assigned duty weapon which has been recorded on the Firearms Qualification Record, Form F-9A pursuant to 09E .0104 of this Subchapter.

(1) officer’s name, date of birth, Acadis ID number;

(2) former agency, current agency, and hire date with current agency;

(3) current certification held;

(4) dates the criminal history records check and psychological screening were conducted;

(5) date the officer’s personnel record was reviewed; and

(6) the name and signature of the current employing agency’s head or authorized representative

Out-of-State Transfer

Out-of-state transferees will be evaluated to determine the amount and quality of their training and experience. At a minimum, out-of-state candidates must have two years of full-time, sworn law enforcement experience and have successfully completed a basic law enforcement training course accredited by the state from which they are transferring in order to be considered for transfer to a North Carolina law enforcement agency. Out-of-state transferees cannot have a break in service exceeding three years.

Prior to employment as a certified law enforcement officer in North Carolina, out-of-state transferees must successfully complete the employing agency’s in-service firearms training and qualification program. At a minimum, they must also complete the required legal blocks and any other identified training of the Commission-certified Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Course and successfully pass the BLET state examination within their 12-month probationary period.

All out-of-state transfers are considered Probationary Appointees who must meet the requirements stated above prior to being issued Probationary Certification as a law enforcement officer. After receiving the appropriate documentation, our staff will review your credentials to determine what additional training will be required during your probationary year. In addition to the above-stated requirements, you must submit the following documentation:

A letter from your previous law enforcement agency detailing your dates of FULL-TIME, sworn service; and you are in good standing;
A copy of your Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) course certificate of successful completion;
A topical breakdown/syllabus of the courses that you completed in BLET.
Copies of all training records to include in-service and continuing education training.

The new officer must satisfactorily complete a probationary period of not less than 12 months. Once the probationary period is completed, and the officer has completed all training requirements, the officer is issued a General Certification. Take a moment to review and complete  North Carolina’s BLET comparison to gain a better understanding of the topical areas that are reviewed by the Criminal Justice Standards Division.

To request an out of state training evaluation, please click HERE.

If you have additional questions about the out of state transfer process, please email  CJTransferInfo@ncdoj.gov

Certification Process

Probationary/General Certification: Once a Report of Appointment/Application for Certification (Form F-5A or Form F-5D) has been received and approved, a Probationary or General Certification is emailed to the employing law enforcement agency. All certifications must be emailed back to the Criminal Justice Standards Division within 10 days from the date that the officer is administered the oath of office. If the officer was not sworn in, a memo should be sent to the Criminal Justice Standards Division outlining why the officer was not sworn in and the date the officer left the agency. A copy should be maintained in the agency’s personnel files.
BLET Graduate Eligibility Extension: A BLET graduate, who is actively applying to agencies for employment, may request a 30-day extension for eligibility to finalize the application process with an agency.

Who May Administer the Oath of Office: (G.S. 11-7.1)

A judge, justice, magistrate, clerk, assistant clerk, or deputy clerk of the General Court of Justice, a retired justice or judge of the General Court of Justice, or any member of the federal judiciary.
The Secretary of State.
A notary public.
A register of deeds.
A mayor of any city, town, or incorporated village.
The chairman of a committee of the House or Senate of the General Assembly, or either of the co-chairmen of a joint committee.