Leadership Certification Program Requirements

Training must be certified by P.O.S.T., a state or federal training program, the TACP, an accredited college or university, or other recognized training program. Education and training may be combined to achieve training requirements. If applicant is below the rank of Chief, he/she must be recommended by the department’s Chief of Police. All applicants must be a currently serving, actively employed, certified law enforcement officer to apply. There is a $35.00 processing fee for each application.

Level 1
 • Minimum 5 years experience in supervisory/administrative role
 • A combination of training totaling 840 hours or an Associate’s Degree
If using a combination of training, 160 hours of the 840 total required hours must be in leadership/ supervisory/administrative training
 • Must be a member of TACP in good standing (dues paid)

Level 2
 • Minimum 5 years experience in supervisory/administrative role
 • Must have 900 hours in leadership/management training or a Bachelor’s Degree or an Associate’s Degree and 60 leadership/management hours
 • Must be a graduate of a 40-hour or more command level course or have completed the 24-hour TACP New Chief’s Training plus 16 additional command training hours
 • Is an active TACP member participating as a presenter at meetings; serve on committee, sub-committee or board member; work on a special project; or other articulable contribution to TACP organization.

Level 3
 • Minimum 10 years experience in supervisory/administrative role
 • Must have 1,060 hours in leadership/management training or a Master’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree and 160 leadership/management hours or an Associate’s Degree and 240 leadership/management hours
 • Active, participating member of TACP (presenter at meetings; serves on committee, sub-committee or board; works on a special project; or other articulable contribution to TACP), or its equivalent in other states, for 3 years or more
 • Graduate of executive level academy/program as listed below, or other equivalent as deemed by the Training Committee:
o Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (FBINA)
o Southern Police Institute (SPI)
o Northwestern Leadership Academy
o South Eastern Command and Leadership Academy (SECLA)
*Applications for substitutions may be considered by the Training Committee Chair and curriculum must be submitted for review.

Level 4: Executive Level - Reserved for Chiefs of Police
 • Must meet all Level 3 requirements
 • Must currently be a Chief of Police with 2 continuous years of service

NOTE:
* Any Chief who retired in good standing may continue to progress through the Certification Program.
* Requests for appeals regarding the review process must be made in writing to the Professional Standards Committee.

Click here to download the Leadership Program Application.