How to Verify a Law Enforcement Officer Certification

Quick answer

Verify law enforcement certification through the state POST commission in the state where the officer was trained and certified. For decertification history across all states, check the National Decertification Index (NDI) maintained by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) at ndipublicsafety.com.

What is POST certification?

Every U.S. state has a POST commission (sometimes called the Peace Officer Standards and Training board, council, or commission) that sets minimum training standards and certifies individuals as peace officers. The name and structure vary by state:

California: Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (CA POST) — post.ca.gov
Texas: Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) — tcole.texas.gov
Florida: Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) — fdle.state.fl.us
New York: NY Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC) under DCJS — criminaljustice.ny.gov
Illinois: Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) — ptb.illinois.gov
Georgia: Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (GA POST) — gapost.org
Ohio: Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) — ohioattorneygeneral.gov

Each state maintains its own certification records. An officer who worked in Texas and then moved to Florida will have records in both states' systems.

State POST lookup portals

Most state POST boards offer public-facing officer verification portals. Common search fields include the officer's name, certificate number, or employing agency. Typical information returned:

State	Portal / Resource	Public Lookup?
California	post.ca.gov → Peace Officer Certification	Yes — online lookup
Texas	tcole.texas.gov → License Verification	Yes — online lookup
Florida	fdle.state.fl.us → ATMS Licensee Search	Yes — online lookup
New York	DCJS Criminal Justice Training — submit inquiry to agency	Limited public access
Illinois	ptb.illinois.gov → Officer Inquiry	Yes — online lookup
Georgia	gapost.org → Officer Search	Yes — online lookup

If a state does not offer a public portal, contact the POST commission directly. Many states will confirm certification status by phone, email, or formal written request from a hiring agency.

National Decertification Index (NDI)

The NDI, maintained by IADLEST, aggregates decertification actions from participating state POST agencies. It is the closest thing to a national law enforcement decertification database. As of 2026, over 40 states participate.

Access: ndipublicsafety.com — free public search by officer name. Returns decertification records from participating states, including the reason for decertification (misconduct, criminal conviction, dishonesty, excessive force, etc.).

Important limitation

A clean NDI result does not guarantee the officer has never been decertified. NDI only reflects records from states that have submitted data. Always verify directly with the state POST in every state where the candidate has held a law enforcement position.

Certification levels and types

Most states issue tiered certifications based on experience and training hours:

Tier	Typical Requirement	Notes
Basic / Entry	Academy graduation + background check	Minimum requirement for sworn officer employment
Intermediate / General	2–5 years service + training hours	Required for promotion in many agencies
Advanced / Senior	5–10 years + supervisory training	Leadership and management track
Supervisory / Management	Supervisory experience + management coursework	Required for sergeant, lieutenant, or command rank in some states

In addition to the general peace officer certificate, officers may hold specialized endorsements: K-9 handler, SWAT, traffic accident reconstruction, crime scene investigation, or school resource officer. These are issued by the state POST and may appear in the online record.

Interstate transfers and reciprocity

Law enforcement certifications are not automatically portable across state lines. An officer certified in California who moves to Nevada must apply for Nevada POST certification, though Nevada may grant reciprocity or a waiver of certain training requirements based on the officer's experience and prior certification.

When verifying a candidate who has worked in multiple states, pull certification records from every state POST where they have held a sworn position. A lapse in certification, revocation, or probationary status in a prior state may not appear in the current state's records.

What decertification means

Decertification permanently (or for a defined period) revokes an officer's ability to work as a sworn law enforcement officer in that state. Common grounds include:

Criminal conviction (felony or disqualifying misdemeanor)
Dishonesty or false statements (Brady/Giglio implications)
Excessive use of force
Sexual misconduct
Drug or alcohol abuse
Failure to maintain training requirements

An officer who was decertified in one state may attempt to seek employment in a state that does not participate in NDI or whose records have not been submitted. This is the “wandering officer” problem that the NDI was designed to address.

Verification checklist

1. Identify every state where the candidate has held a sworn law enforcement position
2. Search the POST commission portal in each state for certification status, level, and any disciplinary actions
3. Check the National Decertification Index at ndipublicsafety.com
4. Confirm that the certification level meets the requirements of the position (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)
5. Verify any required specialized endorsements (K-9, SRO, accident reconstruction) separately
6. Contact the candidate's prior employing agencies directly; some misconduct records are held by agencies rather than POST

Verify law enforcement education credentials

Many agencies require a degree (associate's or bachelor's) as part of hiring requirements. Use VerifyED to confirm that the institution awarding the degree was properly accredited and is not a diploma mill.

Search Schools and Accreditation →