State training requirements
Arizona Peace Officer Training Requirements
Who governs peace officer standards in Arizona, the annual in-service requirement, the mandated topics for de-escalation and crisis response, and who decides what counts for in-service credit.
Verified as of July 9, 2026
Who governs
Peace officer standards and training in Arizona are set by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST).
Annual in-service requirement
Arizona requires continuing training annually to retain certification. Under the R13-4-111 amendment effective September 5, 2025, a full-authority or specialty peace officer shall complete 12 hours of training each year beginning January 1 following certification; the prior version required 8 hours annually. Officers authorized to carry must also complete an annual Board-prescribed firearms qualification and a target identification and judgment course.
Mandated topics relevant to CodeBlu
Continuing-training content
Arizona does not enumerate a standalone de-escalation, crisis-intervention, mental-health, or domestic-violence recurring in-service topic in R13-4-111 in the sources reviewed. Course curriculum must consist of instruction on topics related to law enforcement operations and peace officer functions and skills.
Who decides in-service credit
Agency discretion
As of December 5, 2022, AZPOST no longer vets vendors for AZPOST training credit; agencies vet their own vendors. Continuing-training courses may be provided by the Board or an agency, and the agency issues a Program Compliance Confirmation form for continuing-training credits, including for e-learning programs with an interactive component and a testing component. E-learning cannot be used for proficiency training credits.
Source: AZPOST FAQ, Training (agency vendor vetting; PA form)
What this means for training like CodeBlu
Because Arizona leaves the in-service credit decision to each agency's chief executive, a department can decide whether training like CodeBlu counts toward its non-perishable in-service hours. This is not a determination of eligibility: CodeBlu does not certify hours or grant credit, the chief executive owns that decision, and agency policy and legal counsel govern. CodeBlu provides the per-officer records and transcripts that support the decision and the agency's own reporting.
Primary sources
- POST-equivalent siteArizona POST (official site)
- Administrative codeAriz. Admin. Code Title 13, Chapter 4 (Secretary of State PDF)
- Administrative codeAriz. Admin. Code R13-4-111 (continuing training)
- POST-equivalent siteAZPOST FAQ, Training
Verified as of July 9, 2026. This page is reviewed on an annual cadence, and the date is bumped only on re-verification against the primary sources above.
Frequently asked questions
- Who sets peace officer training requirements in Arizona?
- Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) sets peace officer standards and training requirements in Arizona.
- How many annual in-service training hours does Arizona require?
- Arizona requires continuing training annually to retain certification. Under the R13-4-111 amendment effective September 5, 2025, a full-authority or specialty peace officer shall complete 12 hours of training each year beginning January 1 following certification; the prior version required 8 hours annually. Officers authorized to carry must also complete an annual Board-prescribed firearms qualification and a target identification and judgment course.
- Who decides what training counts for in-service credit in Arizona?
- As of December 5, 2022, AZPOST no longer vets vendors for AZPOST training credit; agencies vet their own vendors. Continuing-training courses may be provided by the Board or an agency, and the agency issues a Program Compliance Confirmation form for continuing-training credits, including for e-learning programs with an interactive component and a testing component. E-learning cannot be used for proficiency training credits.