State training requirements
California Peace Officer Training Requirements
Who governs peace officer standards in California, 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 California are set by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).
Annual in-service requirement
California requires Continuing Professional Training (CPT): every peace officer below first-level management, other than a Level III Reserve, must complete a minimum of 24 hours of POST-qualifying training every two-year CPT cycle. Under the Perishable Skills Program, patrol officers below middle management complete a minimum of 14 hours every two years (4 hours Arrest and Control, 4 hours Driver Training or Awareness, 4 hours Tactical Firearms, and 2 hours Strategic Communications), which counts toward the 24.
Source: Commission Procedure D-2 (Continuing Professional Training and Perishable Skills)
Mandated topics relevant to CodeBlu
De-escalation
De-escalation is addressed within the Use of Force Perishable Skills course and periodic use-of-force training under Penal Code 13519.10 (added by SB 230, 2019), and the Perishable Skills Program includes 2 hours of Strategic Communications per cycle.
Source: SB 230 and Penal Code 13519.10
Use of force
Periodic use-of-force training includes de-escalation techniques and alternatives to force under Penal Code 13519.10.
Who decides in-service credit
Centralized approval
POST certifies courses through a formal course-certification process. CPT credit is earned by completing POST-qualifying or POST-certified training, and Perishable Skills Program courses must be taught with POST-certified instructors.
Source: Commission Procedure D-2 and the Perishable Skills Program
What this means for training like CodeBlu
In California, in-service courses are certified or approved centrally through California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), so credit does not rest with an individual agency alone. The honest framing for training like CodeBlu is professional development that builds the underlying skills; any formal credit path runs through the state's approval process. This is not a determination of eligibility: CodeBlu does not certify hours or grant credit, and agency policy, the state's process, and legal counsel govern.
Primary sources
- POST-equivalent siteCalifornia POST (official site)
- POST-equivalent siteCommission Procedure D-2 (Continuing Professional Training and Perishable Skills)
- POST-equivalent sitePOST Perishable Skills Program
- StatuteSB 230 (Penal Code 13519.10, use-of-force and de-escalation 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 California?
- California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) sets peace officer standards and training requirements in California.
- How many annual in-service training hours does California require?
- California requires Continuing Professional Training (CPT): every peace officer below first-level management, other than a Level III Reserve, must complete a minimum of 24 hours of POST-qualifying training every two-year CPT cycle. Under the Perishable Skills Program, patrol officers below middle management complete a minimum of 14 hours every two years (4 hours Arrest and Control, 4 hours Driver Training or Awareness, 4 hours Tactical Firearms, and 2 hours Strategic Communications), which counts toward the 24.
- Who decides what training counts for in-service credit in California?
- POST certifies courses through a formal course-certification process. CPT credit is earned by completing POST-qualifying or POST-certified training, and Perishable Skills Program courses must be taught with POST-certified instructors.