State training requirements
Delaware Peace Officer Training Requirements
Who governs peace officer standards in Delaware, 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 10, 2026
Who governs
Peace officer standards and training in Delaware are set by the Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), formerly the Council on Police Training.
Annual in-service requirement
Delaware requires 16 hours of in-service career-related training annually per certified officer. In addition, CPR, AED, and First Responder recertification and an annual firearms proficiency recertification are required, with a minimum of three re-qualification shoots per year on at least two separate days. Sexual assault training of at least 2 hours is required every 4 years for uniformed patrol and sex-crimes units, staggered.
Mandated topics relevant to CodeBlu
Sexual assault
At least 2 hours of sexual assault training is required every 4 years for uniformed patrol and sex-crimes units, staggered.
Source: 1 Del. Admin. Code 801-22
Domestic violence
Detection, prosecution, and prevention of child abuse and domestic violence is an entry requirement for all persons seeking appointment under 11 Del. C. 8404(a)(19).
Source: 11 Del. C. 8404
De-escalation and crisis intervention
De-escalation and crisis intervention are not identified as a standalone recurring statewide in-service mandate; the 16 hours are agency-directed career-related training.
Source: 1 Del. Admin. Code 801-5
Who decides in-service credit
Centralized approval
For training to be accepted it must be instructed by Commission-certified instructors. The Commission certifies academies and instructors and prescribes the in-service standards, and the content of the 16 career-related hours is agency-directed.
What this means for training like CodeBlu
In Delaware, in-service courses are certified or approved centrally through Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), formerly the Council on Police Training, 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 siteDelaware POST (official site)
- Administrative code1 Del. Admin. Code 801-5.0 (in-service)
- Administrative code1 Del. Admin. Code Title 1, 801
- Statute11 Del. C. 8404
Verified as of July 10, 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 Delaware?
- Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), formerly the Council on Police Training sets peace officer standards and training requirements in Delaware.
- How many annual in-service training hours does Delaware require?
- Delaware requires 16 hours of in-service career-related training annually per certified officer. In addition, CPR, AED, and First Responder recertification and an annual firearms proficiency recertification are required, with a minimum of three re-qualification shoots per year on at least two separate days. Sexual assault training of at least 2 hours is required every 4 years for uniformed patrol and sex-crimes units, staggered.
- Who decides what training counts for in-service credit in Delaware?
- For training to be accepted it must be instructed by Commission-certified instructors. The Commission certifies academies and instructors and prescribes the in-service standards, and the content of the 16 career-related hours is agency-directed.