State training requirements

New Hampshire Peace Officer Training Requirements

Who governs peace officer standards in New Hampshire, 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 New Hampshire are set by the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council (PSTC).

Annual in-service requirement

New Hampshire requires 24 hours of annual in-service per certified police or corrections officer. Pol 403.01(b)(3) provides that beginning January 1, 2025 an additional 8 hours brings the total to 24 hours required for 2025, exclusive of firearms, first aid, or defensive tactics, sanctioned by the agency or the Council. Pol 403.01(a) requires 2 hours each of certain enumerated mandatory topics annually. Firearms is a separate annual certification. The hiring authority certifies compliance within 30 days after each calendar year and retains lesson outlines and rosters for 5 years.

Source: N.H. Admin. Code Pol 403.01 (annual in-service)

Mandated topics relevant to CodeBlu

  • Enumerated mandatory topics

    Two hours each of certain enumerated mandatory topics are required annually under Pol 403.01(a).

    Source: N.H. Admin. Code Pol 403.01(a)

  • De-escalation and crisis intervention

    Whether de-escalation or crisis intervention is named among the enumerated 2-hour mandatory topics in the current Pol 403.01(a) should be verified against the full current topic list.

    Source: N.H. Admin. Code Pol 403.01

Who decides in-service credit

Hybrid

Training may be sanctioned by the agency or the Council and may be satisfied at PSTC, through third-party vendors, in local agency classes, or online. Local classes carry record-keeping requirements. The hiring authority certifies compliance and the Council sets the mandatory topics.

Source: N.H. Admin. Code Pol 403.01(c) to (d)

What this means for training like CodeBlu

New Hampshire uses a mix of central approval and agency discretion for in-service credit. Where the decision rests with the agency, a department can decide whether training like CodeBlu counts toward its in-service hours; where a topic is centrally certified, the formal path runs through New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council (PSTC). Either way, 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

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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council (PSTC) sets peace officer standards and training requirements in New Hampshire.
How many annual in-service training hours does New Hampshire require?
New Hampshire requires 24 hours of annual in-service per certified police or corrections officer. Pol 403.01(b)(3) provides that beginning January 1, 2025 an additional 8 hours brings the total to 24 hours required for 2025, exclusive of firearms, first aid, or defensive tactics, sanctioned by the agency or the Council. Pol 403.01(a) requires 2 hours each of certain enumerated mandatory topics annually. Firearms is a separate annual certification. The hiring authority certifies compliance within 30 days after each calendar year and retains lesson outlines and rosters for 5 years.
Who decides what training counts for in-service credit in New Hampshire?
Training may be sanctioned by the agency or the Council and may be satisfied at PSTC, through third-party vendors, in local agency classes, or online. Local classes carry record-keeping requirements. The hiring authority certifies compliance and the Council sets the mandatory topics.

This article is educational content prepared by CodeBlu for law enforcement training purposes. It is not legal advice. Officers should consult their agency's legal counsel for guidance specific to their jurisdiction and situation.

Questions? Email hello@codeblu.co.