State training requirements

Utah Peace Officer Training Requirements

Who governs peace officer standards in Utah, 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 Utah are set by the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Annual in-service requirement

Utah requires all peace officers to complete annual certified training of not less than 40 hours as the director, with the advice and consent of the council, directs; failure results in an automatic prohibition on exercising peace officer powers until it is made up. The annual training shall include training focused on arrest control and de-escalation. Beginning July 1, 2024, at least every three years the training shall also include training focused on mental health and other crisis intervention responses, and on intervention responses for mental illness, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurological or developmental disorders; that training counts toward the annual 40.

Source: Utah Code 53-6-202(4)(a),(4)(c),(5) (annual certified training)

Mandated topics relevant to CodeBlu

  • De-escalation

    The annual certified training shall include training focused on arrest control and de-escalation, a recurring annual requirement set by statute.

    Source: Utah Code 53-6-202(4)(c)

  • Mental health and crisis intervention

    Beginning July 1, 2024, at least every three years the training must include mental health and other crisis intervention responses, and intervention responses for mental illness, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurological or developmental disorders. It counts toward the annual 40 hours.

    Source: Utah Code 53-6-202(5)(a),(b)

Who decides in-service credit

Hybrid

The director, with the advice and consent of the council, promulgates the training standards, and the training is termed certified training, but the chief law enforcement officer or executive officer of the employing agency determines whether a peace officer has complied with the standards. The state sets the topics and standards centrally, and the agency head certifies compliance.

Source: Utah Code 53-6-202(6)(a),(b)

What this means for training like CodeBlu

Utah 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 Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). 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 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 Utah?
Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) sets peace officer standards and training requirements in Utah.
How many annual in-service training hours does Utah require?
Utah requires all peace officers to complete annual certified training of not less than 40 hours as the director, with the advice and consent of the council, directs; failure results in an automatic prohibition on exercising peace officer powers until it is made up. The annual training shall include training focused on arrest control and de-escalation. Beginning July 1, 2024, at least every three years the training shall also include training focused on mental health and other crisis intervention responses, and on intervention responses for mental illness, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurological or developmental disorders; that training counts toward the annual 40.
Who decides what training counts for in-service credit in Utah?
The director, with the advice and consent of the council, promulgates the training standards, and the training is termed certified training, but the chief law enforcement officer or executive officer of the employing agency determines whether a peace officer has complied with the standards. The state sets the topics and standards centrally, and the agency head certifies compliance.

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.