Equivalency of Training

Basic Recruit Exemption for Experienced Officers

The Florida Public Safety Institute (FPSI) offers a 10-day Equivalency of Training (EoT) program. This program lets former officers or special forces members skip the full basic recruit academy if they qualify.

The EoT program is for:

• Out-of-state officers

• Federal officers

• Florida officers who have not worked in law enforcement for 4 or more years

• Members of U.S. special operations forces

This follows Florida Statutes section 943.131(2a) and Rule 11B-35.009 of the Florida Administrative Code.

For more information, please visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Equivalency of Training website. 

Exemption from basic training if you are an officer from another state or the federal government and meet all of the following:

• Worked at least one year full-time as a sworn law enforcement or corrections officer

• Completed training that is similar to Florida’s basic recruit training, or were previously certified in Florida

• Have had no more than an eight-year break in service since your last sworn job

• Have worked at least five years as a member of the special operations forces and;
• Have no more than a four-year break-in service since separation from the special operations forces.

• Have been fully certified as an officer in Florida.
• Have at least a four-year break-in service but no more than an eight-year break-in service since most recent separation in Florida.

*If your time is limited, you can forgo the test saturation portion and only take the high liability proficiency portion.