Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Operations Manual

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Chapter 3 – Personnel, Training, and Employee Relations

Article 18 – General Training

Revised April 5, 2022

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32010.20.4 Compliance Requalification Requirements

February 17, 2026

  • All designated In-Service Training (ISTIn-Service Training) Managers and Training Coordinators (TCs) shall review the minimum firearm qualification and requalification requirements of all personnel covered by this section on a quarterly basis.

    • The ISTIn-Service Training Manager or TC shall notify the employee’s direct supervisor in writing of impending requalification dates at least 30 days in advance.  Utilization of the monthly training calendar to satisfy advance written notice of requirements is acceptable.  

    • First-line supervisors shall work with the ISTIn-Service Training Manager or TC to ensure that their subordinates meet these minimum qualification/requalification requirements.

  • Each peace officer shall maintain current weapons’ certification as outlined in this section. 

  • Range Remediation Policy
    Peace Officers, other than Parole Agents, who fail the first attempt, but have otherwise demonstrated an adequate level of operational knowledge with the firearm or launcher, may be given another opportunity.  This determination shall be made by the Rangemaster. 

  • Notification of Failure to Meet Range Requalification

    • Adult Institutions

      • Those who fail to requalify after this additional opportunity and those whom the Rangemaster determines do not appear to have sufficient proficiency after the initial attempt, shall be required to complete remediation training prior to being scheduled for further requalification attempts.

      • Arrangements may be made to conduct the training during the employee’s regular duty hours.  In those situations where the training must be conducted on the employee’s off-duty hours, this time shall be considered time worked and compensable under the Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSAFair Labor Standards Act) requirements. 

      • The employee shall not be permitted to work in an armed post or any other assignment that requires the employee to be armed until minimum requalification requirements are completed.

      • These employees shall receive a memorandum of failure to meet range requalification.  A copy shall be sent to ISTIn-Service Training and the Captain only.  The notification shall advise the employee that: 

        • The employee appears deficient in the necessary skills to requalify and shall be assigned to two hours of firearm or launcher familiarization and training.  This remediation shall be weapon specific and based on the techniques specific to that weapon. 

        • If, after two hours of remediation training, the employee again fails to requalify, they shall be scheduled for up to two additional remediation sessions.  All remediation and requalification must be completed within the allocated 60 days. 

        • Failure to meet the firearm or launcher requirements within a 60-day period shall result in termination of the employee’s appointment as a peace officer, unless exempted by a temporary waiver.  Employees assigned to specialized units that require a higher minimum proficiency qualification shall be removed from the unit.

    • Special Agent 
      Special Agents and Office of Correctional Safety (OCSOffice of Correctional Safety) peace officers who fail to requalify after the additional opportunity and those whom the Rangemaster or TFI determines do not appear to have sufficient proficiency after the initial attempt, shall complete remediation training prior to being scheduled for further requalification attempts.

      • These employees shall receive a memorandum of failure to meet range requalification.  A copy will be sent to the Office of Internal Affairs Chief, Field Operations, or OCSOffice of Correctional Safety Chief.  The notification shall advise the employee that: 

        • The employee appears deficient in the necessary skills to requalify and shall be assigned to two hours of firearm familiarization and training.  This remediation shall be weapon specific and based on the Rangemaster or TFI lesson plan. 

        • Special Agents and OCSOffice of Correctional Safety peace officers who do not qualify within 30 calendar days of the quarter in which they failed their division’s designated qualification period shall be placed on leave without pay for no longer than two months.

        • Failure to qualify within this period shall result in the Special Agent or OCSOffice of Correctional Safety peace officer being separated from the Special Agent or OCSOffice of Correctional Safety peace officer classification, unless exempted by a temporary waiver. 

      • If, after two hours of remediation training, the employee again fails to requalify, they shall be scheduled for up to two additional remediation sessions.  All remediation and requalification must be completed within the allocated 30 days. 

      • Arrangements may be made to conduct the training during the employee’s regular duty hours.  In those situations where the training must be conducted on the employee’s off-duty hours, this time shall be considered time worked and compensable under the FLSAFair Labor Standards Act requirements. 

      • The employee shall not be permitted to work in an assignment that requires the employee to be armed until minimum requalification requirements are completed.  

    • Parole Agent
      Parole Agents who are armed as a condition of employment and who do not qualify within 30 calendar days of the quarter in which they failed shall be placed on leave without pay for no longer than two months.

      • Failure to qualify within this period shall result in the Parole Agent being separated from state service per the Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding. 

    • Temporary Waiver

      • Special circumstances may warrant a temporary waiver of weapons requalification requirements.  Upon approval of the hiring authority and subject to concurrence by the appropriate Director, a temporary waiver may be considered for any one of the following reasons: 

        • Authorized leave of absence

        • Detached duty

        • Illness

        • Physical injury

        • Pregnancy

        • Psychological trauma affecting the employee’s ability to comply with requalification requirements.

      • The waiver shall be reviewed at intervals of no more than one year.  Upon expiration of the waiver, the employee shall complete requalification requirements within 60 days as described in DOMDepartment Operations Manual section 32010.20.3.