N.J. Admin. Code § 13:1-4.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:1-4.6 - Certification requirements for instructors of certain subjects

(a) Applicants who seek certification to instruct in certain subjects must have a minimum of three years' experience in their criminal justice profession, be certified as an instructor, and meet the following requirements:

1. An individual seeking certification as a firearms instructor must successfully complete a Commission-recognized Firearms Instructors Course. In addition, under the immediate supervision of a school's range master, the individual must successfully:

i. Demonstrate knowledge of the established range safety rules;

ii. Identify the major parts of those firearms which will be used in the training program;

iii. Demonstrate the ability to handle safely those firearms designated by the Commission under conditions such as the following:

(1) Loading and unloading;

(2) Using loading devices;

(3) Clearing ammunition and weapon malfunctions; and

(4) Cleaning and maintaining weapons properly;

iv. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to teach the techniques of marksmanship and be able to identify the reasons that may be leading a trainee to possible failure; and

v. Score no less than an average of 95 on three consecutive firings of the Commission-required firearms course, which average shall be attained during testing by the school's range master prior to admission to the Firearms Instructors Course and without remedial training; and

vi. Score no less than 80 on the Commission-required low light handgun course.

2. An individual seeking recertification as a firearms instructor must annually satisfy the range master of their ability to perform the requirements as set forth at (a)1i through vi above and comply with an appropriate firearms requalification program and have taught at least 16 hours each calendar year in basic firearms training courses at a Commission-approved school during the previous certification period.

3. An individual seeking certification as a range master must be certified by the Commission as a firearms instructor and meet each of the following requirements:

i. Possess a minimum of five years active experience as a certified firearms instructor at a Commission-approved school. The Commission may waive this requirement if it can be demonstrated that an emergent need exists;

ii. Have served in the capacity of a certified firearms instructor under the supervision of a certified range master during at least 240 hours in basic firearms courses at a Commission-approved school as certified by the school director; and

iii. Receive the recommendation of the school director at the school where the applicant will serve and a range master designated by the Commission to review the application. Both the school director and the range master shall state in their recommendation to the Commission that the applicant is competent to perform the duties and responsibilities of range master.

4. An individual seeking certification as a radar instructor at a Commission-approved school or at a law enforcement agency must meet the following requirements:

i. Prior completion of a course for radar operators, which shall have included a minimum of eight hours of training consisting of four hours of classroom instruction and four hours of supervised practice training;

ii. Two years of experience as a radar operator with a minimum of 80 hours of hands-on experience; and

iii. Successful completion of a Commission-recognized course for radar instructors.

5. An individual seeking certification as a physical conditioning instructor at a Commission-approved school must successfully complete a Commission-approved course in physical conditioning and training instruction. The course will provide for the implementation of the Police Training Commission Physical Conditioning Training Program and include Principles of Exercise Physiology or substantially equivalent educational materials. For physical conditioning instructor recertification, the instructor must pass the pre-academy fitness assessment prior to the expiration of their current certification and have taught at least 16 hours each calendar year during the previous certification period.

6. An individual seeking certification as a vehicle operations instructor at a Commission-approved school must successfully complete a Commission-approved Vehicle Operations Instructors Course or one containing substantially equivalent instruction in driver training. For vehicle operations instructor recertification, the instructor must have taught at least 16 hours per calendar year during the previous certification period.

7. An individual seeking certification as a vehicle operations senior instructor shall be certified as a vehicle operations instructor and meet each of the following requirements:

i. Possess a minimum of five years of active experience as an instructor teaching vehicle operations in a training course at a Commission-approved school. The Commission may waive this requirement for compelling reasons;

ii. Have served in the capacity of a vehicle operations instructor providing practical hands-on driver training instruction during at least five Commission-approved courses at a Commission-approved school. The Commission may waive this requirement if it can be demonstrated that an emergent need exists; and

iii. Receive the recommendation of the school director at the school where the applicant will serve. The school director shall state in his or her recommendation that the applicant is competent to perform the duties and responsibilities of a vehicle operations senior instructor.

8. An individual seeking certification as a first responder instructor at a Commission-approved school must be certified by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as an emergency medical technician pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:40A-3.7. For an individual to continue as a certified first responder instructor, the individual must maintain his or her certification as an emergency medical technician. Individuals who have completed advanced medical training and are currently licensed as a medical practitioner or health care provider will be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this paragraph.

9. An individual seeking certification as a defensive tactics instructor must first complete a Commission-approved defensive tactics course.

10. An individual seeking certification as a senior defensive tactics instructor must first receive endorsement from a school director and have taught 160 hours of defensive tactics at a Commission-approved school during their previous certification period. The Commission may waive the 160-hour requirement, if it can be demonstrated that an emergent need exists. For senior defensive tactics instructor re-certification, the instructor must have taught at least 40 hours each calendar year during the previous certification period.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:1-4.6

Amended by R.1989 d.260, effective 5/15/1989.
See: 21 N.J.R. 695(a), 21 N.J.R. 1365(a).
In (a)1ii, replaced "the handguns and shotguns" with "those firearms which will be" used in the training program.
In (a)1iii, replaced "handguns and shotguns" with "those firearms which the Commission shall designate" regarding ability to handle firearms safely.
Amended by R.1990 d.477, effective 10/1/1990.
See: 22 N.J.R. 1435(a), 22 N.J.R. 3151(a).
Required that all physical conditioning instructors be certified.
Amended by R.1995 d.584, effective 11/20/1995.
See: 27 N.J.R. 1521(a), 27 N.J.R. 4728(c).
Amended by R.1997 d.197, effective 5/19/1997.
See: 28 N.J.R. 3706(a), 29 N.J.R. 2464(a).
Added (a)7.
Amended by R.1998 d.330, effective 7/6/1998.
See: 30 N.J.R. 1182(a), 30 N.J.R. 2506(a).
In (a), rewrote 3iii, rewrote 7iii and recodified former 7iv as 8.
Administrative change.
See: 31 N.J.R. 880(a).
Amended by R.2004 d.4, effective 1/5/2004.
See: 35 N.J.R. 2806(a), 36 N.J.R. 197(a).
Recodified (b) as (a)8, added 9.
Amended by R.2013 d.012, effective 1/22/2013.
See: 44 N.J.R. 1954(a), 45 N.J.R. 124(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (a), inserted "have a minimum of three years experience in his or her criminal justice profession," and inserted a comma following "instructor"; rewrote (a)1v and (a)2; added (a)1vi; in (a)3ii, substituted "240 hours" for "six" and inserted "as certified by the school director"; and in (a)7i, substituted "in a training course" for "(Functional Area 7.0)".

Amended by 55 N.J.R. 1932(b), effective 9/5/2023