Every person so appointed and commissioned shall, within 1 year of the date of his commission, successfully complete a police training course at a school approved and authorized by the Police Training Commission; provided, however, that the Police Training Commission may, in its discretion, except from the requirements of this section any person who demonstrates to the commission's satisfaction that he has successfully completed a police training course conducted by any Federal, State or other public or private agency, the requirements of which are substantially equivalent to the requirements of that at a school approved by the commission.
N.J.S. § 18A:6-4.4