Recertification

Please Note: The Certification Division is currently processing thousands of recertification applications. Per 555 CMR 7.03, if an agency has submitted a timely application for an officer, the officer’s current certification status will continue beyond the July 1, 2026 expiration date until there is a final decision on the application.

Applications must be submitted by the law enforcement agency’s authorized portal user (a chief or designee). The application has five questions. To review the questions, visit the Recertification Questionnaire Quick Reference Guide. 

Officers recertified after July 1, 2025, will have their certification expiration dates aligned with the first day of their birth month. For example, an officer whose certification expires on July 1, 2026, and who has a November birthday, will have a new expiration date of November 1, 2029 upon recertification. After that period is completed, the officer’s next certification will follow the standard three-year cycle. 

By statute, all police officers employed in Massachusetts as of July 1, 2021, were automatically certified and scheduled for recertification in three groups based on their last name. Now that the initial certification process is over, several changes have been implemented to the POST Commission officer recertification process.

POST streamlined the recertification process for officers who have already been certified as of July 1. The focus is on verifying ongoing eligibility requirements rather than re-evaluating previously confirmed criteria such as minimum age and education.

Training Compliance

• The POST Commission will review in-service training compliance at the end of each training year. Your agency must ensure that all training records are updated with the MPTC by June 30.
• Annual CPR/First Aid training is mandatory. Officers who fail to complete this training by the deadline will be conditionally certified for up to 90 days.