Professional Development and Resources
Professional development and resources cover growth beyond the minimum CPE requirement. The exam tests how officers use MCOLES resources, instructor development, specialty training, and agency career paths.
Development pathways
- MCOLES publishes training bulletins, CPE catalogs, and instructor certification requirements.
- Officers can pursue specialty certifications, instructor development, field training officer roles, and supervisory training.
- Agencies should use training needs assessments and maintain training records.
- Professional development is broader than CPE; it includes mentoring, conferences, and higher education, but only approved activities count toward CPE.
- Resources include MCOLES staff, regional academies, and model policies.
Worked example
An officer wants to become a MCOLES-certified instructor. Ten years of patrol experience alone does not qualify the officer to teach in an approved academy. The officer must complete the required instructor development course and meet MCOLES certification requirements. After certification, teaching may count toward CPE only if the activity is approved and documented.
Traps that cost marks
- Assuming experience alone qualifies someone to instruct.
- Counting every conference or college course as CPE without approval.
- Neglecting training records; audits require proof.
- Ignoring agency development plans; individual interest is not enough without approval.
- Confusing professional development with the mandatory CPE requirement.