NV POST key terms

The Nevada governing body that sets peace officer selection, training, and certification rules and can suspend, revoke, or reinstate an officer's certificate.

A full-authority Nevada peace officer with general arrest and enforcement powers, such as a municipal police officer or county sheriff's deputy, requiring the complete basic academy.

A Nevada peace officer with limited authority, typically serving in a specialized or restricted enforcement role, who completes a shorter basic training course than Category I officers.

A Nevada peace officer whose authority is narrowest, often limited to specific facilities, detention, or specialized functions, with correspondingly reduced basic training hours.

The initial residential or regional training program that a recruit must complete to be certified as a peace officer, covering law, firearms, defensive tactics, driving, and physical fitness.

A person enrolled in a basic peace officer academy who has not yet been certified and who trains under academy staff supervision before sworn employment.

An experienced certified officer assigned to supervise a new officer's post-academy field training, evaluating performance and documenting progress on standardized daily observation reports.

The structured post-academy phase in which a new officer applies academy skills under a field training officer's supervision, with documented evaluations determining retention.

A newly sworn officer serving an initial employment period during which performance, conduct, and fitness are evaluated and dismissal may occur with fewer procedural protections.

Required annual training hours that certified officers complete to maintain certification and stay current on law, tactics, and agency policy.

Ongoing professional instruction delivered to already-certified officers, covering updates to statutes, case law, defensive tactics, and emerging enforcement topics.

POST approval of a training course's curriculum, instructor qualifications, and hours so that completion counts toward officer certification or continuing education credit.

A basic training program that POST has reviewed and approved to deliver instruction meeting state standards, making its graduates eligible for peace officer certification.

The identifier POST assigns to an approved course, used on training records and transcripts to verify that credit was earned from a certified offering.

The documented file of an officer's completed academies, courses, hours, and certifications, maintained by the agency and reported to POST as required.

POST's official recognition that a person has met the training and eligibility requirements to serve as a peace officer in Nevada.

The credential issued by POST evidencing that an officer holds certified status at a stated category and level of authority.

The periodic process by which an officer demonstrates completion of required continuing education and remains eligible to hold an active certificate.

POST's action withdrawing an officer's certification after findings of misconduct, disqualifying conduct, or failure to meet training requirements, ending lawful peace officer status.

A POST disciplinary action permanently removing an officer's certificate, typically for serious misconduct, with reinstatement possible only through a formal petition process.

A temporary POST action making a certificate inactive for a set period or until stated conditions are met, after which the officer may return to certified status.

The statutory and regulatory criteria POST and agencies use to judge whether an applicant's conduct, record, and reputation make them suitable for peace officer trust.

Behavior such as serious criminal convictions, dishonesty, or drug use that bars or restricts certification or employment under POST standards.

The pre-employment inquiry into an applicant's criminal history, employment, finances, references, and character used to determine eligibility for peace officer certification.

A pre-employment assessment by a qualified professional that screens candidates for emotional stability and suitability before they are hired or certified.

Documentation that a candidate meets physical and medical standards, including vision and hearing, required before appointment as a peace officer.

A standardized assessment of strength, endurance, and agility that recruits and candidates must pass to enter or graduate from a basic academy.

Nevada statutory protections giving officers notice, representation, and a hearing before certain disciplinary actions, including rules on interrogations and personnel records.

An administrative inquiry into alleged officer misconduct, conducted under agency policy and statutory procedural protections, that may lead to discipline or referral to POST.

The procedural fairness owed to an officer or applicant before adverse action, including notice of allegations, an opportunity to respond, and an impartial decision-maker.

An agency's written rules governing when and how officers may apply physical force, including deadly force, consistent with statutory standards and training requirements.

Instruction in control holds, takedowns, and less-lethal techniques that officers must practice to safely manage resistance and reduce injury risk.

A certified driving course teaching pursuit policy, emergency response, and vehicle control skills, often required for initial certification and periodic refresher training.

POST authorization for an individual to teach a specific subject in certified courses, based on documented training, experience, and instructor development coursework.

The unique code POST assigns to a law enforcement agency, used on training and employment records to track its officers and certified courses.

A required notification an agency submits to POST when an officer leaves employment, stating whether the departure was voluntary or for cause.

The process of restoring a suspended or revoked certificate after the officer satisfies POST conditions, such as retraining, waiting periods, or a hearing.

POST's process for evaluating an out-of-state officer's training and experience to determine whether it satisfies Nevada certification requirements, often through a modified academy.