Government Code section 1031.5
(a)
(1)In addition to the standards in Section 1031, commencing January 1, 2031, each state officer and employee designated as a peace officer as described in Section 830.1, with the exception of those described in subdivision (c) of that section, 830.2, with the exception of those described in subdivision (d) of that section, 830.3, 830.32, or 830.33 of the Penal Code, or any other peace officer employed by an agency that participates in the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program shall attain one or more of the following degrees or certificates no later than 36 months after receiving their basic certificate by the commission:(A)
An associate’s degree from a community college that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.(B)
A bachelor’s degree or other advanced degree from a college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.(C)
A modern policing degree, as described in subdivision (b).(D)
A professional policing certificate, as described in subdivision (c).(2)
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person who is either of the following shall attain one or more of the degrees or certificates set forth in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (1) no later than 48 months after receiving their basic certificate by the commission:(A)
An individual with experience as a sworn peace officer from another state who served as a peace officer for less than eight years and with a separation in good standing.(B)
An individual with experience serving in the Armed Forces of the United States who served for less than eight years and with an honorable discharge if their military service has concluded.(3)
Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:(A)
An individual with at least eight years of experience as a sworn peace officer from another state and with a separation in good standing.(B)
An individual with at least eight years of military service in the Armed Forces of the United States and with an honorable discharge if military service has concluded.(b)
A modern policing degree shall meet all of the following criteria:(1)
Require at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of degree-applicable credit coursework from a college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.(2)
Award credits for required commission-certified academy course instruction.(3)
Offer courses that include, but are not limited to, the following list of subjects:(A)
Communications.(B)
Psychology.(C)
Writing.(D)
Ethics.(E)
Criminal Justice.(c)
A professional policing certificate may be offered by any accredited college or university, and shall meet all of the following criteria:(1)
Require at least 16 semester units or 24 quarter units of degree-applicable credit coursework from a college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.(2)
Offer courses that include, but are not limited to, the following list of subjects:(A)
Communications.(B)
Psychology.(C)
Writing.(D)
Ethics.(E)
Criminal Justice.(d)
(1)Coursework completed as part of the commission-certified academy shall count toward the modern policing degree and professional policing certificate and may count toward any associate degree or bachelor’s degree described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).(2)
Coursework completed as part of military or law enforcement training that is within the curriculum of a modern policing degree as described in subdivision (b) or a professional policing certificate as described in subdivision (c) by an individual during prior employment in the military or in law enforcement in another state may count toward a modern policing degree as described in subdivision (b) or a professional policing certificate as described in subdivision (c).(3)
Coursework completed as part of the commission-certified academy shall not solely satisfy the unit requirement for a professional policing certificate.(e)
This section does not apply to any person who, as of December 31, 2030, is currently enrolled in a basic academy or is employed as a peace officer by a public entity in California.(f)
This section does not apply to any person who is employed as a peace officer by the State Department of State Hospitals.
Source:
Section 1031.5, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=1031.5. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
