11B-20.0014. Minimum Requirements for High-Liability and Specialized Instructor Certifications

(1) High-Liability Topics Instructor Certification. Instructor applicants shall comply with the following requirements for certification:

(a) Possess a General Instructor Certification or be eligible for General Instructor Certification and apply for General Instructor Certification at the same time the applicant is requesting certification in the high-liability topic. Multiple topics may be applied for at the same time.

(b) Complete three years’ experience as a certified criminal justice officer or three years’ experience in the topic of instruction for which certification is sought.

(c) Complete the instructor training requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this rule section, for High-Liability Instructor Topics for which the instructor applicant is requesting certification. The High-Liability Training Courses and proficiency requirements are outlined in Rule 11B-35.0024, F.A.C.

(d) Be evaluated by his or her students. Student evaluation shall be reviewed with the instructor applicant by a training center director, agency administrator, or an instructor designated by the training center director or agency administrator and documented on the Instructor Competency Checklist form CJSTC-81, revised August 10, 2023, effective 6/2024, hereby incorporated by reference http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16654.

(e) Complete the Instructor Certification Application form CJSTC-71 and attach all documents prior to submitting the application for approval.

(f) Instructor applicants who apply for a High-Liability Instructor Certification shall have completed the applicable High-Liability Instructor Course within four years of the date the instructor applicant applies for certification. Instructor applicants shall meet the requirements for High-Liability Instructor Certification for each topic requested.

(2) High-Liability Instructor Topics.

(a) Vehicle Operations Instructor Certification. Instructor applicants who request to obtain certification to instruct vehicle operations topics shall:

1. Comply with the requirements for General Instructor Certification pursuant to subsection 11B-20.001(3), F.A.C.; and,

2. Have successfully completed through a training school the Vehicle Operations Instructor Course; and,

3. Following successful completion of the Vehicle Operations Instructor Course, have successfully completed a high-liability internship documented on the Instructor Competency Checklist form CJSTC-81 that is supervised by a certified vehicle operations instructor.

(b) Firearms Instructor Certification. Instructor applicants who request to obtain certification to instruct firearms topics shall:

1. Comply with the requirements for General Instructor Certification pursuant to subsection 11B-20.001(3), F.A.C.; and,

2. Have successfully completed through a training school the Firearms Instructor Course; and,

3. Following completion of the Firearms Instructor Course, have successfully completed a high-liability internship documented on the Instructor Competency Checklist form CJSTC-81 that is supervised by a certified firearms instructor.

(c) Defensive Tactics Instructor Certification. Instructor applicants who request to obtain certification to instruct defensive tactics topics shall:

1. Comply with the requirements for General Instructor Certification pursuant to subsection 11B-20.001(3), F.A.C.; and,

2. Have successfully completed through a training school the Defensive Tactics Instructor Course which began on or after October 31, 2019 or completed through a training school the Defensive Tactics Instructor Course which began prior to October 31, 2019 and the Defensive Tactics Instructor Update course; and,

3. Following successful completion of the Defensive Tactics Instructor Course, have successfully completed a high-liability internship documented on the Instructor Competency Checklist form CJSTC-81 that is supervised by a certified defensive tactics instructor.

(d) First Aid Instructor Certification. Instructor applicants who request to obtain certification to instruct in first aid shall:

1. Have three years’ experience as a criminal justice officer; and,

2. Comply with the requirements for General Instructor Certification pursuant to subsection 11B-20.001(3), F.A.C.; and,

3. Have successfully completed through a training school the First Responder Instructor Course or CMS First Aid Instructor Course or complete a U.S. Department of Transportation recognized first responder instructor course; and,

4. Following successful completion of the First Aid Instructor Course, if required, have successfully completed a high-liability internship documented on the Instructor Competency Checklist form CJSTC-81 that is supervised by a certified first aid instructor; and,

5. Possess and maintain an active CPR Instructor Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA), American Red Cross (ARC), American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI), or other entity referenced in the Department of Health, Rule 64J-1.022, F.A.C. The instructor shall not let the CPR Instructor Certification lapse and shall provide documentation of renewal to the certifying agency or training school. If the CPR Instructor Certification expires during the instructor certification period, the instructor shall not instruct in first responder or first aid until the CPR Instructor Certification is renewed; or

6. Certain individuals, based on their education and training experience in the United States or its territories, are eligible for First Aid Instructor Certification without completing additional Commission-approved training and shall comply with subparagraphs (2)(d)4.-5. of this rule section:

a. Qualifying professional certifications or licenses:

1. Certified emergency medical technicians.

2. Certified paramedics.

3. Licensed physicians, who are actively involved in emergency care and have three years’ experience in emergency medical care.

4. Licensed physician’s assistants, who are actively involved in emergency care and have three years’ experience in emergency medical care.

5. Registered nurses or licensed practical nurses, who are actively involved in emergency care and have three years’ experience in emergency medical care.

6. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty entitled to practice as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or a Florida paramedic set forth in Chapter 401, Part III, F.S.

7. Full-time instructors at a vocational technical institution or an accredited college or university, who instruct medical topics in EMT, paramedic, nursing, physician, or physician assistance programs.

b. To obtain a First Aid Instructor Certification, the instructor applicant shall provide a copy of the current qualifying professional’s certification or license and shall not allow the qualifying professional’s certification or license to lapse. The instructor applicant shall provide documentation of renewal to the certifying agency or training school. If the qualifying professional’s certification or license expires during the certification period, the instructor shall not instruct in first aid until the professional’s certification or license is renewed.

(3) Specialized Instructor Certifications. Instructor applicants who apply for a Specialized Instructor Certification shall have completed the applicable specialized instructor course within four years of the date the instructor applicant applies for certification. Instructor applicants who apply for a Specialized Instructor Certification more than four years from the date training was completed shall meet the requirements for completing an internship and demonstration of proficiency skills if applicable to the specialized topic. Instructor applicants shall meet the following requirements for each Specialized Instructor Certification requested:

(a) Criminal Justice Diving Instructor Certification to instruct the Underwater Police Science and Technology course number 077, pursuant to Rule 11B-35.006, F.A.C., shall:

1. Possess a General Instructor Certification or be eligible for General Instructor Certification and apply for a General Instructor Certification at the same time the applicant requests a Criminal Justice Diving Instructor Certification; and,

2. Possess and maintain a current Scuba Instructor Certification from a nationally recognized organization that meets the standards of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) and have two years of experience as a public safety diver, or possess and maintain a Dive Master Certification from a nationally recognized organization that meets the standards of the WRSTC and have five years of experience as a public safety diver; and,

3. Have been employed in the capacity of a public safety diver within the past four years, or have instructed the Underwater Police Science and Technology course within the past four years.

(b) Speed Measurement Instructor Certification. Instructor applicants who request certification to instruct speed measurement training courses shall:

1. Possess a General Instructor Certification or be eligible for General Instructor Certification and apply for General Instructor Certification at the same time the applicant is requesting Speed Measurement Instructor Certification; and,

2. Possess three years’ experience as a speed measurement device operator; and,

3. Successfully complete at a training school, the Speed Measurement Instructor Course for Law Enforcement Officers, course number 1159 or the Radar Speed Measurement Instructor Course for Law Enforcement Officers, course number 1108, retired December 31, 2006, and the Laser Speed Measurement Device (LSMD) Instructor Transition Course for Radar Instructors, course number 1109, retired December 31, 2008; and,

4. Complete the Speed Measurement Device Instructor Field Evaluation, form CJSTC-10, revised August 13, 2020, effective 5/2021 hereby incorporated by reference http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13126. Form CJSTC-10 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at [phone].

5. Following successful completion of the Speed Measurement Instructor Course, successfully complete a speed measurement internship supervised by a certified Speed Measurement Instructor and document on the Instructor Competency Checklist form CJSTC-81.

6. Be evaluated by his or her students. Student evaluations shall be reviewed with the instructor applicant by a training center director, agency administrator, or an instructor designated by the training center director or agency administrator, and documented on form CJSTC-81.

(c) Canine Team Instructor Certification. Instructor applicants who request to obtain certification to instruct Commission-approved canine team training courses shall:

1. Possess a General Instructor Certification or be eligible for General Instructor Certification and apply for a General Instructor Certification at the same time the applicant requests Canine Team Instructor Certification.

2. Possess a minimum of five years’ criminal justice canine team experience documented in the instructor applicant’s file at the training school or agency. This does not include canines used by certified officers exclusively for tracking and trailing or specific detection, which are excluded from the certification process.

3. Successfully complete the Canine Team Training Course number 1112 (retired 11/6/2013) or Canine Team Training Course number 1198 or an equivalent course approved by a Commission-approved evaluator.

4. Successfully complete the Canine Team Training Instructor Course number 1199 or Canine Team Training Instructor Course number 1107 (retired 11/6/2013), through a training school.

5. Complete the Canine Team Instructor Performance Evaluation, form CJSTC-20, created August 13, 2020, effective 5/2021, hereby incorporated by reference http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13127. Form CJSTC-20 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at [phone].

6. Following successful completion of the Canine Team Training Instructor Course, successfully complete a Canine Team internship supervised by a certified Canine Team Instructor and document on the Instructor Competency form CJSTC-81. An instructor applicant shall instruct any topic of the Canine Team Training Course or Canine Team Training Instructor Course.

7. Be evaluated by his or her students. Student evaluations shall be reviewed with the instructor applicant by a training center director, agency administrator, or an instructor designated by the training center director or agency administrator, and documented on form CJSTC-81.

8. Provide verification that there is not a sustained “excessive use-of-force” complaint against the instructor applicant, involving the use of the canine at the time a canine was under his or her command, at the agency(s) where the instructor applicant obtained experience as a canine officer. The verification shall be documented on agency letterhead and signed by the agency administrator or designee.

(d) Breath Test Instructor Certification. Instructor applicants who request certification to instruct the Breath Test Operator Course, Breath Test Operator Renewal Course, Agency Inspector Course, and the Agency Inspector Renewal Course, pursuant to Rule 11B-35.007, F.A.C., shall:

1. Possess a General Instructor Certification or be eligible for General Instructor Certification and apply for a General Instructor Certification at the same time the applicant requests a Breath Test Instructor Certification.

2. Successfully complete the Breath Test Instructor Course and proficiency requirements outlined in paragraph 11B-35.0024(4)(d), F.A.C., through a training school.

3. Have a minimum of three years’ experience as a permitted breath test operator and agency inspector.

4. Possess a valid Breath Test Operator Permit and a valid Agency Inspector Permit at the time the application for breath test instructor certification is submitted.

5. Following successful completion of the Breath Test Instructor Course, successfully complete a Breath Test internship supervised by a certified Breath Test Instructor and document on the Instructor Competency Checklist form CJSTC-81. An instructor applicant shall instruct in one topic from any of the following courses: Breath Test Operator Course, Breath Test Operator Renewal Course, Agency Inspector Course, or Agency Inspector Renewal Course.

6. Be evaluated by his or her students. Student evaluations shall be reviewed with the instructor applicant by a training center director, agency administrator, or an instructor designated by the training center director or agency administrator, and shall be documented on form CJSTC-81, which shall be maintained in the instructor’s file at the training school or agency.

7. Alcohol Testing Program staff shall possess a General Instructor Certification pursuant to subparagraph (3)(d)1. of this rule section, and shall be exempt from the requirements of subparagraphs (3)(d)2.-6. of this rule section.

(e) Breath Test Instructor Certification-Intoxilyzer 9000. Instructor applicants who request certification to instruct the Breath Test Operator Course-Intoxilyzer 9000, Breath Test Operator Renewal Course-Intoxilyzer 9000, Agency Inspector Course-Intoxilyzer 9000, and the Agency Inspector Renewal Course-Intoxilyzer 9000, pursuant to Rule 11B-35.007, F.A.C., shall:

1. Possess a General Instructor Certification or be eligible for General Instructor Certification and apply for a General Instructor Certification at the same time the applicant requests a Breath Test Instructor Certification-Intoxilyzer 9000.

2. Successfully complete the Breath Test Instructor Course-Intoxilyzer 9000 and proficiency requirements outlined in paragraph 11B-35.0024(4)(d), F.A.C., through a training school.

3. Have a minimum of three years’ experience as a permitted Breath Test Operator-Intoxilyzer 9000 and Agency Inspector-Intoxilyzer 9000.

4. Possess a valid Breath Test Operator-Intoxilyzer 9000 Permit and a valid Agency Inspector-Intoxilyzer 9000 Permit at the time the application for breath test instructor certification is submitted.

5. Successfully complete a Breath Test internship supervised by a certified Breath Test Instructor and document on the Instructor Competency Checklist, form CJSTC-81. An instructor applicant shall instruct in one topic from any of the following courses: Breath Test Operator Course-Intoxilyzer 9000, Breath Test Operator Renewal Course-Intoxilyzer 9000, Agency Inspector Course-Intoxilyzer 9000, or Agency Inspector Renewal Course-Intoxilyzer 9000.

6. Be evaluated by his or her students. Student evaluations shall be reviewed with the instructor applicant by a training center director, agency administrator, or an instructor designated by the training center director or agency administrator, and shall be documented on form CJSTC-81, which shall be maintained in the instructor’s file at the training school or agency.

7. Alcohol Testing Program staff shall possess a General Instructor Certification pursuant to subparagraph (3)(e)1. of this rule section, and shall be exempt from the requirements of subparagraphs (3)(e)2.-6. of this rule section.

8. Breath Test Instructors who possess a valid certification prior to December 31, 2023 pursuant to subparagraph (3)(d)1.-6. of this rule section shall be exempt from the requirements of subparagraphs (3)(e)3.-6. of this rule section and shall be granted Breath Test Instructor-Intoxilyzer 9000 certification as well as Breath Test Operator and Agency Inspector Permits upon successful completion of Breath Test Instructor-Intoxilyzer 9000 course outlined in paragraph 11B-35.0024(4)(e).

Rulemaking Authority 943.03(4), 943.12(1), 943.14(3) FS. Law Implemented 943.12(3), (9), 943.13(6), 943.14(3) FS. History–New 7-29-01, Amended 11-5-02, 11-30-04, 3-27-06, 3-21-07, 6-9-08, 9-28-09, 3-13-13, 5-29-14, 7-29-15, 9-4-16, 7-19-17, 7-9-19, 5-20-21, 6-23-22, 8-30-23. 6-20-24.