Certification through Examination
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Certification through Examination
The reciprocity program in Iowa is called Certification through Examination, most often referred to as CTE. An officer certified in another state can become certified in the state of Iowa if the law enforcement officer meets the requirements as outlined in Iowa Administrative Code [501] 3.8.
In order to obtain Iowa certification the out of state certified officer must:
♦ Be employed by a recognized Iowa law enforcement agency
♦ Submit an application for the CTE program within the first 120 days of that employment.
The CTE application is available below.
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Useful Links
Iowa 501-3.8 – Certification through examination
Chapter 80B– Law Enforcement Academy
IADLEST– Int. Association of Law Enforcement Standards and Training
BJA– Bureau of Justice Assistance
CTE Program Specifications
The CTE program is designed to be completed within 1-year of the date of hire. Requirements of the program include submission of four (4) out of state certification documents;
- A copy of an out of state Peace Officer’s Certificate.
- From the attended training academy, a copy of the curriculum including the number of hours in each class.
- From the attended training academy, a copy of the Certificate of Completion.
- From the attended training academy, a copy of a transcript or grades achieved.
Two (2) in-person training courses are offered to those enrolled in the CTE program. They are ILEECP and SFST.
- ILEECP (Iowa Law Enforcement Emergency Care Provider) training is required. An opt-out option is available IF a person holds a current certification record of an EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) or higher.
- SFST (Standard Field Sobriety Training) is required to administer chemical testing and invoke implied consent.
The third component of the CTE process is the CTE examination. This is a comprehensive written exam based on common law enforcement practices and law enforcement rules in Iowa. A long exam consisting of 33 short tests is administered to those with less than five (5) years as a certified officer in another state. A short exam consisting of 17 short tests is administered to those with five (5) or more years as a certified officer in another state. The CTE examination is administered in-person at the ILEA and taken electronically. CTE study materials are available from an online platform and will be made available to those enrolled in the CTE program.
A CTE applicant has two (2) opportunities to pass the CTE exam. If an applicant fails to pass, he/she will be required to attend and pass the course(s) failed in-person at the ILEA in order to obtain Iowa certification.
Firearms qualification will be done at the ILEA on the same day as the CTE exam. Iowa certification will not be granted if an out of state certification has been revoked, suspended or is under current disciplinary review.
CTE Program Costs
Materials, administration, and scoring for certification exam (short form) ………………………………….$1,500.00
Materials, administration, and scoring for certification exam (long form)…………………………………… $2,000.00
Firearms Qualification…………………………………………………………………………… $75.00
For other costs, please consult the ILEA Fee Schedule