(1) To be eligible for the award of a certificate, each officer must be a full-time or part-time public safety officer as defined by 44-4-401, MCA, at the time the application for certification is received by the council.

(2) Public safety officers must complete the required basic training as set by the council.

(3) All public safety officers must abide by the code of ethics as prescribed in ARM 23.13.203. Acceptance of POST certification is an agreement to abide by and adopt the code of ethics and refrain from the behaviors outlined in ARM 23.13.702.

(4) Prior to issuance of any certificate, the public safety officer must have completed the designated combinations of education, training, and experience as computed by the credit hour system established by the council.

(5) To maintain certification the officer must:

(a) abide by all laws and rules of Montana, including those set forth herein;

(b) maintain ethical conduct by upholding and abiding by the code of ethics set forth in ARM 23.13.203 and refrain from engaging in any behavior that constitutes a ground for sanction, suspension, or revocation under ARM 23.13.702;

(c) maintain the continuing education and training requirements set forth by the council and ARM 23.13.201(2)(k).

(6) Training hour guidelines are as follows:

(a) no training hours for the basic courses or legal equivalency courses may be applied to any other certificate; and

(b) acceptability of training hours claimed for training received from noncriminal justice sponsored agencies will be determined by the council, and requires notice of application for credit.

(7) In calculating the training hours for an intermediate, advanced, or supervisory certificate, no more than 25% of the required training hours will be allowed from any college or military training credits and no more than 15% will be allowed from in-service training.

(a) The POST Council is not responsible for maintaining records of in-service training hours acquired to satisfy the requirements of this rule. The employing agency must maintain records of in-service training hours acquired to satisfy this rule and provide those records with the application for intermediate or advanced certificates.

(8) In calculating the training hours for an intermediate, advanced, or supervisory certificate, military training will be accepted hour for hour. The application must be accompanied by a written explanation that describes the training and states specifically how the training relates to and assists the public safety officer with the public safety officer's current position, duties and responsibilities, and other supporting documents requested by the director. A description of the training alone is not sufficient.

(9) In calculating the training hours for an intermediate, advanced, or supervisory certificate, college education will be credited for individual class work only. Credit will be given using the formula of ten hours for one semester credit hour and six hours for one quarter credit hour. The application must be accompanied by a written explanation that describes the course and states specifically how the higher education course relates to and assists the public safety officer with the public safety officer's current position, duties and responsibilities, and other supporting documents requested by the director.

(10) Applicable discipline-specific experience in any public safety agency will be considered by the council when determining the minimum standards for certification of each discipline.