Georgia Department of Public Safety
EOT/Out-of-State Eligible Recruits
Prior law enforcement experience may qualify you for an accelerated path into DPS. Learn how your certification transfers to the State of Georgia through the POST Equivalency of Training (EOT) process.
What This Means For You
Division-Specific Outcomes
Once your cerification is successfully transferred to the State of Georgia, the benefit you receive depends on which DPS division you are applying to.
Accelerated Trooper School
If your certification is successfully transferred to Georgia, you will be eligible for the Accelerated Trooper School — a compressed training track for experienced officers.
Requires EOT approval plus at least 2 years of law enforcement experience within the previous 5 years.
CVO School - Basic Training Waived
If you certification is successfully transferred to Georgia, you will not be required to attend the 16-week Georgia Basic Law Enforcement Training Program.
You will still be required to attend the 7-week Commercial Vehicle Officer (CVO) School.
Basic Training Waived
If your certification is successfully transferred to Georgia, you will not be required to attend the 16-week Georgia Basic Law Enforcement Training Program.
Equivalency of Training
Who Is Eligible for EOT?
Effective January 1, 2022 (Updated February 2025). The EOT process may allow an officer who does not hold a Georgia POST basic law enforcement certification to be exempt from completing the entire basic training course.
Officers who may be eligible
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Out-of-State Police Officers who have graduated from their state's Uniform Police Academy and whose certification is valid and in good standing.
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Federal Peace Officers who have graduated from the FLETC Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP), Mixed Basic Police Training Program (MBPTP), or the equivalency of training.
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U.S. Military Police Officers (Army, Air Force, and Marines) who have graduated from their branch's Basic Military Police Course and possess a minimum of general discharge under honorable conditions.
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Graduates of the Department of Defense (DOD) Uniformed Police Training Program.
All others will be required to attend the entire basic law enforcement training course.
Certification Requirements
Your certification as a police officer from another state or with the federal government must be valid and in good standing (not revoked or suspended). If you are not eligible to work under your certification, you will not qualify for Georgia certification.
If your certification is currently under investigation, your application will not be processed.
A Certification Status Verification Form and Previous Agency Employment Characteristic Form must be completed and provided prior to application approval.
Upon approval, candidates must complete:
- Georgia Criminal Law, Traffic Law, and Governor Initiative training — 16 hours (provided by GA POST via Zoom)
- Georgia's Standard Qualification Course for Firearms — from a certified Georgia firearms instructor
Upon successful completion, the candidate will be issued a GA POST basic law enforcement certification.
O.C.G.A. § 35-8-10(a): No person required to comply with the certification provisions of this chapter shall be employed or appointed by any law enforcement unit without certification from the council that the applicant has met the pre-employment requirements established in this chapter, and no candidate shall perform any of the duties of a peace officer involving the power of arrest until such training shall have been successfully completed.
How to Apply
EOT Application Steps
The EOT application is processed through the Georgia POST Data Gateway. Follow these steps to begin.
Create a POST Data Gateway Account
Create a username in the POST Data Gateway. Visit gapost.org/info-resources-2/how-do-i/ for instructions on registering as a new user.
Navigate to Applications
Once logged into the POST Data Gateway, click on the Applications function in the navigation.
Start a New Candidate Application
Click the "New App" button next to "Start New Candidate Application for Basic Certification" on the screen.
Complete Application Menu Items
Complete all application menu items until you reach the Agency/Academy Information section.
Email the POST Help Desk
Once you have completed the menu items, send an email to helpdesk@gapost.org with the following message:
"I have completed the items for my EOT application. Please contact me to complete my application process."
Complete Required Training
Upon application approval, complete the two required training components: GA Criminal/Traffic Law (16 hrs via Zoom) and the Georgia Standard Qualification Course for Firearms from a certified Georgia instructor.
Currently Certified in Georgia?
Georgia 24-Month Rule - O.C.G.A. § 35-8-22
DPS cannot reimburse other Georgia law enforcement agencies for training expenses. As a result, any currently certified Georgia peace officer will not be hired by DPS until at least 24 months after the completion of their basic mandate training, measured from the training completion date to the announced start date of the academy class being applied to.
This rule does not apply to:
- Candidates who paid for their own mandate training (pre-service / self-funded candidates)
- Candidates currently certified in another state
If you do not meet the 24-month requirement, you are encouraged to reapply once 24 months has passed from your mandate training completion to the announced start date of a future academy class.
Ready to take the next step?
Review the full application process, find a recruiter near you, or go straight to the application portal