Law Enforcement > Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy > Refresher Courses for Returning Officers
Refresher Courses for Returning Officers
In 2025, the Ohio General Assembly updated the training requirements for peace officers returning to active service. Under the new requirements, former peace officers are no longer required to repeat a Peace Officer Basic Training (POBT) academy solely because of the length of their break in service. Instead, refresher training will be required based on the length of the break in service. OPOTA refresher courses will be offered at the main OPOTA campus in London, Ohio, and through Regional Training Providers participating in OPOTA’s Close to Home program.
Here’s what you need to know about the key changes:
- The refresher course under ORC 109.77 is intended for individuals who hold an OPOTC Peace Officer Basic Training certificate and who previously held an Ohio peace officer commission. Eligible individuals must have successfully completed an Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training academy, passed the POBT state certification examination, and received an OPOTC Peace Officer Basic Training certificate.
- Former and Current Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers. Completion of a refresher course alone does not make a former Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper eligible for appointment as a local or county peace officer. Former and current OSHP troopers seeking a local peace officer appointment must obtain an OPOTC Peace Officer Equivalency Certificate through the OSHP Trooper Certificate Equivalent Request process before attending a required refresher course and pursuing a subsequent local peace officer appointment.
- Academy attendance for breaks in service is no longer required. Individuals who completed Peace Officer Basic Training, passed the state certification examination, and received an OPOTC Peace Officer Basic Training certificate are no longer required to repeat a basic academy solely because of the length of their break in service from an agency. A break in service alone does not invalidate the individual’s basic training certificate. However, applicable refresher training requirements must be successfully completed before commissioned peace officer duties may be performed again.
- Mandatory refresher training is required before returning to duty. Individuals whose break in service is one year or longer must complete applicable refresher training before resuming commissioned peace officer functions. The previous one-year grace period to complete training after reappointment is effectively repealed. More specifically, the length of an officer’s break in service determines the required refresher training:
- Less than one (1) year: No refresher course is required. An agency may appoint the individual at its discretion, provided applicable Continuing Professional Training (CPT) requirements and any other required training are current.
- One (1) year but less than four (4) years: Forty (40) hour refresher training required.
- Four (4) years or more: Eighty (80) hour refresher training required.
- Required firearms and physical/scenario-based objectives are incorporated in the refresher course:
- Students must successfully complete the initial 4 hours of training, which includes passing the standard OPOTA firearms qualification and related instruction, as well as a physically demanding scenario course within two attempts. Once these requirements are met, students may continue with the remaining course hours.
- Firearms Qualification: Candidates must successfully complete the Ohio firearms qualification course.
- Required Equipment: The student must provide a functional duty firearm, no less than 75 rounds of ammunition, gun belt, holster, and magazine pouches.
- Scenario-Based Exercise: Candidates must successfully complete the required scenario, demonstrating the application of skills and concepts presented during training.
Successful completion of both requirements is mandatory to continue in the course. Candidates who do not successfully complete either requirement will not proceed with the remaining course instruction.
(For officers whose break in service spans one year to less than four years)
Purpose: Designed to update officers on essential legal, tactical, and interpersonal skills required for a safe and effective return to duty.
Overview: Provides a condensed review of critical peace officer competencies, ensuring compliance with current OPOTA standards. Updated instruction is presented in the areas of legal procedures, defensive tactics, crisis intervention, and communication. Key topics may include:
- Arrest, Search, and Seizure
- Report Writing
- Domestic Violence and Victim Response
- Crisis Intervention and De-escalation
- Interpersonal Communication (ICAT) and Critical Decision Making (SIT-D)
- Defensive Tactics/Subject Control Techniques
- Subject Control and Compliance
Course Requirements: All required practical skills and knowledge checks are incorporated into the course. Participants will complete these requirements as part of the course; no separate pre-assessment or post-course testing at another facility is required.
Outcome: Officers who successfully complete the refresher course are eligible to resume full peace-officer duties, pending agency compliance with all other statutory training mandates.
(For officers whose break in service spans four years or more)
Purpose: Serves as an advanced, academy-level retraining program designed to re-establish core law enforcement competencies and integrate updates in law, tactics, and procedural standards.
Overview: Combines classroom instruction and practical exercises across all major areas of peace officer performance. The curriculum reflects current OPOTA standards and incorporates advanced topics to ensure that returning officers are fully prepared to re-enter active service.
Curriculum topics from BAS include:
- Arrest, Search, and Seizure
- Report Writing
- Domestic Violence
- Crisis Intervention, SIT-D (Situational Decision Making), ICAT (Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics)
- Subject Control and Compliance
- Basic Investigations Refresher
- Active Shooter/Threat Response
- Building Searches
- Vehicle Stops, Approaches, and Extraction
- SFST (Review)
Course Requirements: All required practical skills and knowledge checks are incorporated into the course. Participants will complete these requirements as part of the course; no separate pre-assessment or post-course testing at another facility is required.
Outcome: Successful course completion restores officer eligibility for active duty. Agencies remain responsible for confirming completion of required firearms requalification and other statutory training obligations.
Before Registering for Refresher Training
Effective immediately, all candidates must complete the requirements below before registering to attend Refresher Training.
National WebCheck (Direct Copy to OPOTA)
Individuals must complete a National WebCheck at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the refresher course. WebChecks completed less than 30 days before the course may not be received and reviewed in time to make an eligibility determination. If a WebCheck is completed incorrectly, or if eligibility cannot be confirmed, individuals will be unable to register for or participate in the requested refresher course and may need to register for a subsequent course after the WebCheck has been reviewed and eligibility has been confirmed.
Former Trooper WebCheck Exception: Former Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers who completed the required WebCheck as part of the equivalency process within the approved six-month window are not required to complete a duplicate WebCheck for refresher registration.
(NEW) Medical Clearance Requirement
To promote participant safety, all candidates must submit a completed OPOTA Physician Release Form as part of their registration before participating in refresher training.
The form must be completed by a licensed physician (MD/DO), physician assistant (PA), or certified nurse practitioner (CNP) and certify that, based on a medical examination and professional judgment, the candidate is medically capable of safely participating in:
- Physically demanding scenario-based training
- Vigorous to high-intensity physical activity
- All required refresher training activities
The medical provider must specifically certify that the candidate can safely perform activities such as:
- Running
- Stair climbing
- Rapid changes in direction
- Lifting and dragging approximately 160 pounds
- Upper-body weight-bearing activities
- Other tasks associated with the physically demanding scenario-based training
Physician Release Requirements
The medical clearance must:
- Be completed and signed by a licensed physician, PA, or CNP.
- Be dated no more than 12 months before the scheduled refresher training.
- Include the provider's license number, office address, and contact information.
- State that the candidate is medically cleared to participate in all required course activities.
- Be submitted before the beginning of training.
Candidates who do not provide an acceptable Physician Release Form will not be permitted to participate in Refresher Training.
Why This Requirement Has Been Added
Completing medical clearance before registering helps:
- Improve participant safety by identifying medical conditions that may increase the risk of injury.
- Ensure candidates meet the minimum physical requirements to safely complete training.
- Allow candidates to determine their readiness before registering and paying tuition.
- Establish consistent statewide standards for all Refresher Training Programs.
Registration Process
Before registering for a Refresher Training Program course, candidates must submit the following information to
OPOTARegistration@OhioAGO.gov.
Please submit all information in a single email:
- Physician Release Form
- National WebCheck Form
- Disclosures and Statement of Understanding
- Registration form, if not registering through the OPOTA Portal
Candidates who do not have an OPOTA Portal account may download, complete, and submit the
Registration Form and
Required Disclosures by email.
Refresher Course Validity
Successful completion of a refresher course remains valid for one year from the date of completion. If an individual is not appointed by an agency within one year of completing the refresher course, the individual must complete the applicable refresher course again before appointment and performing the functions of a peace officer. O.A.C. 109:2-1-12(I).
Important Reminder
Completion of the Refresher Training Program does not replace any statutory, continuing professional training, or agency training requirements.
Officers must continue to meet all required:
- Continuing Professional Training (CPT)
- Agency Firearms Qualifications
- Less-Lethal Conducted Electrical Device (CED) qualifications
- Chemical agent qualifications
- Any other training required or mandated by law
Agencies remain responsible for ensuring compliance with these separate requirements.
For additional information, refer to Ohio Revised Code 109.77(M).