January 26, 2026
January 26, 2026
Dear Law Enforcement Community,
Calendar year 2026 marks the final year of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) pilot program and will serve as the bridge to the permanent CPE program. During this final pilot year, the Commission would like to clarify CPE expectations for agencies and licensed law enforcement officers. There are several important updates outlined below. Please read each section and contact the CPE Help Desk if you have questions.
I. CPE EXPECTATIONS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026
On December 30, 2025, the Commission sent correspondence outlining CPE pilot requirements by calendar year and specifying compliance expectations by the end of 2026.
The most important take away is that while our primary goal is to support agencies in meeting these requirements, if an agency is not in compliance with the above requirements by December 31, 2026, the Commission will be required to take appropriate action. This may include but is not limited to invoicing your agency for the return of CPE pilot phase funds or withholding additional CPE funds until compliance is met. The Commission is in the development process of administrative rules in support of CPE.
II. CPE CURRCIULUM REQUIREMENTS
For calendar year 2026, CPE requirements will include 8 hours of Commission-designated training topics and 16 hours of agency-selected training topics. The 2025-2027 Quick Reference Guide, available on the CPE webpage, identifies qualifying training opportunities aligned with the 2026 theme of Tactical Operations.
III. MCOLES Virtual Training Center (M-VTC)
The Commission is pleased to announce the MCOLES Virtual Training Center, a new online learning system, designed to provide CPE supported training, education, and development of Michigan Law Enforcement Professionals. Throughout the year, Commission staff will update agency personnel of training and education opportunities in a centralized and accessible space for learning.
IV. PUBLIC ACT 552 COMPLIANCE
Public Act 552 of 2018 (PA 552), modified the MCOLES Act and requires licensed law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement officers, fire arson investigators, and private college security officers who qualify to be licensed officers to complete active violence response training. The Commission requires individuals who are not in compliance with PA 552 to complete the Commission approved PA 552 training in 2026 as part of the Commission designated Tactical Operations CPE hours.
Please note, academy graduates who completed an MCOLES Basic Police Training Academy session that began after May 3, 2019, or the Recognition to Prior Basic Training after April 2024, and became a Michigan licensed law enforcement officer, meet the PA 552 requirements. We ask that you please have your respective agency MITN operator verify PA 552 individual training status before contacting the Commission.
V. CPE FUNDING DISTRIBUTION
In December 2025, each full-time equivalent (FTE) position received $1,000 to support compliance with the 2026 CPE standard. Payments were identified as “2026 CPE Distribution for Licensed LE Officers.” A comprehensive list of CPE distributions by agency is available for reference. If there are specific CPE funding questions, please contact MSP-MCOLES-Grants@michigan.gov.
Thank you for your commitment to excellence in law enforcement.
Respectfully,
Timothy S. Bourgeois
Executive Director
Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
