The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) has statutory responsibilities assigned under two Michigan laws. Public Act 203 of 1965, requires that the Commission prepare and publish mandatory minimum recruitment, selection and training standards for entry-level law enforcement officers in the state of Michigan. Act 203 also requires the Commission to define categories and clas
Approved Commission Resolutions
List of Physical Fitness test dates
MCOLES Recognition of Prior Training & Experience Program (RPTEP)
Eligibility for Licensing as a Law Enforcement Officer and Applicant Documentation
Licensing Standards & Policy and Procedures Manual
MCOLES In-Service Training Standards & Resources
MCOLES Active Duty Firearms Standard
Audio Visual Recording of Custodial Interrogations - Public Act 479 of 2012
Law Enforcement Officer Manual & Model Policy for Domestic Violence and Response to Sexual Assault
Employment & Training History Requests
Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA)
Public Act 330
Michigan's Speed Measurement Standards
Commissioning and Licensing Railroad Police Officers
Public Act 195 of 1966
Information on how to Register In-Service Training Courses in MITN
Job Postings
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An agency should determining an individual’s eligibility for licensing or employment as a law enforcement officer in MITN by performing an Individual Lookup and viewing the individual eligibility status. A candidate for law enforcement officer licensing is provided with the below documentation. This applies to both academy graduates seeking initial license activation or licensing through completion of the Recognition of Prior Training and Experience (RPTE) program.
Student Record
Each candidate completing a basic academy or the RPTE program should receive a copy of their Student Record signed by the academy training director. The Student Record looks slightly different depending on whether the student attended a regional training academy or a pre-service track program. Both versions have an enrollment status designation and a session end date. In order to be eligible for licensing, the student record must be signed, the enrollment status must be “Completed” and all selection and employment standards, including Oath of Office, must be completed within one year of the indicated session end date. See the highlighted fields on the below samples:
Sample Regional Training Academy Student Record
Sample Pre-Service Track Program Student Record
Licensing Exam Score Report
The score report is printed by the academy graduate after taking the MCOLES licensing exam. The report is web-generated by PSI Services, which is contracted by MCOLES to administer the exam. The score report must indicate “Pass” and also have a date within one year of the indicated session end date. Licensing eligibility is not based on the licensing exam date.
A candidate who fails their initial attempt at the licensing exam is allowed one retest, also within one year of the session end date. The candidate is not eligible for licensing until attaining a passing score.
Sample Passed Licensing Exam Score Report
Sample Failed Licensing Exam Score Report
Other Documentation
Pre-service academy graduates must provide MCOLES with an official transcript indicating the award of at least an associate’s degree. Until this is received by MCOLES, the individual will not appear as eligible in MITN.
A passing Reading & Writing exam score was a prerequisite for entry to a basic law enforcement academy. Therefore a copy of the exam results is not required for licensing. Candidates can still generate a score report from the PSI website if an agency screens to a minimum scoring band (out of A, B, or C). A Reading & Writing exam is not required for those eligible for licensing based on successful completion of the RPTE program.
Current MCOLES Licensed Officers
Officers with a current MCOLES license are those whose license status is “Active,” meaning that they are working as a licensed officer for at least one agency, or “Inactive,” meaning they are not currently employed as a law enforcement officer but are within their eligibility timeframe to be hired without completing the RPTE program (at which point their license is considered lapsed).
Checking a candidate’s eligibility status in MITN
Prior to accessing a candidate’s record in MITN, the candidate should complete the Waiver and Authorization for Release of Information form. This includes the four criteria necessary for a search: the candidate’s first and last name, date of birth, and either Social Security Number or, in the case of a previously licensed officer, their MCOLES license number.
The Individual Eligibility Status can be found by completing an Individual Lookup under Hiring & Licensing in MITN. The first screen returned indicates their current eligibility status for licensing and the expiration date of their eligibility. The following examples are of the most frequently returned statuses.
| Candidate Type | Individual Eligibility Status Message |
| Candidates who have completed basic training and are eligible for initial licensing: |
This individual has completed the mandatory basic law enforcement training program and is eligible for employment and licensing as a law enforcement officer. To activate this individual's license all standards compliance screening, hiring, and empowerment must be completed by your agency and accepted by the MCOLES before <<Date>>. Standards compliance must be verified and approved by the MCOLES before this individual can be empowered. If empowerment is not completed by the expiration date indicated, this individual will have to successfully complete the Recognition of Prior Training and Experience program to gain an additional year of eligibility. To proceed with hiring this individual follow the links to the conditional offer of employment and then submit to the MCOLES for final verification. |
| Candidates with a current MCOLES license (Active or Inactive within their timeframe): |
This individual is currently an MCOLES licensed law enforcement officer who is actively employed with another law enforcement agency. This individual is eligible to be immediately hired and empowered by your agency. If you wish to hire and empower this individual you must conduct a background investigation and complete the officer new hire and empowerment process. |
| Candidates with a current MCOLES license (Active or Inactive within their timeframe): |
This individual is not currently employed by a law enforcement agency as a fully empowered law enforcement officer. This individual's law enforcement officer license is currently inactive. This individual is eligible to be immediately hired and empowered by your agency. If you wish to hire and empower this individual you must conduct a background investigation and complete the officer new hire and empowerment process. |
| Candidates who have completed the RPTE program (there are multiple messages depending on whether the candidate has not been previously licensed or not, or if the candidate is seeking reciprocity from another state): |
This individual is a pre-employment basic academy graduate eligible for license activation based on successful completion of the Recognition of Prior Training and Experience program. To activate this individual's license all standards compliance screening, hiring, and empowerment Standards compliance must be verified and approved by the MCOLES before this individual can be To proceed with hiring this individual follow the links to the conditional offer of employment and then submit to the MCOLES for final verification. |
| Candidates who have completed the RPTE program (there are multiple messages depending on whether the candidate has not been previously licensed or not, or if the candidate is seeking reciprocity from another state): |
This individual is eligible for license reactivation based on having been previously licensed as a law To re-activate this individual's license all standards compliance screening, hiring, and empowerment Standards compliance must be verified and approved by the MCOLES before this individual can be To proceed with hiring this individual follow the links to the conditional offer of employment and then |
| Candidates who have completed the RPTE program (there are multiple messages depending on whether the candidate has not been previously licensed or not, or if the candidate is seeking reciprocity from another state): |
This individual is a current or previous out-of-state licensed law enforcement officer eligible for license To activate this individual's license all standards compliance screening, hiring, and empowerment Standards compliance must be verified and approved by the MCOLES before this individual can be To proceed with hiring this individual follow the links to the conditional offer of employment and then |
For pre-service candidates, there is also a link from the status page to view their Reading & Writing test scores.
There is also a link to the candidate’s Individual Employment History, which contains all information about their license status, basic training attended, previous law enforcement agency relationships, and in-service training received. For candidates who attended basic training in 2004 or later, their Student Record is also available from this page.
If you have any questions about determining a candidate’s eligibility for licensing, please contact our Licensing & Administrative Services Section at msp-mcoles-licensing@michigan.gov or by phone at 517-636-7867.
