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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Training and Certifications

    Constables' Education and Training

    The Commission on Crime and Delinquency, through its Bureau of Training Services, trains and certifies the Commonwealth's elected and appointed constables and deputy constables.  Training consists of basic and firearms education, which leads to certification to perform judicial duties and receive payment.  Annual Continuing Education training is required to maintain certification.

    Advisory Councils & Boards | CETB
    2026 Training Schedule

    Training

    Liability Insurance Producers & Agencies
    80-Hour Basic Training Enrollment Form
    Constables' Training Code of Conduct

    Basic Training Class Cost:  $1,485.00

    All newly elected constables or appointed deputy constables are required, under Act 49-2009 §7142(a) to attend and successfully complete Basic Training to perform judicial duties and be paid by the courts. Constables and appointed deputy constables must be registered with PCCD. For more information, please visit refer to this webpage or call PCCD at (717) 265-8551 or (717) 265- 8552.

    To successfully complete Basic Training, an individual must attend and participate in all training as scheduled during the same training year, achieve a passing score of at least 70% on each written examination administered during the Course, and successfully demonstrate practical skills during each proficiency examination. Each subject presented during the Basic Training includes a written examination. An individual who receives less than 70% on any written exam will have only one opportunity to re-test in that subject. If an individual fails the re-test, that individual has failed the Basic Training Course and will not be certified by the Board.

    Basic Training will consist of instruction in the following subjects:

    • Role of the Constable in the Justice System
    • Professional Development
    • Civil Law and Process
    • Criminal Law and Process
    • Use of Force
    • Mechanics of Arrest
    • Defensive Tactics
    • Prisoner Transport and Custody 
    • Court Security
    • Crisis Intervention 
    • Management of Aggressive Behavior  (MOAB)
    • Expandable Baton
    • Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) 

    For more details on these courses, see the 2026 Constables’ Training Schedule.

    Continuing Education Enrollment Form

    Continuing Education Cost:  $210.00

    Constables and deputy constables must successfully complete the 20-Hour Continuing Education Course in the current training year to renew their certification for the next calendar year.
    Based upon successful completion of Continuing Education by the end of October in the current training year, constables and deputy constables will be issued certification cards in in December, which will indicate certification for the following year.  More information for specific dates is listed in the current year’s training schedule.

    Please note: All active and certified constables and deputy constables will automatically be enrolled into the required online subjects in Temple’s Canvas System. These three online subjects will be available in Canvas the Tuesday after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

    Judgmental Use of Force (4-hours in person) – This subject uses judgmental scenarios to provide constables with the ability to engage in a series of vignettes to reinforce their use of force decision-making skills. The course includes a review of relevant federal case law including Tennessee v. Garner and Graham v. Connor as well as Pa. Title 18, Chapter 5., General Principals of Justification. Participation is mandatory for every constable in use of force judgmental scenarios based specifically on established constable judicial duties. This course includes a written examination.

    Emergency Care Strategies for Constables (4-hours in person) – This 4-hour course provides constables with the knowledge, skill set, and tools necessary to survive or save a fellow constable’s life due to severe blood loss. This course includes information provided by Stop the Bleed. This course emphasizes safety, calling 911, finding what is bleeding, and stopping the bleed by compression, a tourniquet, or wound packing. Information on development of an individual first aid kit is also presented. Each constable must demonstrate a working knowledge of wound packing, direct pressure and tourniquet application. This course includes a written examination.

    Threat Group Awareness (6-hours online) – This course provides a comprehensive overview of criminal street gangs, prison gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and domestic threat groups operating in and around Pennsylvania. Constables will learn about the structure, behaviors, and identifying characteristics of these organizations, with a particular focus on strategies for safe and effective engagement during their judicial duties. A focus on constable safety and best practices when encountering and interacting with the various threat groups is discussed.

    Title 18 Refresher (2-hours online) – This course provides updates and reviews for constable-specific duties within the criminal justice process, as well as their authority and responsibilities in the areas of arrest, best practices, and the most current law addressing constable authority. This course includes a written examination.

    Professional Conduct and Ethics (4-hours online) – This course is designed to equip the Pennsylvania Constable with the knowledge and understanding necessary to uphold professional and ethical standards in their daily duties. Through scenarios and case studies, constables will explore the significance of ethical decision-making and its impact on their role. The course examines instances where constables have demonstrated exemplary ethical conduct, as well as cases where ethical lapses led to serious consequences. Additionally, constables will gain insight into the professional liabilities and risks associated with ethical misconduct or overstepping authority. Finally, the course differentiates the various roles a constable may perform while emphasizing the constable’s independent contractor status and the importance of maintaining personal liability insurance.

    Basic Firearms Enrollment Form
    Background Check Form | PCCD Form 214
    Handgun Registration Form

    Basic Firearms Class Cost:  $1,485.00

    The 40-Hour Basic Firearms Training Course is designed to provide an essential grounding in acceptable law enforcement techniques for any constable who is not Act 49 certified with a weapon and who is not precluded under State or Federal law from possessing or using a firearm. The Course consists of a series of lectures, laboratory activities, and practical exercises that provide a basic understanding in the safe manipulation of a duty revolver or pistol. It starts with the presumption that the participant has little or no formal training. The Course stresses safe handling techniques, proper cleaning, correct weapons handling skills and marksmanship. As part of the training, the constable will be exposed to firing in reduced light and to interactive judgmental shooting scenarios. It is offered at the conclusion of the 80-Hour Basic Training Course. The CQC is divided into two stages. A shooter must qualify on each phase with a score of at least a 75%. The shooter who fails to pass one of the phases will be permitted to repeat the phase on which he or she did not meet the 75% threshold. This Course includes a written exam.

    Prior to registering to attend the 40-Hour Basic Firearms training, all constables and deputy constables must complete and submit the PCCD Background Check Form (PCCD Form 214), which can be found on the right.  After the form is submitted, PCCD staff will complete a Background Check to determine eligibility to enroll in the 40-Hour Basic Firearms Training Course. 

    Payment made payable to PCCD can be mailed to:

                PCCD
                BTS-Constables' Program
                PO Box 1167
                Harrisburg, PA 17108-1167

    Once payment, an enrollment form, handgun registration form and a background check form (if not completed during the 80-Hour Basic Training) are received, Program Staff will enroll you into the 40-Hour Basic Firearms Training Course.

    Annual Firearms Enrollment Form
    Student Firearms Study Guide
    Handgun Registration Form
    Handgun Qualification Course of Fire

    The 2025 8-Hour Annual Qualification Course will consist of a written test, administrative procedures, safety brief and firing the Constable Qualification Course (CQC) of fire. There will be no practice of the CQC. A Student Firearms Study Guide will be available in CCETS and on the right of this page; constables must review and study this Guide prior to attending a 8-Hour Annual Qualification Course. The written test will be on the material in the Student Firearms Study Guide at the start of the 8-Hour Annual Qualification Course.  If a constable fails the written test after two attempts, they will be dismissed from the class and will not be given an opportunity to attempt to qualify.

    Constables are required to bring 50 rounds of their own ammunition for practice drills during the 8-Hour Annual Qualification Course.

    Second Weapons

    Qualifications with a second weapon is permitted, subject to time constraints and range conditions. The constable must provide 120 rounds of newly manufactured duty ammunition for a second weapon. Constables must successfully qualify with one duty weapon (Weapon 1) before they will be permitted to qualify with an additional weapon (Weapon 2). If a constable fails to qualify during a second weapon qualification, a second attempt to qualify with that weapon is permitted, subject to time constraints and range conditions. 

    ​New Information for Constables

    ​​Constable AOPC Data

    Demographic Survey Summary

    Information for New Constables and Deputy Constables (PDF) (Updated 9/15/22)

    BT & BF Information (Updated 1/18/23)