Upon completion of the training program the department hosting the training will provide the original Reserve Candidate Registration/Authorization to Release Information Form, Departmental Training Verification, Reserve Firearms, EVO and Local Ordinances/Policies Qualification and Training Verification Form and Defensive Tactics/Tactical Handcuffing Proficiency Score Sheet for each candidate. Completed forms (originals) should be mailed to the SC Criminal Justice Academy, Instructional Standards and Support Section, 5400 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212, Attention: Kathy Danielsen. Faxes will not be accepted.

Upon receipt of the original documentation for each candidate, the CJA Instructional Standards and Support Unit will review the paperwork. Provided all paperwork is in order, the CJA Instructional Standards and Support Unit will contact the department hosting the training to setup a test date at the Academy. Test dates will not be scheduled until all original documentation is received for each candidate.

Reserve testing is scheduled on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, 5400 Broad River Road, Columbia, South Carolina. The test is administered from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Candidates must arrive by 1:30 pm to check-in and present their South Carolina Driver’s Licenses for identification. Instructions begin at 1:45 pm and the test starts promptly at 2:00 pm. No one will be admitted after the instructions have begun.  Candidates should not bring manuals, beepers, or cell phones to the test site.

Candidates MUST be scheduled in advance or they will not be allowed to take the test. Department’s must notify the CJA Instructional Standards and Support Unit when candidates are unable to attend on the assigned testing date.

The Academic Testing Unit will prepare a test consisting of 100 test items for reserve officer testing; all test items will be individually cross-referenced to performance objectives. The current passing grade for certification as a reserve officer is 70%.

The test will be scored within 48 hours after the test is given. Test score notification will be mailed to Chiefs, Sheriffs, or Agency Heads within one week. Test scores will NOT be released to candidates or via telephone or via fax.

For a successful candidate, a Reserve Officer Appointment form must be completed and forwarded to Ms. Theresa Clark in the CJA Certification Unit within 60 days of the test. This must be done prior to a reserve officer commencing his/her duties. Upon receipt of the original appointment form (no faxes), Ms. Clark will contact the department with authorization to begin the reserve officer ride-along requirement within 15 working days.

In the event a candidate fails the test, one retest will be offered no sooner than 60 days after the date of the failure. The employing department's Reserve Liaison must contact the CJA Instructional Standards and Support Unit at 803-896-7843 to reschedule the test.

If a candidate fails the test a second time, the candidate must repeat the required training program and be retested no sooner than one year after the date of the retest failure.

Test Pickup for Advanced Classes

All field testing by an agency must be approved and scheduled through a member of the Regional Training Unit:

Cliff Miller
Upstate Region
(803)608-3172
cliffmiller@scdps.net

Maggie Corne
Midlands Region
803)896-7836
maggiecorne@scdps.net

Sherri Cloud
Low Country Region
803)360-0633
sherricloud@scdps.net

 The field agency must provide a three week notice when making the request.

Upon verification of involved course instructor(s), the Regional Training Unit will submit a request via email for test materials. The agency will need to provide the following information: CJA accredited primary instructors, CJA accredited secondary instructor, contact phone number for the involved instructors, date of course, number of participants and a mailing location for the course site. The Academic Testing Unit will make the determination as to delivery/pickup of the test materials.