Pursuant to T.C.A. § 38-8-107, all deputy sheriffs employed after July 1, 1983, must successfully complete recruit training within one year of the date of their employment. However, pursuant to POST rules, any officer seeking certification under the POST rules must satisfactorily complete the basic course within six months of initial employment as a law enforcement officer. During this initial six-month period prior to attending the basic course, the recruit must be paired with a field training officer or other certified senior officer. Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-2-.03 (3).

The POST Commission will issue a certificate of compliance to any person who meets the qualifications for employment and satisfactorily completes an approved recruit training program. The commission may issue a certificate to any person who has received training in another state provided that the commission makes a determination that the training was at least equivalent to that required by the commission for approved police education and training programs in this state. In addition, the person seeking certification must satisfactorily comply with all of the other requirements of Title 38, Chapter 8.  T.C.A. § 38-8-107. See also Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-2-.03 (1).