• An individual may apply for the State Certification Examination prior to, or after completing, a basic recruit training program; however, you must first complete the required training prior to taking the exam.
• Administrations are filled on a first come, first served basis.
• The $100 exam fee must accompany each registration.
• Individuals may reschedule an exam, or request a refund, prior to the deadline date for any reason.

• A valid Visa, MasterCard, Discover or debit card can be used to pay the $100 certification examination fee.
• From this site, applicants can print a notification letter confirming the date, time and location of the examination, including a map to the examination site. 
• Notification letters will not be mailed to applicants who register online.

Mail completed SOCE Applications to:  

• The application and required exam fee must be received at FDLE prior to close of business on the deadline date listed on the schedule for the requested examination.

• If an employing agency pays the examination fee, payment must be in the form of an agency check or money order. (No purchase orders will be accepted.)

• Under the provisions of section 943.16(3), F.S., an employing agency may only pay for one examination per applicant.

• If the first choice for an examination administration date is full, the applicant will be contacted to choose an alternate.

• Applications that are incomplete, have not been signed, or do not include the $100 fee will be returned to the applicant without being processed or scheduled for an examination. Returned applications which are re-submitted must still comply with the deadline date for the requested administration date.

• Once a completed application has been processed, a notification letter will be mailed to the applicant confirming the date, time and location of the examination, including a map to the examination site.

Examination Retakes

Individuals who do not pass their initial examination have two additional opportunities to pass the examination.

Individuals who do not pass the examination after three attempts will be required to re-enter and successfully complete the basic recruit training program and satisfy all requirements of the program before they are eligible to register and take the exam again.

Registration for retakes may be completed online or by completing the paper application process.

Examination Fee Refunds / Rescheduling 

Examinations may be rescheduled prior to the deadline date by visiting the online registration website at: http://web.fdle.state.fl.us/examregister OR by submitting a written request to the examination section.

Requests for examination fee refunds must be made in writing and received on or before the application deadline date for the scheduled examination.

Please note: Failure to complete the required academy training, for any reason, is not a condition for a refund or rescheduling unless the request is made prior to the deadline date for the scheduled examination.

Missed Examinations 

Requests for refunds and rescheduling for missed examinations must be made in writing to the Exam Section within 60 days of the missed examination and must include the required documentation. 

An applicant will forfeit the examination fee if he/she arrives at the examination site after the registration is closed or fail to appear for the scheduled examination. 

In accordance with Rule 11B-30.007, Florida Administrative Code, an examination fee for a missed examination cannot be transferred or rescheduled unless one of the following applies:  

Military service 

Required Documentation - A copy of the military orders or a letter on official letterhead from a commanding officer  

Illness, physical impairment; or serious injury

Required Documentation - A statement from the treating physician providing dates of treatment, testament that the injury, illness or impairment made it impossible for the applicant to take the examination. 

Death of an immediate family member

Required Documentation - Immediate family member includes a spouse, parents, grandparents, brother, sister, children and grandchildren of the applicant or applicant’s spouse. A copy of the family member’s death certificate or a statement on official letterhead from the funeral home responsible for arrangements.

Court appearance or jury duty  

Required Documentation - A copy of the subpoena.

Vehicular crash while in route to the examination

Required Documentation - A copy of the accident report issued by a law enforcement agency.
 
Injury during training

An applicant is allowed to reschedule an SOCE if the applicant is injured while in an academy and the injury prevents the applicant from completing the basic recruit training program prior to the scheduled SOCE examination date. The applicant’s injury must occur as a result of participating in activities required in a basic recruit training program. Documentation of the applicant’s injury and how the injury occurred shall be submitted to Commission staff on training school letterhead and signed by the training center director.

An additional completed application and fee will be required for an examination if the request for rescheduled does not meet these requirements.

Requests for Special Accommodations 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the Department shall provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations to individuals with physical, mental, or specific learning disabilities to the extent that such accommodations do not create an undue cost, administration restraints, security considerations, and availability of resources.

Accommodations made will vary depending upon the nature and the severity of the disability.  Each case shall be dealt with on an individual basis. If you have a physical or learning disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities, you may request special assistance with the examination process.  Examples of possible accommodations include, but are not limited to, extra time and/or a private testing area.

Foreign translations and the use of a translation dictionary at an examination are not recognized as accommodation issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A reader shall not be allowed for any examinations. The examination utilizes diagrams, tables, or statutory reference materials to measure an applicant’s ability to apply these professional tools to solve problems and answer questions. 

Reference information and guidelines regarding the process for documenting disabilities are contained in the document  “Request for Accommodations for Applicants with Disabilities", or by contacting a CJST Commission-certified training school.

In accordance with Rule 11B-30.0071, an applicant requesting special accommodations must submit the following: 

• "Application for Individuals Requesting Special Test Accommodations", CJSTC Form 502  - A completed copy of this form shall be submitted no later than 45 calendar days prior to the requested State Officer Certification Examination date.  If you need an application mailed or faxed to you, please contact the State Officer Certification Examination section (850) 410-8602.
• A detailed, comprehensive, written report describing the disability, its severity, and justification for the requested accommodations. This report should be current and contain the specific diagnostic criteria and diagnostic tests used, including scores, date(s) of evaluation, testing results and a detailed interpretation of the results. Documentation certifying the disability must come from a qualified professional appropriate for evaluating the disability, licensed pursuant to Florida Statutes, Chapters 460 (Chiropractic), 490 (Psychological Services), 458 (Medical Practice), 459 (Osteopathy), 461 (Podiatric Medicine), 463 (Optometry), or 468, Part I (Speech Language Pathology & Audiology), or 490 (Psychological Services or certified as a School Psychologist by the Florida Department of Education), Florida Statutes or is licensed in the state in which the certification of disability was performed. 
• The "Application for Officer Certification Examination", CJSTC Form 500 - A completed copy of this form must be submitted according to the established deadline date for the requested examination. 
• $100 fee paid by cashier’s check or money order (no personal checks or cash). 

Mail the required documents and payment to:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice Professionalism Program
Certification Examination Section,
Attention: ADA Coordinator
Post Office Box 1489
Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1489 

Once the application and fee have been processed, a letter will be mailed to the applicant confirming or denying the requested accommodations as well as the date and location of the examination.

NOTICE - Should you elect to participate in any training described herein, please understand that you will be asked to provide your Social Security Number. The decision to provide your SSN is at your option, but failure to provide your SSN may result in a delay in processing your application or request. If you provide your SSN, FDLE will use it for purposes of identification, and may share the information with other agencies for the same purpose. FDLE’s request for your SSN is authorized by state law because use of it is imperative for FDLE to fulfill its lawful duties and responsibilities.