FAQ

The VSI Certification program was created to recognize the continued individual professional development that Virginia’s sheriffs and deputies undertake each day to make their communities safer. VSI certification demonstrates to fellow law enforcement personnel and the community that a sheriff or deputy has continued to work on learning new skills, attending additional training, or furthering their education above and beyond the core requirements of their position.

Sheriffs and deputies who achieve certification will be awarded a certificate by the Performance Management Group at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. They will also be recognized at the annual VSI conference, and may use the designation “VSIC” professionally.

Applicants must have a designated minimum total of points in four categories for initial certification: Public Safety Experience, Education, Training and Professional Development. For recertification, applicants must have a designated minimum total of points in Public Safety Experience, Training and Professional Development. Specific information about how points are tallied is available in the program guidebook.

Applicants can apply for certification and recertification by mail, email or online. To apply online, applicants will first create a profile with their information, current sheriff’s office, years of experience and education (if applying for initial certification). After the profile is created, applicants will be able to add training and professional development information along with supporting documentation in their profile, and see an ongoing tally of their cumulative points. Applicants will also be able to request sheriff approval of their application submission via the online portal.

Applicants should submit copies of all records as paper versions will be digitized for review and then destroyed. If you are submitting your application electronically, all documents must be scanned and attached as a PDF with the application. Paper documents will not be returned.

The Certification Committee is comprised of a diverse group of Virginia sheriffs appointed by the VSI Board of Directors. The committee reviews all applications with the assistance of VCPI, to ensure applicants to the certification program represent the best public safety practices as outlined in the program guidebook.

The committee will make its final decision on all candidates by March 15, and will notify applicants subsequently. Applicants who have had their applications rejected or held for additional documentation will be notified and given a deadline date to respond to the committee.

Applicants who have had their applications rejected or held for additional documentation may submit a written appeal via mail or email to the VSI Certification Committee.

Virginia Sheriffs’ Association
901 East Byrd Street, Suite 1301
Richmond, VA 23219

[email protected]

With the cancellation of in-person professional development events, conferences, and training events due to COVID-19 during 2020 and into 2021, the VSI Certification Committee has voted to offer an additional year of valid certification to the individuals certified in 2019.

Individuals certified in the spring of 2019 will now apply for recertification in the fall of 2023.

The extension will allow those who may need additional opportunities for professional development and training to attend events in 2021 and 2022 (2018 VSIC individuals) and 2021, 2022, and 2023 (2019 VSIC individuals) before their certification expires.

The Supporting Documentation Certification Form (required for applications being submitted beginning October 2021) assists applicants as they compile and organize the supporting documentation being submitted with the application. The form ensures that the application packet is complete with verification of the degree and of each training course and professional development event or activity. Directions for filling out this form are located in the application instructions, found at the beginning of the application.

No, only time spent as a Virginia sheriff or deputy counts towards certification. Duly elected or sworn sheriffs, or full-time deputies with at least three (3) years of public safety experience with any sheriff’s office in Virginia may apply for certification.

No, not in Section B: Education. Only completed college degrees (or a H.S./GED) may be counted in Section B: Education.

Applicants who have participated in VSI and/or VSA conferences may claim points towards training requirements, based on the allocations conveyed in the documents listed on the Resources page, and per the instructions in the VSI Certification Program Guidebook.

Applicants who have participated in a VSI New Sheriffs’ School may claim points towards training requirements, based on the allocations conveyed in the documents listed on the Resources page, and per the instructions in the VSI Certification Program Guidebook.

Basic skills training or other training conducted to maintain minimum job or skill proficiency cannot be claimed towards certification.

Applicants may claim public-safety related training courses that they have completed online by submitting a copy of the training certificate and documentation designating the number of hours needed to complete the course. Applicants may claim 1 point/hour of documented online training.

The primary subject matter or the course title should be the guide to determine in which category (or categories) the training will be claimed. Applicants should use their best judgement in determining which category (or categories) best applies, and provide the appropriate supporting documentation for the training.

Applicants may find that courses they’ve participated in cover subject matter which falls under multiple required training topics. For instance, a “Leadership” course might also address topics related to ethics, community policing, law, and/or diversity. In such cases, applicants may choose to claim those hours/points, in increments of no less than one half hour, under more than one required topic. Applicants should use their best judgement in determining which topic (or topics) best applies, and provide the appropriate supporting documentation for the training. One exception is training completed at the annual VSA and/or VSI Conferences, the points for which are pre-designated by VSA and VSI (see the allocations conveyed in the documents listed on the Resources page).

No. Applicants must decide in which section (Training or Professional Development) they choose to claim points for multi-month, multi-week and/or non-VSA/VSI public safety conferences.

For example, if an applicant claims a non-VSA/VSI public safety conference for Professional Development points in Section 3D, an applicant may not claim individual training sessions that occur during the conference toward the Training point requirement in Section 3C. If an applicant claims any individual training sessions that occur during a non-VSA/VSI public safety conference toward the Training point requirement in Section 3C, the conference may not also be claimed for Professional Development points in Section 3D.

In a second example, if an applicant completes a multi-month course, the applicant must choose in which section, Professional Development or Training, to claim points for that activity. If the applicant claims Professional Development points in Section 3D for completing the overall program, the applicant may not claim any hours/points in Section 3C for individual training sessions that were completed as part of the multi-month course. If the applicant claims Training hours/points in Section 3C for any individual training sessions that were completed as part of the multi-month course, the applicant may not claim Professional Development points for the overall program in Section 3D.

For the purposes of certification/recertification, Leadership training is defined as any training program that enhances the participant’s knowledge, skills and abilities to perform in formal or informal leadership roles within an organization. Leadership courses being claimed towards the eight (8) hour certification/recertification minimum requirement may include a wide range of philosophical and/or practical topics, including but not limited to: supervision/management, organizational change, leadership styles, motivation, mentoring, goal-setting, decision making, conflict resolution, communication skills, disciplinary processes, risk management, media relations, workforce allocation, procedural justice, civil liability, crisis management, stress management/wellness, community engagement, and diversity. Additionally, Leadership topics are often components found within a wide range of training programs, such as homeland security, corrections, crime analysis, problem solving, court security, or others. Applicants should use their best judgement in determining if a course is applicable to the topic of Leadership.

For the purposes of certification/recertification, Ethics training is defined as any training program that enhances the participant’s knowledge, skills and abilities to perform in an ethical manner. Ethics courses being claimed towards the eight (8) hour certification/recertification requirement may include a wide range of philosophical and/or practical topics, including but not limited to: history/theories of ethics, decision making, professional standards, public trust, and diversity. Applicants should use their best judgement in determining if a course is applicable to the topic of Ethics.

For the purposes of certification/recertification, Cultural Diversity training is defined as any program that enhances the participant’s knowledge, skills and abilities to work in a diverse environment and serve a diverse community. Cultural Diversity courses being claimed towards the eight (8) hour certification/recertification requirement may include a wide range of topics that ensure sensitivity to and awareness of diversity. Applicants should use their best judgement in determining if a course is applicable to the topic of Cultural Diversity.

For the purposes of certification/recertification, “Community Policing” training is defined as any program that enhances the participant’s knowledge, skills and abilities to build partnerships, solve problems, and implement organizational change necessary to support efforts to build trust and legitimacy with the community. “Community Policing” courses being claimed towards the eight (8) hour certification/recertification requirement may include a wide range of philosophical and/or practical topics, including but not limited to: history/theory of community policing, crime prevention, organizational change, use of force, decision making, conflict resolution, communication skills, de-escalation, risk management, media relations, workforce allocation, procedural justice, crisis intervention, critical incident management, stress management/wellness, crime analysis and evidence-based policing strategies, enforcement strategies, problem solving, community engagement and outreach, language acquisition, diversity, and policy development. Additionally, Community Policing topics are often components found within a wide range of training programs, such as homeland security, corrections, court security, or others. Applicants should use their best judgement in determining if a course is applicable to the topic of Community Policing.

For the purposes of certification/recertification, Legal/Employment Law training is defined as any program that enhances the participant’s knowledge, skills and abilities to perform his or her role as a sworn law enforcement professional within the confines of applicable federal, state and local laws. Legal/Employment Law courses being claimed towards the eight (8) hour certification/recertification requirement may include a wide range of topics, such as: constitutional law, corrections law, human resource management and law, use of force, critical incident management, civil process, and civil liability. Applicants should use their best judgement in determining if a course is applicable to the topic of Legal/Employment Law.

No. Applicants must decide in which section (Training or Professional Development) they choose to claim points for multi-month, multi-week and/or non-VSA/VSI public safety conferences.

For example, if an applicant claims a non-VSA/VSI public safety conference for Professional Development points in Section 3D, an applicant may not claim individual training sessions that occur during the conference toward the Training point requirement in Section 3C. If an applicant claims any individual training sessions that occur during a non-VSA/VSI public safety conference toward the Training point requirement in Section 3C, the conference may not also be claimed for Professional Development points in Section 3D.

In a second example, if an applicant completes a multi-month course, the applicant must choose in which section, Professional Development or Training, to claim points for that activity. If the applicant claims Professional Development points in Section 3D for completing the overall program, the applicant may not claim any hours/points in Section 3C for individual training sessions that were completed as part of the multi-month course. If the applicant claims Training hours/points in Section 3C for any individual training sessions that were completed as part of the multi-month course, the applicant may not claim Professional Development points for the overall program in Section 3D.