CERTIFICATION BY WAIVER ACADEMY

Providing experienced law enforcement officers with a

streamlined pathway to a New Mexico certification.

UPCOMING CLASS

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JANUARY 4 - 15, 2027

Complete Registration Form
Download Application Packet, part 1
Download Application Packet, part 2
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PACKET DEADLINE

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DECEMBER 1, 2026

***Registration Forms must be submitted first, prior to the Application Packets, to reserve an applicant’s spot

***Per the directive of NMLEA, Part 1 of the CBW Application Packet must be mailed to NMLEA for first review and final approval. SNMLEA can no longer accept Part 1 of the CBW Application Packet. Instead, please provide a copy of the applicant’s Acceptance Letter received from NMLEA along with Part 2 of the CBW Application Packet upon submission.

***If an Acceptance Letter and complete Application Packet, Part 2 has not been received by the predetermined deadline, the applicant's spot will be void from the current class roster

CBW ACADEMY OVERVIEW

The Certification by Waiver (CBW) Academy at SNMLEA is a state-approved training program designed for experienced law enforcement officers seeking New Mexico law enforcement certifications. The program provides qualified former and retired officers, as well as those from other jurisdictions, with the training necessary to satisfy New Mexico certification requirements; recognizing their previous education, training, and professional experience. As a satellite academy of the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy (NMLEA) in Santa Fe, this program meets the minimum standards of training for Certification By Waiver Officers (NMAC 10.29.6.6.), abides by all laws and regulations as established by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Training Act (NMSA 1978, §§ 29-7-1 et seq.), and the New Mexico Law Enforcement Certification Board (NMLECB).

Each CBW class consists of 80 hours of instruction delivered over 2 weeks in a professional, interactive learning environment. Classes typically remain in session Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M..

Prospective applicants must first submit a completed CBW Registration Form to reserve their spot on the class roster. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the class reaches its capacity. Applicants must also meet all eligibility requirements as established in NMAC for Certification By Waiver Officers. This includes completing both Part 1 and Part 2 of the CBW Application Packet. Part 1 must first be submitted directly to NMLEA for review. Once NMLEA determines that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, an official Acceptance Letter will be issued to the applicant. Applicants must then submit a copy of this Acceptance Letter, along with the completed Part 2 of the Application Packet, to SNMLEA by the established application packet deadline. Once all required documentation has been received and deemed complete by SNMLEA staff, the applicant will be accepted into the academy class, pending final approval by NMLEA. Course details and information, as well as any additional enrollment requirements if applicable, will be communicated by SNMLEA staff prior to the start of the course.

At the conclusion of the program, all students are required to take the Law Enforcement Officer Certification Examination (L.E.O.C.E.). Upon achieving a passing score on the L.E.O.C.E., NMLEA issues official certifications to eligible graduates upon ratification of the academy class's successful completion by the NMLECB. Due to board ratifications occurring on a scheduled basis, graduates should anticipate a processing period of approximately three to six months before receiving their official New Mexico Law Enforcement Officer Certification.

TRAINING INCLUDES

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Criminal & Constitutional Law

Search & Seizure

Use of Force

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De-Escalation Strategies

Handling the Mentally Ill

Crisis Intervention

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Human Trafficking

Domestic Violence

And More…

ESTIMATED COST

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Tuition & Fees

Room & Board

(optional; if available)

$600.00

$300.00

$900.00

(incl. lodging)

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

CBW Registration Form
CBW Application Packet Part 1
CBW Application Packet Part 2