(1) Except as provided in (3), POST will automatically issue basic certificates to public safety officers who meet the minimum requirements outlined in these rules. 

(2) Officers who believe they are eligible for an intermediate, advanced, supervisory, command, or instructor certificate must submit a completed application, with appointing authority approval, to the director. Applications are available from POST staff or on the POST website. 

(a) The director or the director's designee will then review the application and approve or reject the application, unless the director determines, as a matter of discretion, that the council's review is necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

(b) Upon approval by the director, the certificate becomes valid unless the council takes further action.

(c) Upon rejection by the director, a public safety officer may request reconsideration by the council pursuant to ARM 23.13.704.

(3) POST will not automatically issue a basic certificate to:

(a) reserve officers; or

(b) any public safety officer against whom POST has received allegations of misconduct which may be a violation of the code of ethics in ARM 23.13.803 or constitute grounds for denial, sanction, suspension, or revocation in ARM 23.13.702.

(c) Upon notice of the reserve officer's qualification, made by the reserve officer's agency head to the director on a form approved by the council, POST will issue a reserve officer basic certificate to the reserve officer.

(d) The director and the Case Status Committee will review the qualifications of an officer accused of violations of ARM 23.13.702 or 23.13.803, pursuant to these rules.

(4) POST will not consider any application for certification or recertification when the applicant's certification has previously been denied or revoked as defined in these rules, and a final agency decision, including any appeal, regarding the denial or revocation has been entered.