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Presiding Officer Re-Certification :::  

NOTICE

While the Presiding Officer (POCT) certification is valid for a period of (4) years, you will still have the ability to PORT even after your qualification has expired.

Overview

The Presiding Officer Re-certification process allows Canadian Forces members to renew their Presiding Officer Certification Training (POCT) qualifications for a further period of four (4) years. The goal of this process is to ensure that all Superior Commanders, COs and Delegated Officers remain knowledgeable about their roles in the military justice system (at the summary trial level), and remain competent to perform their duties in the administration of the Code of Service Discipline.

NOTE: The Presiding Officer Re-certification process cannot be used to obtain your initial POCT qualification. You must complete Presiding Officer Certification Training (which includes the self-study package and two (2) day course) in order to obtain an initial POCT qualification.

Who Must Re-certify?

In accordance with QR&O 101.09 and 108.10, all Superior Commanders, COs and Delegated Officers must be:

  1. Trained in the administration of the Code of Service Discipline; and
  2. Certified by the Judge Advocate General as qualified to perform their duties in the administration of the Code of Service Discipline.

Presiding Officer Certification Training (POCT) was created in 1999 to meet the above requirements. Since POCT certifications are only valid for a four (4) year period, a re-certification program has necessarily been implemented.

All Commanding Officers, Superior Commanders, and Delegated Officers who are already POCT certified, and whose four (4) year certifications are about to expire, must renew their qualification in order to continue exercising their functions.

All other officers who are already POCT certified, but who will not be exercising the duties of a CO, superior commander or delegated officer when their four (4) year certification expires are not required to re-certify until they take on one of the above-mentioned functions.

In order to promote professional development in the field of military justice, the Presiding Officer Re-certification process is open to all members of the Canadian Forces who have already completed the POCT course. It should be noted that all NCMs and officers below the rank of Capt/Lt(N) holding a POCT pseudo-qualification will receive a new pseudo-qualification upon completing the re-certification process.

When is Re-certification Required?

All officers who were POCT certified on or after 1 Oct 1999 and who must, by virtue of their functions, maintain their presiding officer qualification, will be required to re-certify on or before the four-year anniversary of their initial certification date.

Certification dates can be found on the Member’s Personnel Record Resumé (MPRR), as well as on the POCT certificate awarded after successful completion of the course. The certification expiration date can be determined by adding four (4) years to the certification date.

It is the responsibility of the member to determine when his or her certification will expire, and to re-certify prior to that date if required. No reminders will be sent with regard to the requirement to re-certify.

How Do I Re-certify?

You can re-certify your POCT qualification in one of two ways:

Option 1

The Presiding Officer Re-Certification Test (PORT) is a quick and efficient method by which to renew your POCT qualification for an additional four (4) year period.

  • It is a computer-based test, available online through the JAG website
  • It consists of 24 multiple-choice and true/false questions
  • The questions will be grouped by topics (as found in the manual “Military Justice at the Summary Trial Level v2.1”)
  • Questions are randomly selected by the computer application
  • It is an open-book exam
  • There is a time limit of 90 minutes to complete the PORT
  • The pass mark is 70% (i.e. 17/24)
  • Two attempts will be granted to successfully complete the PORT
  • Upon successful completion of this exam, the candidate will automatically be re-certified for a full four (4) year period

Please note that in exceptional circumstances, members who do not have access to the Internet can obtain a paper copy of the PORT, which will be administered by the unit in the same manner as other CF distance learning examinations.

Option 2

Members of the CF who are unsuccessful in their two attempts to complete the PORT on line must attend the two-day POCT. Also, members may choose to obtain their re-certification by re-attending the two-day POCT course if they desire a more in-depth review of military justice issues. For this option, members don't have to do the TKT but have to follow the usual nomination procedure set out on the POCT page. In the request for nomination, members have to include : date and place of initial qualification, Service Number, Rank, Name and Initials.

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing the PORT

  • Determine when your current certification expires.
    • Your POCT certification is valid for four years.
    • You can find your certification date on either the POCT Certificate issued to you after the course, or alternatively on your MPRR, next to “Presiding Officer Certification Training”.
    • Simply add four years to that date to determine your expiry date.
NOTE:

All POCT certifications will expire four (4) years from the date of certification. If you are a Commanding Officer, Superior Commander or Delegated Officer, you must re-certify prior to that four-year anniversary.

NOTE:

Send an e-mail to the national coordinator () which includes your service number, surname, initials and year of birth.  This will allow the national coordinator to ensure you are recognized as an authorized user in the PORT database.

  • Review the manual in preparation for the PORT so that you are familiar with the key concepts.
  • Read the PORT Test Instructions Page
  • Take a look at the Sample Questions Page to see what types of questions will be asked during the PORT, and how they will be presented to you.
  • Finally, when you wish to write the exam, proceed to the PORT Login Page(which is accessible only through the PORT Test Instructions page). Please ensure that you have at least 90 minutes available in which to write the PORT, as once you login, the 90-minute timer immediately begins to run and you must complete the exam within that time period. If you exit early, or the timer expires, your test will be scored automatically. We encourage you to prepare carefully and to take steps to ensure that you are not interrupted while writing the PORT.
  • If you are not successful on your first attempt, you will have one more try to pass the PORT (but you will be unable to login for the second attempt until 48 hours have elapsed).

If you do not pass the PORT on the second attempt, you will be required to attend the two-day POCT course in order to re-certify. The usual POCT nomination procedure must be followed.

 

PORT Links

 

National Coordinator

Presiding Officer Re-certification
National Coordinator

PresidingOfficer-OfficierPresidant@forces.gc.ca
By Phone at
(613) 541-5010 ext. 3872 or CSN 271-3872

 

Date Modified: 2009-10-07

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