Challenge Program
In 1997, the Kansas Legislature enacted K.S.A. 74-5622, establishing a certification lapse requirement for Kansas law enforcement officers who leave service for an extended period of time. This law applies to officers who have been out of Kansas law enforcement for more than five (5) years and are seeking to return to service.
Under this statute, an officer’s certification does not automatically transfer back into active status. Instead, officers must meet one of three reinstatement criteria to regain their Kansas certification. Reinstatement must be completed within one year of re-employment as a Kansas law enforcement officer by successfully completing one of the following three options:
Pass a "Challenge" examination developed by KLETC and qualify with a duty handgun.
Officers choosing this option must pass a written examination covering contemporary law enforcement procedures, law, and tactics with a minimum score of 70%. KLETC will develop and administer the examination and will make available to officer's comprehensive study materials via our Learning Management System (LMS) in advance of the test date.
The material covered in the online classes are a preparation for onsite written testing and firearms qualification on prescribed dates at KLETC.
Applicants may contact the KLETC Registrar at to begin the process to access our LMS.
Officers who pass the academic examination must then qualify at the KLETC Firearms Range (or at their home range with a valid Firearms Instructor) with their duty handgun. A minimum qualification score of 70% is required.
Officers who pass the written and firearms tests will receive proof of reinstatement.
Officers who fail the written or firearms test will receive one opportunity to retake each test.
Officers who fail the academic portion must attend and successfully complete a full basic training academy class to achieve reinstatement.
Officers who pass the academic, but not the firearms portion, of the challenge procedure may return, with the approval of their agency head, to KLETC for not more than one remedial firearms training session; if they successfully qualify following this training, they will receive reinstatement.
* Civilians must be proctored at KLETC
Officers who do not select the “challenge” examination option may obtain reinstatement by attending and successfully completing another certified basic training program.
Officers may apply to the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) for a waiver of further training. The Director of police training may grant a waiver to those officers who, in the opinion of the Director, have received sufficient training or experience that such hours of instruction at the training center would be, unless waived, unduly burdensome or duplicative.
Officers seeking such waivers must show extraordinary circumstances – such as being so closely involved with law enforcement during the period they were not active officers that they remain familiar with contemporary law enforcement procedures – to obtain a waiver of training.
Pass a "Challenge" examination developed by KLETC and qualify with a duty handgun.
Officers choosing this option must pass a written examination covering contemporary law enforcement procedures, law, and tactics with a minimum score of 70%. KLETC will develop and administer the examination and will make available to officer's comprehensive study materials via our Learning Management System (LMS) in advance of the test date.
The material covered in the online classes are a preparation for onsite written testing and firearms qualification on prescribed dates at KLETC.
Applicants may contact the KLETC Registrar at to begin the process to access our LMS.
Officers who pass the academic examination must then qualify at the KLETC Firearms Range (or at their home range with a valid Firearms Instructor) with their duty handgun. A minimum qualification score of 70% is required.
Officers who pass the written and firearms tests will receive proof of reinstatement.
Officers who fail the written or firearms test will receive one opportunity to retake each test.
Officers who fail the academic portion must attend and successfully complete a full basic training academy class to achieve reinstatement.
Officers who pass the academic, but not the firearms portion, of the challenge procedure may return, with the approval of their agency head, to KLETC for not more than one remedial firearms training session; if they successfully qualify following this training, they will receive reinstatement.
* Civilians must be proctored at KLETC
Officers who do not select the “challenge” examination option may obtain reinstatement by attending and successfully completing another certified basic training program.
Officers may apply to the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) for a waiver of further training. The Director of police training may grant a waiver to those officers who, in the opinion of the Director, have received sufficient training or experience that such hours of instruction at the training center would be, unless waived, unduly burdensome or duplicative.
Officers seeking such waivers must show extraordinary circumstances – such as being so closely involved with law enforcement during the period they were not active officers that they remain familiar with contemporary law enforcement procedures – to obtain a waiver of training.
2026 Testing Dates
Online Testing Dates (proctored written and firearms testing completed by the agency)
| Reciprocity/Challenge #45 | Jan. 15th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #46 | Feb. 19th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #47 | Mar. 19th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #48 | Apr. 16th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #49 | May 21st |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #50 | Jun. 18th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #51 | Jul. 16th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #52 | Aug. 20th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #53 | Sept. 17th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #54 | Oct. 15th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #55 | Nov. 19th |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #56 | Dec. 17th |
In Person Testing Dates (optional unless taking the challenge test as a civilian)
| Date | Start Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Reciprocity/Challenge #14 | Mar. 19th | 8:00 AM |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #15 | Jun. 18th | 8:00 AM |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #16 | Sept. 17th | 8:00 AM |
| Reciprocity/Challenge #17 | Nov. 19th | 8:00 AM |
Testing Dates
| Date | Start Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Test #1 | Apr. 27th | 8:00 AM |
| Test #2 | Oct. 5th | 8:00 AM |
*Reciprocity and Challenge classes have been combined into an online study package with an in-person written test and firearms proficiency on the KLETC campus during scheduled dates.