Presiding Officer Certification Training (POCT) :::  

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• POCT Overview
• Nomination Procedure
• Schedule of Upcoming POCT Courses
• Regional Points of Contact (POC)
• Threshold Knowledge Test (TKT)
• Course Manual - Military Justice at the Summary Trial Level v2.1
• National Coordinator

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POCT Overview

Articles 101.09 and 108.10 of the Queen's Regulations & Orders (QR&O) provide that all Superior Commanders, Commanding Officers (COs) and Delegated Officers in the CF must be both (a) trained in the administration of the Code of Service Discipline, and (b) certified by the Judge Advocate General as qualified to perform these particular duties.

As a result of these requirements, Presiding Officer Certification Training (POCT) was implemented in July of 1999.

NOTE: Completing the two-day POCT course is the only way to obtain your initial presiding officer certification.

POCT consists of two parts:

Part 1

Part 1 of POCT is a self-study package (requiring approximately 20 hours of study) based on the course manual, Military Justice at the Summary Trial Level v2.1. This manual is available from any of the regional POCT Points of Contact (POC), and can also be downloaded from the Training – Publications page on the JAG Internet site or Intranet (DIN) site.

Upon completion of the self-study package, prospective candidates must write the Threshold Knowledge Test (TKT). The TKT is a multiple-choice preparation test that is available either on the Defence Intranet (DIN) or on a diskette that can be obtained from the national coordinator. The TKT is currently not available on the Internet.

Once you have completed Part 1 of POCT (which includes both the self-study package and the TKT), please refer to the nomination procedure set out below for more information on being selected for Part 2 of POCT.

** Please note that completion of the TKT does not automatically load you on the two-day POCT course. You must follow the proper nomination procedure in order to be selected for Part 2 of POCT.

Part 2

Part 2 of POCT consists of a two (2) day course followed by a written exam of 50 minutes. This course is held several times per year at various locations across the country. The schedule of upcoming courses can be found below.

08/09 POCT directive (PDF Version, 73.05 kb)

Nomination Procedure

1. Registration Deadlines Note the registration deadlines for each course session as indicated in the schedule.  Late registrations will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances.  

2. Registration Procedure for POCT Requests to be registered (loaded) on a POCT course must be submitted by e-mail to the Certification Trg Coord: PresidingOfficer-OfficierPresidant@forces.gc.ca

before the registration deadline. When registering the following info must be provided:  

a. SN, name and rank;

b. Indicate if you are a Class A reservist;

c. Indicate the POCT course session number, dates and location you wish to attend;

d. Indicate what priority applies to you:

Pri 1 - you are now or will be a Superior Comd, Commanding Officer or Delegated Officer.

Pri 2 – you are an officer in the rank of Capt/Lt(N) or above but you will not be performing presiding officer duties.

Pri 3 – you are a NCM responsible for disciplinary matters (eg. Sqn CWO, RSM, CSM, Cox’n).

Pri 4 – all others (must be an NCM Sgt or above or a commissioned officer to attend POCT).

e.  Your Threshold Knowledge Test (TKT) results:

(1)  Indicate if the TKT was completed on-line (DIN).  We will have your results in our database; and

(2)  If the TKT was completed on diskette, attach all file(s) from the diskette that end with the file extension “.qda”.

Note:  The TKT must have been completed within 6 months of the course session for which you are registering. If the TKT has expired, candidates must re-write the test and submit the new results when they register.

3. Registration Procedure for Re-Certification (PORT):  Previously-certified presiding officers are reminded that the easiest way to extend or renew their certification after it has expired, is via the on-line Presiding Officer Re-certification Test (PORT).  

Those who prefer to re-certify by attending a POCT course must submit their registration request by e-mail to the Certification Trg Coord at:
PresidingOfficer-OfficierPresidant@forces.gc.ca before the registration deadline. When registering the following info must be provided:  

a. SN, name and rank;

b. Indicate if you are a Class A reservist;

c. Indicate the POCT course serial number, dates and location you wish to attend;

d. Indicate what priority applies to you:

Pri 1 - you are now or will be a Superior Comd, Commanding Officer or Delegated Officer.

Pri 2 – you are an officer in the rank of Capt/Lt(N) or above but you will not be performing presiding officer duties.  

e.       Provide the date of your POCT qualification (as it  appears on your MPRR).  

POCT Schedule of Upcoming Courses

POCT Schedule of Upcoming Courses

POCT Schedule of Upcoming Courses 2010-2011

Regional Points of Contact (POC)

Regional Points of Contact (POC)

Threshold Knowledge Test (TKT)

The TKT is only available on the Defence Intranet (DIN) through the JAG website. It is not available on the Internet at this time.

Follow this link to the login page for the Presiding Officer Certification Training Threshold Knowledge Test (TKT). The TKT can be completed on a chapter-by-chapter basis, with each chapter corresponding to the course manual Military Justice at the Summary Trial Level v2.1.

Please allow yourself sufficient time to answer the questions, as once you have commenced the TKT for a particular chapter, you must finish that chapter completely.

Once you have successfully completed the TKT, please refer to the nomination procedure above for information about POCT course loading. Completing the TKT does not automatically load you on the two-day POCT course. You must follow the required nomination procedure set out above.

Course Manual

Military Justice at the Summary Trial Level v2.1

Follow this link to download the POCT course Manual and Annexes, or continue on to the DLaw/T – Training Publications Page for other JAG training publications and presentations.

National Coordinator

Presiding Officer Certification Training (POCT)
National Coordinator
Kevin.Stark@forces.gc.ca
PresidingOfficer-OfficierPresidant@forces.gc.ca

By Phone at
(613) 541-5010 ext. 3872 or CSN 271-3872