Texas Standard Field Sobriety Testing
Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST)
About Standard Field Sobriety Testing
The primary purpose of the Texas Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) Training Program is to improve the administration and consistency of DWI investigation and enforcement by providing FREE training to licensed Texas Peace Officers. The overall mission of the program is to decrease alcohol-related crashes, injuries, and deaths by promoting DWI deterrence and enforcement proficiency. This program utilizes full-time program staff, in addition to contracted adjunct instructors to administer courses throughout the state. Funding for this program is provided by the Texas Department of Transportation. See below for course descriptions.
- 8-hour SFST Refresher Course
- 24-hour SFST Practitioner Course
- 50-hour SFST Instructor Course
Texas Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) Program Courses
This course uses the nationally standardized SFST curriculum and is designed to improve the administration and overall consistency of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) battery by keeping officers up to date and proficient.
This training course uses the nationally standardized SFST curriculum and prepares Texas Peace Officers to administer and interpret the results of the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing battery. This course is offered to bridge the gap in officers who attended the Basic Peace Officer Course in Texas prior to January 1, 2005, when this course was mandated to be included in all Texas BPOCs.
The Texas SFST Training Program offers a FREE 50-hour Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor Course to licensed Texas Peace Officers who are TCOLE certified instructors. This training follows the nationally standardized SFST curriculum and prepares Texas Peace Officers to instruct fellow officers on how to properly administer and interpret the results of the SFST battery.
This course is designed to supplement other impaired driving enforcement courses such as the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) Practitioner, SFST Refresher, and the Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) courses. The course is designed to improve the skill of law enforcement officers in detecting and arresting impaired driving offenders and preparing cases for prosecution.
Qualifying for a Standard Field Sobriety Instructor certificate
221.33 To qualify for a standardized field sobriety instructor certificate, an applicant must meet all proficiency requirements including:
- (1) successful completion of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner Course, 2176, 2067 or 2077; or the SFST taken with Academy.
- (2) at least three years’ experience as a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing practitioner:
- (3) current instructor license or certificate issued by the commission;
- (4) successful completion of the commission approved SFST Instructor Course, 1016 or Drug Recognition Expert (D.R.E.) Instructor Course 1015;
- (5) completion of a SFST Instructor Update Course 2177, NHTSA (A.R.I.D.E.) 2180 or D.R.E. Update course, 2083;
- (6) demonstrated proficiency in administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Test before a certified SFST instructor or NHTSA representative.
- Renewal – Instructor update course has been completed within the last two (2) years as required by 221.33