(a) The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations establishing standards of training and provisions for certifying juvenile corrections officers.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), no person shall receive a permanent appointment as a juvenile corrections officer unless awarded a certificate by the commissioner which attests to satisfactory completion of a basic course of instruction. Such course of instruction shall be approved by the commissioner and shall consist of not less than 160 hours of instruction. The certificate shall be effective during the term of a person’s employment, except that any person who has terminated employment with the commissioner for a period exceeding one year shall be required to be certified again.

(c) The commissioner may award a certificate which attests to the satisfactory completion of a basic course of instruction to any person who has been duly certified under the laws of another state or territory if, in the opinion of the commissioner, the requirements for certification in the other jurisdiction are equal to or exceed the requirements for certification in this state. The commissioner may waive any number of hours or courses required to complete the basic course of instruction for any person who, in the opinion of the commissioner, has received sufficient training or experience that such hours of instruction would be unduly burdensome or duplicitous.

(d) Every juvenile corrections officer shall receive not less than 40 hours of in-service training annually.