SFST
Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) Course
Background:
In the 1970s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began sponsoring research studies into the development of standardized tests for law enforcement officers to use to evaluate levels of impairment in drivers suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs or driving while intoxicated (DWI). A number of tests were studied, and some of them were validated by the studies as being accurate indicators of impairment.
The Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) course, also known as the DUI or DWI Detection course, is a comprehensive course that is designed to increase the student's ability to detect impairment in drivers. The fundamental purpose of this training course is to foster DWI deterrence, i.e., to dissuade people from driving while impaired by increasing the odds that they will be arrested and convicted. SFST training focuses on the three-phases of the DUI/DWI detection investigation, and especially on the battery of three tests that were validated by NHTSA in their studies. Students in this class learn how to recognize and document the presence or lack of clues from each test that indicate impairment in suspected DUI subjects. Successful completion of this class has resulted in attendees' improved ability to remove impaired drivers from California's roadways.
Course Description
This course is a 16 hour classroom course which includes instruction on:
- NHTSA Studies
- General Deterrence
- Physiology
- Vehicle Code Review
- Detection as a Three-Phase Process
- Processing the Arrested Subject
- Courtroom Testimony
- SFST Instruction & Proficiency Testing
- Report Writing
Pre-requisites
In order to be considered for training in the SFST program, a person must be employed under direct contact of a criminal justice agency or institution involved in providing training services to law enforcement agencies.
Registration
Upcoming classes may be found in the Schedule of Classes page under SFST. In order to register for this course, students are required to electronically submit a Training Request form to the course coordinator. An email with a name and POST ID number will not suffice to reserve a roster spot.
Fees & Costs
There is no registration fee to attend this course. If a facility use fee is charged by the hosting agency, it will be noted in the expanded course description. This course is funded through the California Office of Traffic Safety DRE Grant. Travel reimbursement is not available for this course.
Hosting
If your agency is interested in hosting this course at your training facility, please contact the SFST State Coordinator, Officer Bryce Morgan at (916) 843-6336 or Bryce.Morgan@chp.ca.gov.
Upcoming SFST Classes
11/20 – 11/21/2025 – San Rafael ***THIS CLASS IS CLOSED***
Start Time: 11/20/2025 8:00 AM
End Time: 11/21/2025 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Justin Dodson via e-mail 618@srpd.org. For more information, please call (628) 253-3084.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: No
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-025
Event Location: 1375 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 – PD Briefing Room/EOC Room.
12/1 – 12/3/2025 – Riverside ***THIS CLASS IS FULL***
Start Time: 12/01/2025 8:00 AM
End Time: 12/03/2025 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Jeff Derouin via email at jderouin@riversideca.gov. For more information, please call (951) 826-8722 or (951) 295-7119.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-037
Event Location: 10540 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505 – Upstairs Training Room.
12/1 – 12/2/2025 – San Mateo ***THIS CLASS IS FULL***
Start Time: 12/01/2025 8:00 AM
End Time: 12/02/2025 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to 200 Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403 via e-mail JTOHOMPSON@CITYOFSANMATEO.ORG. For more information, please call (650) 759-2867.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: No
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-046
Event Location: 200 Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403 – San Mateo PD #EOC Classroom.
12/1 – 12/3/2025 – Glendale
Start Time: 12/01/2025 8:00 AM
End Time: 12/03/2025 6:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Bryan Duncan via e-mail bduncan@glendaleca.gov. For more information, please call (818) 548-4840 or (818) 402-6681.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-054
Event Location: 131 N. Isabel Street, Glendale, CA 91206.
12/3 – 12/5/2025 – San Bernardino
Start Time: 12/03/2025 7:00 AM
End Time: 12/05/2025 4:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Jarred Heim via email Heim_Ja@sbcity.org. For more information, please call (909) 384-5715 or (909) 388-4902.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-038
Event Location: 710 N. D Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401 – San Bernardino Police Department (Main Training Room).
12/10/2025 & 12/17/2025 – Fresno
Start Time: 12/10/2025 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
End Time: 12/17/2025 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Craig Howard via e-mail Craig.Howard@fresno.gov. For more information, please call (559) 250 – 9760.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: No
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-052
Event Location: 2326 Fresno St., Fresno, CA – City Hall Annex
12/15 – 12/17/2025 – Anaheim
Start Time: 12/15/2025 8:00 AM
End Time: 12/17/2025 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Lucy Mollica via e-mail Imollica@anaheim.net. For more information, please call (714) 765-3862.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-026
Event Location: 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd. Anaheim, CA 92807 – Anaheim Police Department, East Station.
12/16 – 12/18/2025 – Lynwood
Start Time: 12/16/2025 7:00 AM
End Time: 12/18/2025 4:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Nester Garcia via e-mail nagarcia@lasd.org. For more information, please call (818) 878-5557 or (818) 669-5643.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-049
Event Location: 11703 S. Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262 – Century Sheriff Station.
1/5 – 1/7/2026 – Auburn
Start Time: 01/05/2026 8:00 AM
End Time: 01/07/2026 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Jeremy Pierman via e-mail Jpierman@chp.ca.gov. For more information, please call (916) 843-4377 or (916) 616-6757.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-051
Event Location: 2929 Richardson Drive, Auburn, CA 95603 – Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
01/06-01/07/2026 – Simi Valley
Start Time: 01/06/2026 8:00 AM
End Time: 01/07/2026 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form via e-mail to KBorovay@simivalley.org For more information, please call (805) 583-6942.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-048
Event Location: 3901 Alamo St., Simi Valley, CA. 93063 – Simi Valley PD #EOC Classroom.
1/12 – 1/14/2026 – Orange County Sheriff
Start Time: 01/12/2026 8:00 AM
End Time: 0114/2026 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Elliott Rubright via e-mail Erubright@ocsheriff.gov. For more information, please call (714) 912-3388.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-26-047
Event Location: 1900 W Katella Avenue, Orange, CA 92867 – Sandra Hutchens Law Enforcement Training Center.
2/9 – 2/11/2026 – San Bruno
Start Time: 02/09/2026 8:00 AM
End Time: 02/11/2026 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Scott Smithmatungol or via email ssmithmatungol@sanbruno.ca.gov. For more information, please call (650) 616-7128 or (650) 515-2296.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-055
Event Location: 1050 Bayhill Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066 – Courtyard by Marriott.
3/9 – 3/11/2026 – Orange PD
Start Time: 03/09/2026 8:00 AM
End Time: 03/11/2026 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Amy Carr via e-mail acarr@orangepd.org. For more information, please call (714) 744-7341.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-050
Event Location: 1107 N. Batavia St. Orange, CA 92867 – Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
3/30 – 4/1/2026 – Laguna Niguel
Start Time: 03/30/2026 8:00 AM
End Time: 04/01/2026 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Elliott Rubright via e-mail Erubright@ocsheriff.gov. For more information, please call (714) 912-3388.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-25-053
Event Location: 30111 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 – Laguna Niguel City Hall.
08/04 – 08/06/2026 – Irvine
Start Time: 08/04/2026 8:00 AM
End Time: 08/06/2026 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Sgt. Hal Larum via e-mail hlarum@cityofirvine.org. For more information, please call (949) 300-3492.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-26-001
Event Location: 39 Shady Canyon Drive, Irvine, CA 92603 – Quail Hill Community Center.
8/24 – 8/26/2026 – Aliso Viejo
Start Time: 08/24/2026 8:00 AM
End Time: 08/26/2026 5:00 PM
Class Description: To register for this class please submit a CHP 522, Training Request form to Elliott Rubright via e-mail Erubright@ocsheriff.gov. For more information, please call (714) 912-3388.
Training Request Form (CHP 522 Link)
Fee: No
Wet Lab: Yes
Pre-Requisites: None
POST CCN: 1270-20290-26-002
Event Location: 100 Park Avenue, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 – Aliso Viejo Ranch.