Training Environment. An academy offering police officer training required by the Commission for police officer certification shall be approved by the Commission before providing the training. In order for the Commission to approve an academy offering police officer training required by the Commission for police officer certification, the academy shall: Provide an atmosphere that supports learning; Have proper lighting, ventilation, and acoustics; and Meet applicable local, State, and federal health and safety requirements. If practical, the academy shall provide: At least 25 square feet of classroom space for each candidate; Locker space for each individual attending; Appropriate desk space, work tables, and seating to support classroom and other related learning activities; Storage for learning and training material; and Instructional and training equipment and material to support the training provided. Unless an individual is exempt from Commission certification under COMAR 12.04.06 or 12.10.06, only an individual certified as an instructor by the Commission or the Correctional Training Commission may provide police officer training required by the Commission. Entrance-Level Training Procedures. An applicant attending police officer entrance-level training required for certification as a police officer shall be excused from routine duties at the hiring law enforcement agency and receive regular salary while attending police officer entrance-level training. Personal Conduct While Attending Police Officer Entrance-Level Training. The training director of the academy providing the approved police officer entrance-level training is responsible for the personal conduct of each applicant attending that academy. The training director, or a designee, shall function as the commanding officer for the class. The training director shall provide each applicant attending the police officer entrance-level training with a copy of the rules or regulations governing the applicant's daily activities and behavior while attending the academy. The disciplinary regulations of the host academy apply to each applicant attending the academy. The training director shall notify the applicant's agency head if there has been an incident that requires disciplinary action taken against the agency head's applicant. If an applicant's progress in academic or skill areas indicates the applicant will fail the entrance-level training, the training director shall notify the applicant's agency head to permit the applicant to be withdrawn from the training. The training director of the academy and the agency head sending an applicant to the academy or school may negotiate arrangements related to reimbursement for costs associated with the applicant attending the academy. Authority of Academy Regulations. The Commission recognizes the necessity and authority of an academy to establish rules and regulations of conduct. The training director of a Commission-approved academy may establish rules and regulations that exceed Commission requirements under this regulation. A written academy rule or regulation or lawful verbal direction or order issued by an authorized representative of the academy has the same authority as a Commission requirement or standard. Academy Certification — Classifications. The Commission may certify an academy meeting the applicable Commission standards as a class I or class II academy. An academy certified by the Commission as a class I academy may provide Commission-approved police officer entrance-level training. An academy certified by the Commission as a class II academy may provide only specified portions of Commission-approved police officer entrance-level training required under Regulation .14E(8) of this chapter. A class I or class II academy may also offer any other Commission-approved police officer training authorized under this chapter. Upon request, the Commission shall furnish a list of approved academies and the respective classifications. The academy may include a firearms program which meets the minimum standards under COMAR 12.04.02. Academy Certification—Lapse or Revocation. Commission certification of an academy shall lapse if the academy does not conduct Commission-approved entrance-level training for a period of 2 years. The Commission may revoke the certification of an approved academy if the academy: Discontinues presenting Commission-approved entrance-level training; Offers Commission-required training without Commission-approved instructors; Training director does not successfully complete the training director orientation program under §H of this regulation; or Violates a provision of this regulation. Academy Audit. An approved entrance-level training program is subject to review and audit by the Commission. The Commission shall audit each Commission-approved academy at least every 2 years to ensure compliance with Commission requirements. Training Director Orientation. An individual appointed as a training director of a Commission-approved academy, within 3 months of appointment, shall successfully complete a training director orientation program designed and approved by the Commission.