Applications Due July 25 for Sept. 2025 Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)
Dear Virginia Law Enforcement Agency representative,
The Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training is an extremely valuable tool in combating the adverse effects of impaired driving and maintaining the standardized instruction of field sobriety tests in Virginia. The training consists of two weeks classroom, followed by a week of field certification.
Virginia’s next DRE course will be:
- Classroom Portion: September 7-19, 2025
Virginia State Police Academy
7700 Midlothian Turnpike
Richmond, VA 23235
- Field Certification: October 5-12, 2025
HOPE Counseling & Consulting Services, Inc.
810 Akron Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27105
The deadline for applications to attend this upcoming DRE course is July 25, 2025.
Virginia DRE Training Application >>
Please forward this application to top officers you believe would be excellent DREs. Interested officers must have already successfully completed basic NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), and it is recommended they have successfully completed the Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) training course.
Along with the completed application, officers must provide:
- narratives from a minimum of two DUI arrest reports from the last 12 months
- an endorsement/recommendation letter from their Chief, Sheriff or Commander
- an endorsement/recommendation letter from their local prosecutor
- an endorsement from a DRE Instructor for SFST proficiency
To request a DRE Instructor, meet with your applicant for SFST proficiency endorsement and completed applications please email the required attachments to our Virginia DRE State Coordinator, 1st Sgt. Matthew Okes, at IDTU@vsp.virginia.gov
Incomplete applications or those without the required attachments will be discarded.