VirTra Law Enforcement
Training courses & Certifications

VirTra-Led Courses Available

VirTra Training Programs

Real-World Training. Real Results.

VirTra’s immersive training programs go beyond simulation. We build confident, capable professionals ready for real-life challenges.

From law enforcement officers and corrections personnel to military and security professionals, VirTra’s curriculum-based training prepares trainees with the critical skills, decision-making ability, and tactical knowledge needed in the field.

Comprehensive, POST-Certified Curriculum – V‑VICTA®

Every VirTra simulator includes V-VICTA® curriculum, delivering over 95 hours of POST-certified training. Start training on Day 1 with ready-to-use courses covering de-escalation, judgmental use of force, marksmanship, and more.

Why V‑VICTA® stands out:

Each course is research-driven, field-tested, and continuously updated to reflect current standards, policies, and challenges.

Expand Your Training

More Courses. More Skills. More Preparedness.

Access a variety of on-demand videos, in-person events, and webinars covering topics such as:

See All Courses

ACTIVE THREAT/ACTIVE KILLER

ATAK, an acronym for Active Threat / Active Killer, is designed to prepare first responders for active threat situations.

ATCC

ATCC is a 40-hour high-demand course that teaches best practices and concepts on how to train effectively and maximize training time in VirTra simulators.

WEAPON KIT MAINTENANCE

In this refresher course, Jeff Knaup will walk you through the parts, lubrication, maintenance and troubleshooting of your VirTra drop-in recoil kit.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS: AUTISM

This course, produced with the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, teaches first responders how to interact with children on the spectrum.

MY STORY: DINKHELLER

The goal of this course is to examine the details surrounding the shooting, the lead up to Deputy Dinkheller being murdered, and how officers can use this to train even better.

V-AUTHOR® TRAINING

A two-day course designed to teach participants how to quickly and efficiently produce geo-specific, single incident simulation training content.

DUTY TO INTERVENE

At the end of this course, students will have a better understanding of how the public sees law enforcement and discuss significant failure to intervene incidents. We will cover when an officer must intervene, and who it applies to.

CONTACT COVER CONCEPTS

Officers will learn proper distancing and movement to ensure visualization of each other and the subject(s). This course goes into detail of each officer’s roles.

TACTICS #1

Injured Officer Handgun Manipulation
Tourniquet Application Under Threat
Crisis De-Escalation

TACTICS #2

Infectious Diseases
Contact Cover Concepts
Duty To Intervene
High Risk Vehicle Stops

TACTICS #3

Special Populations: Autism
Red Dot Optic Training
Behavior Threat Analysis
My Story: Dinkheller

TACTICS #4

This 4 day in-person training course is two of our VirTra Tactics courses taught back-to-back. Taking a 4 day course will save $200 per student vs signing up for two 2-day courses.

Additional certified, on-site training courses include:

VirTra Master Class – Simulator performance & administration

The VirTra Master Class is a two-day onsite training course aimed at enhancing the skills of VirTra simulator instructors and operators. The approach emphasizes maximizing training time, ensuring consistency, and leveraging the strengths of the VirTra training system. Although instructor-led, a substantial portion of the training involves students creating and running practice events, with the instructor available for guidance and evaluation. The law enforcement training course places a strong emphasis on debriefs conducted by both the class and instructor to foster the development of advanced training skills. VirTra instructors will travel to your simulator location for this on-site only course. Contact your sales representative for registration details.

V-Author® Simulation Training: Learn to Create your Own Scenarios

A two-day course designed to teach participants how to quickly and efficiently produce geo-specific, single-incident simulation training content. Attendees learn how to process images, assign material parameters, and insert and program real-life characters to perform specific behaviors and respond to the use of force. VirTra instructors may travel to your simulator location for this course if requested. Contact your sales representative for registration details.

Upcoming Training

Advanced Training and Certification Course.

Master the skills needed to run high-level simulation training. This 5-day, 40-hour course at VirTra HQ equips trainers with techniques to maximize simulator effectiveness.

VirTra Master Class: Beyond Basic Simulator Operation

Take your training to the next level with this hands-on, two-day onsite course. Learn advanced techniques, maximize training time, and ensure consistency in every session. Lead real-world scenarios and refine your debriefing skills.

Upcoming Webinars

Winning Police Grants

Join VirTra and public safety grants expert Dr. Lon Bartel for a FREE 60-minute webinar focused on helping agencies identify funding opportunities and improve grant application success in 2026.

Meet the VirTra Training Team

Jeff Knaup – VirTra Training Manager & Law Enforcement Subject Matter Expert

Jeff spent over 30 years with the Phoenix Police Department, 13 of those years as a sniper for the SWAT team. His career also included 9.5 years as a Gang Squad Detective and another 1.5 years as a Robbery Detective. Jeff is a certified AZPOST instructor to include handgun and rifle instructor certifications. Jeff was also the lead instructor for the 40-hour Tactical SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) course. Prior to his law enforcement career, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Knowing how valuable training is, and oftentimes how difficult it is to obtain, Jeff came out of retirement to continue to assist others to get the very best training available.

T.J. Alioto – Law Enforcement Subject Matter Expert

Salvatore “T.J.” Alioto spent 20 years in law enforcement with the Wauwatosa Police Department, ranking as a Lieutenant prior to retiring in 2015. Born in Milwaukee, he taught several law enforcement courses in his hometown and became a lead police academy instructor. Using his 27 years of experience in designing and presenting coursework and curriculum for police officers, T.J. relocated to Arizona and became a Law Enforcement Subject Matter Expert for VirTra. T.J.’s creation of training scenarios is based on his years of experience in law enforcement, along with his desire to pass along essential skills to new officers. Believing that students learn better through experience rather than reading a textbook, T.J. works hard to ensure that VirTra’s scenarios elicit the intended responses from trainees and can be adapted to every department’s policies.

Lon Bartel – Principal Researcher

Lon Bartel is the Principal Researcher for VirTra. With over 20 years of law enforcement training experience, he focuses on enhancing officer and trainer performance. Lon is recognized as a subject matter expert in firearms and defensive tactics by the State of Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.). He is a founding member and lifetime advisor of the Arizona Tactical Officers Association (ATOA) and an internationally certified instructor with the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). Lon earned his Master’s in Applied Exercise Science from Concordia University-Chicago and his Bachelor’s from Arizona State University. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology with an emphasis on Performance Psychology.

Important points:

Legally sound – case law based
Prepare for the present and future challenges of policing
Cost-effective
Tight integration with Simulator Scenario Training
Wide range of topics
Configurable to your organization’s needs

Leadership

Resources

VirTra Law Enforcement Training courses & Certifications