After graduation from the State Police Training Academy, and before becoming a sworn member of the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, all state police trainees shall have received a high school diploma or an equivalent approved by the state Department of Education and shall have obtained certification from the Police Officer Standards and Training Council within one year of becoming a sworn member of said division. Nothing in this section shall prohibit prospective state police applicants from being admitted to the State Police Training Academy without having received either the high school diploma or equivalent.