Law Enforcement Academy Certificate
Recommended basic skills courses are
- College Readiness in English
The Law Enforcement Academy provides qualified individuals the opportunity to gain the skills to become a law enforcement officer. The Academy offers a basic recruit curriculum sanctioned by the Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.). During their enrollment, students take approximately 745 hours of coursework. At the end of the training program, P.O.S.T. administers the final certification exam. Those who successfully complete the exam are granted P.O.S.T. certification for three years. Colorado State Law requires that all individuals be P.O.S.T. certified prior to applying to a law enforcement agency.1 Candidates will be subject to appropriate background checks.
Declaring the Law Enforcement Academy Certificate as your major does not mean you’ve been officially admitted to the program yet. Admission to this program is selective and competitive. There are prerequisite classes and additional steps you’ll need to complete before you can apply for program entry to be considered for program acceptance.
Additional requirements for admission to the Law Enforcement Academy may apply.
- 1
Some agencies may require employees to attend their academy as a condition of employment.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Law Enforcement Academy certificate program, students should be able to:
- Perform entry level duties of a peace officer (e.g., collect evidence, perform a vehicle stop, conduct interviews, write police reports)
- Criminal and traffic code violations
- Employ appropriate arrest control techniques
- Drive a law enforcement vehicle under emergency or pursuit conditions
- Use police firearms effectively