Basic Peace Officer

Generally, two Peace Officer courses are conducted each year.  Day courses are 18 weeks long and most classes are from 8am until 5pm, Monday through Friday.  Evening classes are approximately 32 weeks long and are held from 6pm until 10pm, Monday through Friday, as well as most Saturdays from 9am until 6pm. In addition to tuition fees starting at $1,200, a physical exam, psychological exam, and comprehensive background investigation are required.

Steps for Attending the Academy
  • Complete and return the pre-enrollment form as soon as possible
  • Approximately 90 days before the start date of the appropriate class, the Academy will automatically send you the application paperwork
  • Follow all application instructions and return the application paperwork to the Academy
  • Be interviewed and approved by the Oral Interview Board
  • Take and pass the physical examination and psychological examination
  • Pay tuition
  • Take and pass an Accuplacer Test
  • Students who are accepted in the Basic Peace Officer Course are required to furnish a pair of good athletic shoes, exercise clothing, filler paper and dividers for student notebooks and a handgun for firearms training. In Addition, each student must purchase the required Academy uniforms, which cost approximately $160.
Standards for Admission

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) sets the standards for certification of peace officers in Texas.  Each certified academy in the state has an advisory board which is responsible for establishing entry requirements, rules and regulations for the academy.  No individual shall be admitted to any course offered by the Academy unless he/she meets the following minimum standards:
  • Be employed by or sponsored by a law enforcement agency
  • Has attained his/her 18th birthday before the first day of class, if applying for Corrections Officer Course
  • Graduated from high school or completed a GED test, or proof of an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least 24 months of active duty service.
  • Has not been convicted at any time for any offense involving family violence
  • Is not under indictment for any criminal offense
  • Has not ever been convicted of any offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years
  • Has been examined by a licensed physician and found to be physically sound and free from any defect which may adversely affect the performance of law enforcement duties
  • Has been examined by a licensed psychologist and found to be in satisfactory psychological and emotional health to serve as the type of officer for which the license is sought
  • Is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition
  • Has submitted a copy of his/her DD214 if discharged from military service
  • Be fingerprinted and be subjected to a search of local, state, national records and fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record

Note: Cost of medical testing and/or costs of the background investigation are the responsibility of the applicant, and will not be paid by the Academy.