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Basic Peace Officer Academy

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1. Can anyone join a law enforcement academy and become a peace officer?

No, persons entering any Texas law enforcement academy must meet certain eligibility requirements set by state law. The Alamo Area Regional Law Enforcement Academy has additional eligibility requirements.

2. What things may keep a person from being eligible to attend the Alamo Area Regional Law Enforcement Academy?

Applicants that have not achieved minimum educational requirements (high school diploma or GED) will not be eligible to attend the Academy. In addition, applicants with felony convictions and some classes of misdemeanors are ineligible. Finally, applicants with a dishonorable discharge or a bad conduct discharge from military service will be ineligible.

3. Does the Academy disqualify applicants for any other reason than those mentioned above?

Yes. Applicants must pass an entrance exam that determines level of basic reading, writing and math skills. In addition, applicants must pass a physical examination, psychological examination, drug screening and meet a physical fitness standard discussed below. Failure to pass any one of these requirements will exclude an applicant from the Academy.

4. How long does it take to complete the basic peace officer certification or basic corrections officer certification?

The basic peace office course is approximately 1000 hours. The full-time session is 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Students enrolled in the full-time session complete the program in approximately 6 months. The part-time session 4 hours per evening, Monday through Friday. Students enrolled in the part-time session complete the program in approximately 12 months. The basic corrections course is approximately 100 hours. Class times vary for each basic corrections course but students generally complete training within 2 weeks.

5. What is the cost of the basic peace officer certification and the basic corrections officer certification?

Tuition for the basic peace officer course is $2,000.00. Tuition covers books and use of Academy training equipment. Additional expenses throughout the course are approximately $800.00 per cadet. These additional expenses cover uniforms, ammunition, applicant processing fees, certain intermediate certification courses, and other incidentals. The Academy offers a financial payment plan which divides the basic tuition into 4 equal payments of $500 in 45 day increments. First payment is due the first day of class. Tuition for the basic corrections course is $500 which includes text books and materials. There are additional expenses for application fees and physical examination.

6. Is financial assistance available to basic peace officer and basic corrections officer students?

Other than the installment plan mentioned previously, the Academy is approved for V.A. benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs program. In addition, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill will apply to the basic peace officer course effective October 1, 2011. Due to the short course session of the basic corrections officer course, there is no installment plan available to students enrolled in that course.

7. Are students required to wear uniforms?

Yes. The Academy has rules of conduct which includes that all cadets wear the approved Academy uniform. Students that are employed by a law enforcement agency while attending the Academy will be permitted to wear their agency's dress uniform if the student has authorization from their agency supervisor to do so. Students attending the basic corrections officer course are not required to wear the approved Academy uniform but may be required to wear their agency's uniform if the student is already employed by a corrections agency.

8. Does the Academy require cadets to purchase a weapon?

No, the Academy will provide cadets with weapons during all firearms training. No personal weapons will be allowed at the Academy or off-site training facilities.

9. What are the physical fitness requirements?

The Academy requires applicants to pass an entrance physical fitness assessment as part of the application process. Once admitted, students are required to pass a mid-term and final physical fitness assessment. These assessments are progressive over the course of the class. The physical fitness assessment utilizes components of the Cooper Institute’s Physical Fitness Assessment Battery. The components of the entrance assessment are as follows:

• Minimum of 12 push-ups in one minute
• Minimum of 22 sit-ups in one minute
• One and a half mile run in less than 16:31 minutes

10. Will there be a standardized method for performing situps and pushups during the entrance physical fitness assessment?

Yes, Push-ups must be performed in the following manner: hands placed approximately shoulder-width apart, with fingers pointing forward, legs together, toes touching the floor. A partner will place one fist on the floor between the applicant’s arms below the chest. Starting from the up position (elbows fully extended), applicant must keep his/her back straight at all times (do not allow the back to arch in any direction) and lower his/her body to the floor until the chest touches the partner’s fist. Return to the up position completes one repetition. The only parts of the body touching the floor should be palms and toes. Resting is done only in the up position.

Sit ups must be performed in the following manner: applicant’s back will be flat on the floor, knees bent, heels flat on the floor, with fingers interlaced and held behind the head. A partner will hold applicant’s feet down firmly. When in the up position, applicant’s elbows must touch any part of the upper leg or knee area; this is one repetition. Applicant will then return to the starting position until the shoulder blades touch the floor. Hips must remain on the floor. Any resting must be done in the up position.

11. How and where will applicants be required to run during the entrance physical fitness assessment?

The run will be performed as a group in the Academy parking lot. Three (3) laps around the outer perimeter of the parking lot will equal one and a half miles.

12. What attire should applicants wear during the entrance physical fitness assessment?

Applicants should wear proper physical training attire and running shoes for the entrance physical fitness assessment.