
A police academy, also known as a law enforcement training center, police college, or police university, is a
training
Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and performance. I ...
school
A school is the educational institution (and, in the case of in-person learning, the Educational architecture, building) designed to provide learning environments for the teaching of students, usually under the direction of teachers. Most co ...
for
police
The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
cadet
A cadet is a student or trainee within various organisations, primarily in military contexts where individuals undergo training to become commissioned officers. However, several civilian organisations, including civil aviation groups, maritime ...
s, designed to prepare them for the
law enforcement agency
A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for law enforcement within a specific jurisdiction through the employment and deployment of law enforcement officers and their resources. The most common type of law enforcement ...
they will be joining upon graduation, or to otherwise certify an individual as a
law enforcement officer
A law enforcement officer (LEO), or police officer or peace officer in North American English, is a public-sector or private-sector employee whose duties primarily involve the enforcement of laws, protecting life & property, keeping the peace, ...
, typically a
police officer
A police officer (also called policeman or policewoman, cop, officer or constable) is a Warrant (law), warranted law employee of a police, police force. In most countries, ''police officer'' is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. ...
.
Police academies train cadets on skills and tactics required to properly and effectively conduct their duties. These include legal training, driving skills, equipment training, firearm training,
use of force
The use of force, in the context of law enforcement, may be defined as "the amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject." Multiple definitions exist according to context and purpose. In practical terms, use o ...
,
crisis negotiation, and
de-escalation
De-escalation refers to the methods and actions taken to decrease the severity of a conflict, whether of physical, verbal or another nature. It is the opposite of escalation. De-escalation may also refer to approaches in conflict resolution, b ...
, among others. Typical facilities in a police academy include
classroom
A classroom, schoolroom or lecture room is a learning space in which both children and adults learn. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, ranging from preschools to universities, and may also be found in other place ...
s,
vehicle courses,
shooting range
A shooting range, firing range, gun range or shooting ground is a specialized facility, venue, or field designed specifically for firearm usage qualifications, training, practice, or competitions. Some shooting ranges are operated by milita ...
s,
running tracks,
gym
A gym, short for gymnasium (: gymnasiums or gymnasia), is an indoor venue for exercise and sports. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasion". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learn ...
s, and recreational facilities, though some may also include
dormitories
A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm), also known as a hall of residence, a residence hall (often abbreviated to halls), or a hostel, is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential qu ...
,
cafeteria
A cafeteria, called canteen outside the U.S., is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether in a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a scho ...
s,
training simulators,
police museums, and police-affiliated businesses such as
restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...
s and
stores.
Police training varies in important ways around the world, with significant differences in program content, format, and instructional methods. Police academies are not used solely by police cadets, and some are also regularly used regularly by sworn officers, other law enforcement agencies, special units such as
SWAT
A SWAT (''Special Weapons and Tactics'') team is a generic term for a police tactical unit within the United States, though the term has also been used by other nations.
SWAT units are generally trained, equipped, and deployed to res ...
, and occasionally even civilians and other non-law enforcement personnel; for example, the
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932, in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held du ...
used the
Los Angeles Police Academy's range for their
shooting event.
The requirements to join a police department and attend a police academy vary by jurisdiction. Most of the time, these requirements include background checks, physical, mental, and medical exams, as well as criminal record checks.
Approaches to police instruction
Training prepares police officers with the knowledge and skills to apply contemporary standards of policing. In some countries, police education consists of an extensive process over many years. In other countries, police receive as little as 5 to 8 months of education. Most police education includes some time spent on field training, which is a supervised practicum supported by a field training officer (FTO). Police academies adhere to policies for the selection and recruitment of instructors, stress-management training, community-oriented leadership and policing training, specialist training, supervisory and management training, and liability issues associated with training.
History of police education
From the early 1800s through the early to middle 1900s, policing was conceptualized as a form of physical labor, and on-the-job training was the norm. In the middle of the 20th century, police work became more professional, but this changed a lot depending on national and local culture and politics. The "good government" ethos of the 20th century emphasized that police should be hired competitively based on merit, and entrance tests became standard practice. In some countries, the rights of ‘due process’ advanced to the point where it is necessary for police to have an understanding of the law and legal reasoning. After riots and other problems in the late 20th century, community policing methods were created to show how important social skills and knowledge of social science are. The rise of gun violence also affected police training programs, which placed more and more emphasis on the use of weapons and defensive tactics.
Classroom and field training
Police training occurs in classroom settings, on the shooting range, in the gym, and in the field. In the classroom, recruits learn the basics of law, procedures, radio codes, penal codes, etc. This type of instruction often involves formal testing, in which recruits must pass each exam with a certain minimum score. On the shooting range and in the gym, hands-on and scenario-based activities include arrest and control, defensive tactics, the use of weapons, and driving. Recruits must demonstrate proficiency in these skills. In the U.S., the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing recommended incorporating the following in topics in basic recruit and in-service trainings: policing in a democratic society; implicit bias and cultural responsiveness; social interaction skills and tactical skills; addiction; crisis intervention (mental health); policies on sexual misconduct and sexual harassment; and how to work with the
LGBTQ community
The LGBTQ community (also known as the LGBT, LGBT+, LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIA+, or queer community) comprises LGBTQ individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individu ...
. They also said that training innovation hubs should be set up and that community members should be included in police training. Overall police training has also gone through a shift from vocational training to greater emphasis on academic courses. One of the intentions is to mitigate the powerful social impact of police culture. Some states are moving towards a more inclusive training culture, for instance, all Florida police officers must complete a minimum of 770 hours of state-mandated training during their initial certification, which includes training in diversity.
Uses of video as a training tool
Videos are used as a recruiting tool to engage people to apply for police training, and in attracting interest and attention, they may use action, humor, pathos or other techniques to encourage people's curiosity about policing as a career choice.
Videos may be effective in improving learners' knowledge, developing attention, reflection, and noticing skills, but the educational value of video depends upon the characteristics of the medium, content, and the learner's mental effort and expectations for learning. Video has six functions in police education to support the development of sworn officers.
In the classroom, watching and talking about videos can help people learn to pick out and pay attention to the most important parts of complicated situations. For example, students may view a video of an interaction between police and citizens, learning to able to recognize the point at which information has been gathered to establish probable cause or suspicion to justify the officer's initial action. Such activities also may sharpen the ability to interpret and reflect on what is noticed based on one's own professional knowledge and experience using description, explanation, and prediction. In policing, learning from video may cultivate systematic observation procedures that transfer to direct observation in the field. Because video provides a permanent recording that captures the complexity of social interactions, learners can examine an action with multiple objectives and from different perspectives. Learners can also stop the tape and review certain segments, focusing on specific details.
Video viewing and discussion activities cultivates professional vision. A concept used to describe the distinctive ability shared by members of a professional group to see and understand events central to their work. This is because video facilitates a shift from an individual dimension to a collective one in observation, since the same video can be shared by different observers, enabling analysis from multiple perspectives. Because viewers bring a variety of different kinds of life experiences and prior knowledge to the task of viewing video, what they notice and the meanings they infer from the video will vary greatly. For this reason, instructional practices that involve viewing and discussion need to elaborate their purposes with clear and concrete task structures and designs.
Learning from body-worn camera footage (BWC)
Video has become increasingly important in law enforcement, and society has accepted a variety of forms of surveillance because of its value in both increasing accountability and preventing crime. In a study of more than 700 police chiefs, researchers found that police chiefs with higher levels of trust in their officers were more willing to disclose raw video footage from body-worn cameras to the general public. Body-worn camera footage can be valuable for police training and supporting officer learning, particularly in situations where behaviors fall short of professionalism. But dashcams and body-worn cameras may also inadvertently increase the use of force incidents and reduce the time that the police spend on de-escalating a situation.
Demonstrations and how-to videos
Other types of videos can also provide visual and real-life examples of important policing concepts and police instructors often use video ftoconveyiimportant information and ideas, demonstrating how to use equipment, tactics, and procedures, enhaneg situational awareness, and evenbettern understang the local community. Short clips from news and entertainment programs can help address important cultural and social dimensions of police/citizen encounters, and these videos are easily accessed through social media posts and video-sharing websites. Some of the video training materials that are used in police education are so tedious and boring to watch that officers are tempted to skip out on viewing them, which is a type of cheating.
Controversies about videos used in police training
Many police recruits have entertainment-based perceptions about crime and law enforcement, and their world views may be shaped by
copaganda, or entertainment media's distorted depictions of police activity. Police training videos can also reinforce harmful stereotypes. Communities concerned about police abuse of power have examined the content and format of videos used in police academies as part of police reform initiatives. In Austin, as members of the community reviewed videos used for police education, they noticed patterns that troubled them. The videos used for police instruction included many with content that included an “us-versus-them” bias that focused exclusively on officer safety that neglected to consider the safety of the community as a whole. Videos depicted officers as “good guys” and the public they interact with as “bad guys,” offering a view of the profession as primarily concerned with exercising and maintaining control, where officers are agents of control and the public stands in need of being controlled.
Police academies by country
Albania
Albanian Police
The Albanian State Police () is the national police and largest law enforcement agency which operates throughout the Albania, Republic of Albania, ensuring the safety of citizens, keeping the public order, and serving the people anytime anywhere ...
recruits are trained at the
Security Academy, located in
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...
.
Australia
In Australia, the
states and mainland territories run a centralised academy for the training of law enforcement personnel for agencies within a given state or territory.
The academies ensure that officers meet basic local, state and federal standards. Graduation from an approved academy program is usually required before a new law enforcement officer is placed on
active duty
Active duty, in contrast to reserve duty, is a full-time occupation as part of a military force.
Indian
The Indian Armed Forces are considered to be one of the largest active service forces in the world, with almost 1.42 million Active Standin ...
.
The
New South Wales Police Academy,
Victoria Police Academy,
Queensland Police
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is the principal law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Australian state of Queensland. In 1990, the Queensland Police Force was officially renamed the Queensland Police Service and the old motto ...
Academy,
Tasmania Police
Tasmania Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the Australian state of Tasmania. Established in 1899, the force has more than 1,300 officers policing Tasmania's population of 571,200 people.
History
Colonial history
Prior to the forma ...
Academy,
South Australia Police
South Australia Police (SAPOL) is the police force of the Australian States and territories of Australia, state of South Australia. SAPOL is an independent statutory agency of the Government of South Australia directed by the Commissioner of Po ...
Academy,
Northern Territory Police
The Northern Territory Police Force is the police body that has legal jurisdiction over the Northern Territory of Australia. This police service has 1,607 police members (2021-22 financial year) made up of 83 senior sergeants, 228 sergeants, 912 ...
Academy,
Western Australia Police
The Western Australia Police Force, colloquially WAPOL, provides police services throughout the state of Western Australia to a population of 2.66 million people, of which 2.11 million reside in the Perth Metropolitan Region. Western Australia h ...
Academy are state police, initial training institutions. The smaller yet distinguished
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the principal Federal police, federal law enforcement agency of the Australian Government responsible for investigating Crime in Australia, crime and protecting the national security of the Commonwealth ...
Academy located in Barton, Canberra trains AFP recruits.
Austria
There are
10 police academies for the
Federal Police
A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for law enforcement within a specific jurisdiction through the employment and deployment of law enforcement officers and their resources. The most common type of law enforcement ...
(''Bundespolizei''). The basic training for police officers in Austria takes 24 months.
Azerbaijan
In
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
, the Police Academy was established in 1921 by the People's Internal Affairs Commissariat of the Azerbaijan Republic and it continued to function in Baku until 1936 when the main building of the academy was moved to
Mərdəkan
Mardakan (, ) is a settlement and municipality in Khazar raion, Khazar Rayon of Baku, Azerbaijan, located on the coast of the Caspian Sea, with a population of 32,084. It's positioned on the eastern Absheron Peninsula, about 30 km away from downtow ...
(a district outside Baku).
In 1957, it became the Baku Private Secondary Police School of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs. The graduates were granted legal diplomas. Initially, education spanned two years. From 1957 to 1961, the school trained personnel for
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
,
Dagestan
Dagestan ( ; ; ), officially the Republic of Dagestan, is a republic of Russia situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe, along the Caspian Sea. It is located north of the Greater Caucasus, and is a part of the North Caucasian Fede ...
,
Kabardino-Balkaria
Kabardino-Balkaria (), officially the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 904,200. Its capital is Nalchik. The area contains the highest mountain in ...
,
Altai,
Irkutsk
Irkutsk ( ; rus, Иркутск, p=ɪrˈkutsk; Buryat language, Buryat and , ''Erhüü'', ) is the largest city and administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. With a population of 587,891 Irkutsk is the List of cities and towns in Russ ...
,
Krasnodar
Krasnodar, formerly Yekaterinodar (until 1920), is the largest city and the administrative centre of Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The city stands on the Kuban River in southern Russia, with a population of 1,154,885 residents, and up to 1.263 millio ...
,
Kuybyshev,
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk is the largest city and administrative centre of Novosibirsk Oblast and the Siberian Federal District in Russia. As of the 2021 Russian census, 2021 census, it had a population of 1,633,595, making it the most populous city in Siber ...
,
Kemerovo
Kemerovo ( rus, Ке́мерово, p=ˈkʲemʲɪrəvə) is an industrial types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Iskitimka River, Iskitimka and Tom ...
,
Saratov
Saratov ( , ; , ) is the largest types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and administrative center of Saratov Oblast, Russia, and a major port on the Volga River. Saratov had a population of 901,361, making it the List of cities and tow ...
, and other states within the USSR.
The main purpose of the academy is to educate students regarding the law as well as specialised training for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
All candidates are expected to pass an entry examination composed mostly of fitness requirements. A candidate who does not meet the physical fitness requirements, or fails assessments such as medical or MIA checks are considered to be disqualified from the competition. Applicants must be a citizen of Azerbaijan with no criminal record. The successful candidates graduate after studying for 5 years at the academy.
During the course of study, students of academy are provided with dormitories, uniforms, scholarships, and meals. Men and women are placed in separate dormitories on campus.
After graduation, the candidates are assigned police ranks and they are given positions within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The academy studies other countries by sending officers to Germany, Austria, England, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Russia, and other countries.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the
Bangladesh Police Academy trains recruits of the
Bangladesh Police
The Bangladesh Police () is the national law enforcement agency of Bangladesh, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh), Ministry of Home Affairs. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order with ...
. It also offers refreshment training for previous graduates. Each law enforcement includes specialised training and study durations.
* Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP): Bangladesh Police Academy (1 year), foundation training at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center (BPATC)
* Sub-Inspector: Bangladesh Police Academy (1 year)
* Sergeant: Bangladesh Police Academy (6 months)
* Constable: Bangladesh Police Academy (6 months)
Bulgaria
The Bulgarian police academy is the Academy of the Ministry of Interior (Академия МВР).
Colombia
National Police of Colombia
The National Police of Colombia () is the law enforcement agency#natpol, national police force of the Republic of Colombia. Although the National Police is not part of the Military Forces of Colombia (Army, Navy, and Aerospace Force), it const ...
recruits are trained at the
General Santander National Police Academy.
Cyprus
The
Cyprus Police Academy, (Greek: Αστυνομική Ακαδημία Κύπρου), is the main educational institution for law enforcement officers in the
Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the third lar ...
. Founded in 1990 as the successor to the Police Training School, the CPA is recognised as an institution of higher education by the Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications. The CPA operates under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order as a police unit within the organizational structure of the
Cyprus Police
The Cyprus Police (, ''i''), is the national police service of the Republic of Cyprus, falling under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order since 1993.
The duties and responsibilities of the Cyprus police are set out in the amended Police La ...
. It functions on a permanent basis, both for the education of cadet constables and for the training of all police members, regardless of rank, as part of officers' continuing education. Some legal courses are also conducted for non-police officers.
Czech Republic
The Police Education and Training Unit (PETU) was established in 2015 and is the leading agency regarding all education and training of the police forces in the Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic, the Police Academy is a university-level institution, where specialised training for police, public administration, and private security services is provided. Some branches are open to civilians while some are only for police officers and other para-military groups such as firefighters and soldiers. The schools are open to recruits holding advanced educational degrees (bachelor's degree or higher).
Basic training centers for recruits are called "secondary police schools" and every law enforcement officer must advance through one of these centers. In this system, "senior police schools" still exist that have the educational status of "higher learning", where specializations are offered.
Municipal police may have access to several training centers, and some larger cities have their own dedicated campuses. Some municipalities conduct training through privately licensed agencies.
Estonia
The Estonian Police was originally established in 1918 and then re-established in 1991 after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. The Estonia Police force consists of three units: Central Criminal Police, the Central Law Enforcement, and the Forensic Service Center. In
Estonia
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...
, the Estonian Academy of Security Science is located in
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...
and consists of four colleges including the Police and Border Guard colleges in
Muraste and
Paikuse. Estonia Police were the first to use Blockchain technology to allow for better policing of the people. Applicants must be in good health, have no criminal background and possess certain traits as evaluated by psychological exams.
Finland
Recruits in the Finnish Police forces receive training at the
Police University College in Finland, or POLAMK. It is located in Tampere, Finland and consists of various teaching facilities and related premises, including a vehicle training facility and a training area for live-action, realistic police operations. POLAMK requires its candidates to be Finnish citizens who have completed at least a vocational qualification, upper secondary school studies or the matriculation examination. Applicants must be in good health, have no criminal background and possess certain traits as evaluated by psychological exams. The
Security Intelligence Service performs a basic security background check of all applicants which includes penalties and convictions, arrests for drunkenness, racist attitudes as well as security risks. Applicants must possess, at least, a short-term driving license by the end of the application period. Basic police training requires three years of study and is considered a bachelor's degree.
After the bachelor's degree and three additional years of experience in the field of internal security, an officer is qualified to apply for Master's studies (2 years, Master's degree). Master's studies focus on management skills and supervisory tasks. The master's degree is a required qualification for command positions such as Chief Inspector or Superintendent.
Germany
In Germany policing is divided into different levels. There are different police academies (''Polizeischule'') for the
federal police
A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for law enforcement within a specific jurisdiction through the employment and deployment of law enforcement officers and their resources. The most common type of law enforcement ...
(''Bundespolizei'') or
state police
State police, provincial police or regional police are a type of sub-national territorial police force found in nations organized as federations, typically in North America, South Asia, and Oceania. These forces typically have jurisdiction o ...
forces (''Landespolizei''). In addition, there are training centers for several
municipal police
Municipal police, city police, or local police are law enforcement agencies that are under the control of local government. This includes the municipal government, where it is the smallest administrative subdivision. They receive fundi ...
forces as well.
Ghana
Ghana Police Service recruits are trained at the
Ghana Police Academy in
Tesano.
Indonesia

In
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
, the National Police Academy (
Indonesian: ''Akademi Kepolisian'' abbreviated "AKPOL") is the main institute, training center, and school for recruits joining the
Indonesian National Police
The Indonesian National Police (, abbreviated as POLRI) is the national law enforcement and police force of the Republic of Indonesia. Founded on 1 July 1946, it was formerly a part of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, country's military si ...
to become professional
officers. After 4 years in the Police Academy, cadets graduate to the rank of Police Inspector 2nd Class (''Inspektur Polisi Dua''), (equivalent to
Second Lieutenant in the military). Graduates become first line supervisors with the rank of junior first ranking officers in the Indonesian National Police and can be deployed to different units within the force. The academy is located in
Semarang
Semarang (Javanese script, Javanese: , ''Kutha Semarang'') is the capital and largest city of Central Java province in Indonesia. It was a major port during the Netherlands, Dutch Dutch East Indies, colonial era, and is still an important regio ...
,
Central Java
Central Java (, ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogya ...
and is part of the International Association of Police Academies.
Cadet ranks in the academy are as shown below:
*Cadet Enlisted Candidate (''Calon Bhayangkara Taruna'') – Trainee for the first 4 months
*Cadet Enlisted Second Class (''Bhayangkara Dua Taruna'') – First Year
*Cadet Enlisted First Class (''Bhayangkara Satu Taruna'') – Second Year
*Cadet Brigadier Second Class (''Brigadir Dua Taruna'') – Third Year
*Cadet Brigadier First Class (''Brigadir Satu Taruna'') – Fourth Year
*Cadet Brigadier (''Brigadir Taruna'') – Graduating year (After this rank, they will graduate and achieve the rank of Police Inspector)
Until 1999, before the
Indonesian National Police
The Indonesian National Police (, abbreviated as POLRI) is the national law enforcement and police force of the Republic of Indonesia. Founded on 1 July 1946, it was formerly a part of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, country's military si ...
officially separated from the armed forces (ABRI), the Indonesian Police Academy ("AKPOL") also stood under the National Armed Forces Academy but now has separated from the Military and is under the auspices of the President of Indonesia, and controlled by the National Police Headquarters (''Mabes Polri''). Although separated from the service academies, cadets from both institutions maintain cooperative relationships through annual joint exercises. AKPOL's new cadets and fourth class cadets, alongside their armed forces counterparts, have had a joint fourth class cadet training program since 2008, after completing it the police officer cadets spend the remaining four years of study in Semarang.
India
Located in
Hyderabad, India
Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...
,
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy is the national institute for training of
Indian Police Service
The Indian Police Service (IPS) is a civil service under the All India Services. It replaced the Indian Imperial Police in 1948, a year after India became Partition of India, independent from the British Empire.
Along with the Indian Admini ...
(IPS) officers before they are assigned to their respective Indian state cadres. Additionally, each state has their respective police academy for training of lower ranks below the rank of superintendent of police, such as constable, sub-inspector and many more.
Iran
Recruits of the
Law Enforcement Command of Islamic Republic of Iran are trained at the
Amin Police Academy in
Tehran
Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
.
Ireland
In Ireland, the
Garda Síochána College in
Templemore
Templemore () is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is a Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish in the historical Barony (Ireland), barony of Eliogarty. It is part of the Ecclesiastical parish, parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea i ...
is the only police academy. All trainees for the
Garda Síochána
(; meaning "the Guardian(s) of the Peace") is the national police and security service of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is more commonly referred to as the Gardaí (; "Guardians") or "the Guards". The service is headed by the Garda Commissio ...
and
Garda Síochána Reserve study here. The basic training program is 104 weeks in the academy which is split with practical skills and training also required.
Israel
All
Israel Police
The Israel Police (; ) is the civilian police force of Israel. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control, maintaining public safety, and counter-terrorism. It is under the jurisdiction o ...
regular personnel are trained at the National Police Academy in
Beit Shemesh
Beit Shemesh () is a city council (Israel), city located approximately west of Jerusalem in Israel's Jerusalem District. A center of Haredi Judaism and Modern Orthodoxy, Beit Shemesh has a population of 170,683 as of 2024.
The city is named afte ...
, which has facilities for a wide range of training programs.
Israel Border Police
The Israel Border Police () is the gendarmerie and border security branch of the Israel National Police. It is also commonly known by its Hebrew abbreviation Magav (), meaning border guard; its members are colloquially known as ''magavnikim ...
personnel are trained at the Border Police instructional base near
Beit Horon
Beit Horon () is a communal Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Bordering Route 443 between Modi'in and Jerusalem, the biblical pass of Beit Horon (Joshua 10:10), after which it is named, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Binyamin Reg ...
and the basic training base near
Ma'ale Mikhmas.
Italy
For prospective candidates to the
Polizia di Stato
The (State Police or P.S.) is one of the national Law enforcement in Italy, police forces of Italy. Alongside the Carabinieri, it is the main police force for providing police duties, primarily to cities and large towns, and with its child agen ...
, basic education is conducted at the Scuola Superiore di Polizia while the Scuola di perfezionamento per le Forze di Polizia conducts advanced education and implements courses on new legislation, regulations and operational techniques.
Japan

Each
prefectural police department in Japan has a dedicated prefectural police academy. The police academy of the
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
The , known locally as simply the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), is the prefectural police of Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. Founded in 1874, the TMPD is the largest police force in Japan by number of officers, with a staff of more than 4 ...
is the
Metropolitan Police Academy. The academies operate similarly to regular colleges or universities, and offer clubs and mandatory dormitories.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, there are fifteen police academies, one of them being the
Royal Malaysia Police College in
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
which is a combination of four police training institutes, (the Kuala Kubu Baru Police College, the Special Branch Training School, the College of Criminal Investigation, and Traffic School), which train higher-ranking officers. The college has plans to be upgraded to a Police University in collaboration with the
Sultan Idris Education University.
Moldova
Moldovan Police recruits are trained at the
Ștefan cel Mare Police Academy in
Chișinău
Chișinău ( , , ; formerly known as Kishinev) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Moldova, largest city of Moldova. The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial centre, and is located in the middle of the coun ...
.
Mongolia
National Police Agency National Police may refer to the national police forces of several countries:
*Afghanistan: Afghan National Police
*Haiti: Haitian National Police
*Canada: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
*Colombia: National Police of Colombia
*Cuba: National Revolut ...
recruits are trained at the Police Academy of Mongolia in
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities in Mongolia, most populous city of Mongolia. It has a population of 1.6 million, and it is the coldest capital city in the world by average yearly temperature. The municipa ...
.
Nepal
The
National Police Academy, Nepal (formerly known as the Central Police Training Centre, founded in 1956) was established with the introduction of police regulation in 1993.
New Zealand
Located in Papakowhai, approximately 2 km north of Porirua City, the
Royal New Zealand Police College is the central training institution for all police recruits and police officers in New Zealand.
Nigeria
Cadets for the
Nigerian Police Force who join during recruitment drives are trained in a number of police colleges and training schools, including specialized schools. In addition, the Nigeria Police Academy in
Wudil
Wudil is a Local Government Area in Kano State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Wudil on the A237 highway.
It has an area of 362 km and a population of 185,189 at the 2006 census.
The postal code
A postal code (also kno ...
,
Kano State
Kano (Hausa language, Hausa: ) is one of the 36 States of Nigeria, states of Nigeria, located in the Northern Region, Nigeria, northern region of the country. According to the national census done in 2006, Kano State is the List of Nigerian st ...
, is a federal university for police recruits. Those who earn a degree from the Nigeria Police Academy can join the police with the rank of Assistant Superintendent, though they may also use their degrees to integrate into multiple sectors of the economy.
Norway
The
Norwegian Police University College offers education for the
police force of Norway, including a three-year basic education program and a possible expansion that would offer a
Master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...
.
Philippines
During the 1980s, the
Philippine National Police Academy in
Cavite
Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite (; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region. On the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest of Manila, i ...
served as a school for selected enlisted personnel and civilians to join as Police/Fire Lieutenants in the defunct
Integrated National Police
The Integrated National Police (INP) ( Filipino: ''Pinagsamang Pulisyáng Pambansà'', ''PPP''; Spanish: ''Policía Nacional Conjunta'', ''PNC'') was the municipal police force for the cities and large towns of the Republic of the Philippine ...
. After the merging of the
Philippine Constabulary
The Philippine Constabulary (PC; , ''HPP''; ) was a gendarmerie-type military police force of the Philippines from 1901 to 1991, and the predecessor to the Philippine National Police. It was created by the Insular Government, American occupat ...
and INP on January 1, 1991, it became the primary officer school for the new
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police (PNP; ) is the national police force of the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Currently, it has approximately 228,000 personnel to police a pop ...
, the
Bureau of Fire Protection
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP; ) is the government body in the Philippines responsible for firefighting services. It is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Functions and duties
The BFP is respons ...
and the
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, all under the
Department of the Interior and Local Government
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG; ) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public safety and strengthening local government capability aimed towards ...
(DILG).
Philippine National Police Academy graduates are automatically appointed as Inspectors/Lieutenants in the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, or the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology according to their choice of public safety curriculum during their cadetship. This is under the supervision of the DILG and the
Philippine Public Safety College.
Poland
The Polish Police Academy is located in the town of
Szczytno
Szczytno (;) is a town in northeastern Poland with 27,013 inhabitants (2007). It is the seat of Szczytno County in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodship, within the historic region of Masuria.
Olsztyn-Mazury Regional Airport, located nearby, is the m ...
. In the college officers are enrolled in academic studies and trained in modern policing techniques, weapons handling, and informatics. Police schools are in
Piła
Piła (; ) is a city in northwestern Poland and the capital of Piła County, situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Its population was 71,846, making it the city in the voivodeship after Poznań and Kalisz and the largest city in the north ...
,
Słupsk
Słupsk (; ; ) is a city with powiat rights located on the Słupia River in the Pomeranian Voivodeship in northern Poland, in the historical region of Pomerania or more specifically in its part known in contemporary Poland as Central Pomerania ...
,
Katowice
Katowice (, ) is the capital city of the Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland and the central city of the Katowice urban area. As of 2021, Katowice has an official population of 286,960, and a resident population estimate of around 315,000. K ...
, and
Legionowo. Border guard training centers are located in
Kętrzyn
Kętrzyn (, until 1946 ''Rastembork''; ) is a town in northeastern Poland with 27,478 inhabitants (2019). It is the capital of Kętrzyn County in the Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship.
The town is known for the surrounding Masurian Lakeland and num ...
,
Koszalin
Koszalin (; ; , ) is a city in northwestern Poland, in Western Pomerania. It is located south of the Baltic Sea coast, and intersected by the river Dzierżęcinka. Koszalin is also a county-status city and capital of Koszalin County of West Pomera ...
, and
Lubań
Lubań (; ), sometimes called Lubań Śląski (; , ); is a town in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in southwest Poland. It is the administrative seat of Lubań County and also of the smaller Gmina Lubań (although it is not part of the territory ...
.
Romania
Offering two levels of training for officers, (
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
(3 years) and
Master's Degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...
, (2 years), The Romanian Police academy is located in
București.
The Border Police School and Training Center is located in
Oradea
Oradea (, , ; ; ) is a city in Romania, located in the Crișana region. It serves as the administrative county seat, seat of Bihor County and an economic, social, and cultural hub in northwestern Romania. The city lies between rolling hills on ...
,
Avram Iancu
Avram Iancu (; ; 1824 – September 10, 1872) was a Transylvanian Romanian lawyer who played an important role in the local chapter of the Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire, Austrian Empire Revolutions of 1848–1849. He was especiall ...
, the Coast Guard Center is in Constanta. Centers for Training Border Police Personnel are in
Iași
Iași ( , , ; also known by other #Etymology and names, alternative names), also referred to mostly historically as Jassy ( , ), is the Cities in Romania, third largest city in Romania and the seat of Iași County. Located in the historical ...
and
Orsova.
Serbia
In Serbia, future police officers are trained at the
Basic Police Training Centre
Basic or BASIC may refer to:
Science and technology
* BASIC, a computer programming language
* Basic (chemistry), having the properties of a base
* Basic access authentication, in HTTP
Entertainment
* Basic (film), ''Basic'' (film), a 2003 film
...
in Sremska Kamenica, the former Police High School. The training lasts for 1 year and is followed by a 6-month probation period at a Regional Police Department. The skills the recruits learn are for general jurisdiction police officers, and after they are employed, they may specialise in a line of work (traffic police, border police, special forces, etc.). There is also the Academy of Criminalistic and Police Studies, a higher education institution established as a legal successor of the Advanced School of Internal Affairs, formed in 1972; and Police Academy, formed in 1993.
Singapore
Recruits of the
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is the national and principal Police, law enforcement agency responsible for the prevention of crime and law enforcement in the Republic of Singapore. It is the country's lead agency against organised crime; hum ...
,
Singapore Civil Defence Force
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is a uniformed organisation in Singapore under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore), Ministry of Home Affairs that provides emergency services such as firefighting, technical rescue, and emergency med ...
,
Central Narcotics Bureau,
Singapore Prison Service
The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) is a government agency of Singapore under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore), Ministry of Home Affairs. Based in Changi Prison, Changi Prison Complex in the eastern part of Singapore, the service runs ...
,
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, and
Internal Security Department, among other Singaporean law enforcement and internal security agencies, are trained at the
Home Team Academy
The Home Team Academy (HTA) is the training institute for various organisations of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore), Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore, including the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the Ce ...
.
Slovak Republic
In the Slovak Republic, the Police College, (University), offers courses in security specialization for police, public administration, and private security services. Some branches are open to civilians, while some only allow police officers, firefighters, soldiers and the like. The schools offer bachelor's degrees, Master's Degrees, and Doctoral Degrees.
All police officers must pass through the basic training centers for new police officers, called secondary police schools.
Slovenia
In Slovenia, the police academy conducts training programs, education, and training for the police and for external users. All candidates need to have a high-school education before attending. Candidates spend eighteen months in basic training in order to become a police officer, followed by a six-month evaluation period. Advanced police school courses last two years, and require one to have been a police officer for at least two years.
South Korea
Korean National Police recruits and cadets are trained at the Central Police Academy in
Chungju
Chungju () is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, city in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Uamsan is a mountain located within the outskirts of the city.
The city is famous for the annual martial arts festival held in October. Al ...
and the
Korean National Police University in
Asan
Asan (; ) is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It borders the Seoul Capital Area to the north. Asan has a population of approximately 400,000.
Asan is known for its many hot springs an ...
.
Spain
In Spain, there is a
Ministry of the Interior
An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement.
In some states, the ...
's
National Police centralised academy near
Ávila
Ávila ( , , ) is a Spanish city located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Ávila.
It lies on the right bank of the Adaja river. Located more than 1,130 m a ...
(.) The
Guardia Civil runs two centralised academies, one for enlisted ''guardias'' and
sub-officers in
Baeza (
Jaén, ) and another one for
commanding officers in two campuses at
Aranjuez
Aranjuez () is a city and municipality of Spain, part of the Community of Madrid.
Located in the southern end of the region, the main urban nucleus lies on the left bank of the Tagus, a bit upstream of the discharge of the Jarama. , the munici ...
() and
El Escorial
El Escorial, or the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (), or (), is a historical residence of the king of Spain located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, up the valley ( road distance) from the town of El Escorial, Madrid, El ...
() (
Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
). The autonomous
Catalan and
Basque
Basque may refer to:
* Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France
* Basque language, their language
Places
* Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France
* Basque Country (autonomous co ...
police forces —the
Mossos d'Esquadra
The ''Mossos d'Esquadra'' (; ), also known as the ''Policia de la Generalitat de Catalunya'' and informally as ''Mossos'', is the State police#Spain, regional police force in the autonomous community of Catalonia. They trace their origins back ...
and the
Ertzaintza
The (, or ''People's Guard'') is the autonomous police force for the Basque Country, largely replacing the Spanish Policía Nacional (National Police) and Guardia Civil (Civil Guard). An Ertzaintza member is called an ''ertzaina'' ().
...
— also have their own academies in
Mollet del Vallès
Mollet del Vallès () is a municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Comarques of Catalonia, ''comarca'' of the Vallès Oriental in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the valley of the Besòs (river), Besòs river, and is an important commun ...
(
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
, ) and
Arcaute (
Álava
Álava () or Araba (), officially Araba/Álava, is a Provinces of Spain, province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, heir of the ancient Basque señoríos#Lords of Álava, Lordship ...
, ). No candidates with a criminal record are accepted.
Candidates attend these centralised public academies after passing the police force's
entry examination, this way recruits are already enlisted and will automatically become police officers if they don't fail the course or drop out. Recruits' training is tuition free and the candidates are paid a police cadet's wage as members of the force. Basic training ranges from 9 months for an entry-level officer of the ''Policía Nacional'',''Guardia Civil'' or a ''mosso'', but realistically takes 18 months to two years including practicums and additional training. Local police forces including
Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
's or
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
's are often trained at these large public academies too. High-rank or highly specialised courses are longer and eventually lead to a college-like degree.
The Spanish police academies must not be confused with the many fee-paying private ''academias'' training potential candidates to pass the entry examination beforehand. While these private academies may be helpful, studying at them is not required and potential candidates are able to take the entrance examination without these courses.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka established the
Sri Lanka Police Academy in 2008, bringing together several police training institutions including the Sri Lanka Police College.
Sweden
Since 2015, police training has been entirely outsourced by the
Swedish Police Authority
The Swedish Police Authority () is the national police, police force (''Polisen'') of Sweden. The first modern police force in Sweden was established in the mid-19th century, and the police remained in effect under Municipalities of Sweden, local ...
, and is carried out at five universities: Malmö, Borås
Växjö
Växjö () is a city and the seat of Växjö Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden. It had 71,282 inhabitants (2020) out of a Municipalities of Sweden, municipal population of 97,349 (2024). It is the administrative, cultural, and industrial ce ...
,
Umeå
Umeå ( , , , locally ; ; ; ; ) is a city in northeast Sweden. It is the seat of Umeå Municipality and the capital of Västerbotten County.
Situated on the Ume River, Umeå is the largest Urban areas in Sweden, locality in Norrland and the t ...
, and
Södertörn. The training covers five terms, and the last two include six months of paid workplace practicum as a Police Trainee. Applicants must possess eligibility for higher education, the personal qualities deemed necessary for the profession and meet a number of the physical requirements relating to the job.
Taiwan
National Police Agency National Police may refer to the national police forces of several countries:
*Afghanistan: Afghan National Police
*Haiti: Haitian National Police
*Canada: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
*Colombia: National Police of Colombia
*Cuba: National Revolut ...
recruits are trained at the
Taiwan Police College in
Wenshan District
Thailand

In Thailand, the
Royal Thai Police
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) (; ) is the national police force of Thailand. The RTP employs between 210,700 and 230,000 officers, roughly 17 percent of all civil servants (excluding the military and the employees of state-owned enterprises). The R ...
has two levels of police academies:
Royal Police Cadet Academy for police cadet There is only one training school in the country. graduated with the rank of Police Sub Lieutenant.
Police Training Center for Non-Commissioned Officers Graduated with the rank of Police
lance corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many English-speaking armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal.
Etymology
The presumed origin of the rank of lance corp ...
. The training centers are divided according to operational regions, namely the Central Police Training Division for the
Metropolitan Police Bureau
The Metropolitan Police Bureau () is a unit in the Royal Thai Police, and is responsible for maintaining security in Bangkok - the capital of Thailand. There are a total of 14 divisions (command units) and 2 direct divisions which report directly ...
. Training Center Of Provincial Police Region 1-9 for the Provincial Police and Border Patrol Police Training Center, Division 1-9 for
Border Patrol Police
The Border Patrol Police (; (BPP) is a Thai paramilitary police under the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Police, responsible for border security, counterinsurgency, disaster relief, law enforcement, operating in difficult terrain, and supporting ...
.
Turkey
The Police Academy was established in 1937 to recruit police chiefs. In 1938, a police college, (high school), was established in
Ankara
Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and List of national capitals by area, the largest capital by area in the world. Located in the Central Anatolia Region, central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5,290,822 in its urban center ( ...
in order to prepare students for the Police Academy. Today, the police academy recruits police officers in 26 schools located in different parts of Turkey, and police chiefs in one school located in
Ankara
Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and List of national capitals by area, the largest capital by area in the world. Located in the Central Anatolia Region, central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5,290,822 in its urban center ( ...
.
Ukraine
National Police of Ukraine recruits are trained at the
National Academy of Internal Affairs in
Kyiv
Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...
.
United Arab Emirates
In UAE, the
Emirate
An emirate is a territory ruled by an emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than a caliphate. It can be considered equivalent ...
s either train their own police force or outsource training to academies of other
Emirate
An emirate is a territory ruled by an emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than a caliphate. It can be considered equivalent ...
s. There are mainly two academies, one located in
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...
and the other in
Dubai
Dubai (Help:IPA/English, /duːˈbaɪ/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''doo-BYE''; Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic: ; Emirati Arabic, Emirati Arabic: , Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Help:IPA/English, /diˈbej/) is the Lis ...
.
Abu Dhabi
In the Abu Dhabi Police Academy, the study program includes practical and field training. After successful completion of the program, the student is awarded a bachelor's degree in Law and Policing Sciences.
An Institute for officer training affiliated with the Police College was established in 1992. In 2002, the system of study in the college was changed to incorporate training theory programs and fieldwork.
The four years of study are divided into two levels of study consisting of eight terms:
=Basic level – two years
=
One year for theoretical study and another for fieldwork.
=Advanced level – two years
=
These two levels are preceded by an introductory period for the physical and psychological preparation of the students. After successful completion of the study and training programs, the student will be awarded a bachelor's degree in Police Sciences and Criminal Justice.
Dubai
The Dubai Police Academy was founded in 1987 and was granted autonomy from the police force as long as it retained some affiliation with Dubai Police General Headquarters. It was fully inaugurated in 1989 in the presence of
Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In 1992, degrees offered by the academy were given university equivalency.
The first class was from 1987 to 1988 and consisted of 51 cadets and 30 full-time students, (some of whom were existing police officers), which graduated in 1991. During the academic year of 1996–1997, students from other Arabic countries such as Yemen and the Palestinian Territories were admitted.
United Kingdom
England and Wales
All candidates for the 43 police forces for England and Wales must be over the age of 18; of a reasonable standard of physical fitness, with good health and eyesight. Candidates also must hold British citizenship, be a citizen of the Commonwealth with no restrictions on his or her stay within Britain or be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. There are a number of entry routes, none of which require officers to train at a residential police academy. From 2007, all training was managed by the now defunct
National Policing Improvement Agency
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom, established to support police by providing expertise in such areas as information technology, information sharing, and recruitment.
It was ...
with the
College of Policing taking over in 2013.
Scotland
All new police officers in Scotland attend an initial 11-week training course at the
Scottish Police College at
Tulliallan Castle. The college has been operating since 1954 and hosts initial training of new officers as well as a range of courses such as the training of traffic officers and detectives. Many courses have received accreditation from the
Scottish Qualifications Authority
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA; Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic: ''Ùghdarras Theisteanas na h-Alba'') is the Scottish public bodies, executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for accrediting educationa ...
(SQA) or are credit rated on the
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is the national credit transfer system for all levels of qualifications in Scotland. Awards are classified under the framework at ''levels'', and study undertaken at that level is valued ...
(SCQF). Training ranges from a SCQF Level 7 for the probationer training delivered to new recruits (equivalent to an entry-level higher education course) to degree level qualifications for more specialised or senior roles such as detective training or courses for senior officers.
United States
Police academies exist in every state and at the federal level. Each state has an agency that certifies state-specific police academies and their programs. Most states have minimum physical and academic requirements to be completed prior to entry into the academy. Some states may require additional certifications before qualification as a police officer. While some states allow open enrollment in police academies, many require cadets to be hired by a police department in order to attend training. Departments and/or state certification agencies may also require individuals to pass background checks, psychological evaluations, polygraph exams, drug screenings, firearms qualifications and demonstrations of driving skills as prerequisites of employment/certification.
In an analysis of training requirements in several states by ''Gawker'' "found Louisiana law enforcement recruits typically attend 360 hours of training, while the national average is approximately 70% higher, at more than 600 hours. Louisiana requires less hours of training for law enforcement than the 1,500 hours needed to become a certified barber, the website said. "Washington, D.C., requires the most police academy training hours in the nation, at 1,120."
Researchers say police are given far more training on use of firearms than on de-escalating provocative situations.
Federal

While some federal law enforcement agencies have their own training requirements and training facilities, 91 federal law enforcement agencies (including the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
and
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The Marshals Service serves as the enforcement and security arm of the United States federal judi ...
), require agents, officers and prospective agents/officers to attend basic and in-service training at the
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC; pronounced ) is a law enforcement training school under the United States Department of Homeland Security, serving 105 federal law enforcement agencies within the United States federal governm ...
(FLETC). FLETC, which is operated by the
Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior, home, or public security ministries in other countries. Its missions invol ...
, and is headquartered in
Glynco,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
with training sites in
Artesia,
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...
,
Charleston,
South Carolina
South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
and
Cheltenham
Cheltenham () is a historic spa town and borough adjacent to the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716, and claims to be the mo ...
,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
.
Connecticut
In Connecticut, police officer recruits receive a certification to enforce the
General Statutes. Their training is conducted at "The Connecticut Police Academy" located at 285 Preston Avenue, in
Meriden, CT. In order to become a certified police officer, a recruit must be a legal United States resident at least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent, possess a valid drivers license, and not be convicted of any felonies. The to be officers then have to attend an 818-hour basic training course that covers various aspects of police work. This basic training course is certified by
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) is a credentialing authority (accreditation), based in the United States, whose primary mission is to accredit public safety agencies, namely law enforcement agencies, trai ...
, (CALEA).
Florida
In Florida, police academies are primarily run by community colleges or state agencies. All law enforcement officers in the state are certified as such by a governing body appointed by the governor called the ''Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission'' under the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement. All applicants must pass a state examination and be hired by a law enforcement agency within 4 years of graduation to be considered certified.
Kentucky
All law enforcement officers in Kentucky, (except as listed below), hired after 1998 are required to complete the minimum screening, physical training and classroom requirements of the Kentucky's ''Police Officer Professional Standards (POPS)'' prior to being certified, and acting, as a law enforcement officer.
Larger agencies, such as the
Kentucky State Police
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) is a department of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, and the official State Police force of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, responsible for statewide law enforcement. The department was founded in 1948 ...
, as well as the
Louisville Metro Police and the
Lexington Division of Police, operate their own police academies and may have requirements that exceed the minimum POPS standards. Agencies in Kentucky who do not run their own academies send their prospective officers to a 20-week basic training class at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy, operated by the
Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and located on the campus of
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University (Eastern or EKU) is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky. It also maintains branch campuses in Corbin, Hazard, and Manchester and offers over 40 online undergraduate and graduate options.
History
Founding
...
in
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, a city in the United States
* Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...
.
Exceptions to POPS training and certification are officers hired prior to 1998 and elected law enforcement officers whose duties and requirements are set forth in the
Kentucky Constitution. These include
sheriffs,
constables
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. ''Constable'' is commonly the rank of an officer within a police service. Other peo ...
,
coroner
A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death. The official may also investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within th ...
s and
jailers, (though generally not deputies). Many of these officeholders, however, hold POPS certification from previous employment as law enforcement officers prior to their election and some will receive POPS certification or approved equivalent training before taking office.
Maryland
In Maryland, the
Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission is the civilian governing body that sets standards for law enforcement personnel within the state. Most major
law enforcement agencies
A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for law enforcement within a specific jurisdiction through the employment and deployment of law enforcement officers and their resources. The most common type of law enforcement ...
operate their own academy in which recruits must pass over 550 objectives including, (but not limited to), criminal and traffic law, officer safety techniques,
defensive tactics, report writing, a 40-hour block of emergency vehicle operations, a 40-hour block of
First Responder
A first responder is a person with specialized training who is among the first to arrive and provide assistance or incident resolution at the scene of an emergency. First responders typically include Law enforcement, law enforcement officers (co ...
, and a 40-hour block of weapon training. Most agencies operate non-resident academies; however, the
Maryland State Police requires recruits to live at the academy and, dependent on their performance level for the week, may leave campus for the weekend. Many colleges such as the
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the Univ ...
and other
community colleges
A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open en ...
offer police academy instruction as well.
Michigan
In Michigan, in order to become law enforcement officers, all applicants have the option to be certified by the ''Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards'' or MCOLES. All persons wishing to become police officers in the State of Michigan must be certified through MCOLES. Cadets must pass a physical fitness exam as well as a reading and writing exam. Applicants also cannot have any felonies, weapons violations, or a history of domestic violence posted on their criminal records. Police academies are most often part of
community colleges
A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open en ...
, city or county police and sheriff departments, or the
Michigan State Police
The Michigan State Police (MSP) is the State police (United States), state police agency for the U.S. state of Michigan. The MSP is a full-service law enforcement agency, with its sworn members having full police powers statewide.
The department ...
.
After the police academy, candidates take the MCOLES test. Upon successful completion, candidates are 'certifiable' and have a period of one year to obtain employment as law enforcement officers, (if not sponsored by an agency). If a candidate is unable to obtain a law enforcement position within that year, and if the candidate wishes to be considered in the future, he/she must attend a two-week re-certification course, which adds a year to the candidate's window of opportunity.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire's PSTC, (Police Standards and Training Council), provides all training and maintains certification standards for every full and part-time law enforcement officer in the state. This includes anyone who has the power of arrest, (except federal officers), under New Hampshire law. The PSTC also provides training and certification for correctional officers employed directly by the State. All recruits must have at least a conditional offer of employment from a law enforcement agency, have a clear background check, pass a medical exam and a physical fitness test. Agencies may add other qualifications such as education, polygraph, and drug exams. The PSTC law enforcement academies require each recruit to qualify with a firearm, demonstrate driving skills, maintaining physical fitness, pass subject matter exams and scenario evaluations as a condition of certification.
Most agencies in the state use a Field Training Officer program to provide additional training and evaluation of new hires.
Texas
The agency which certifies police academies in Texas is the
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Many major cities and sheriff's offices also operate their own training academies, while some smaller municipalities cooperate to maintain regional academies. Some community colleges offer police training courses as well. There are three state-level law enforcement academies: the
Texas Department of Public Safety which trains state troopers, the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitat (ecology), habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state park, state's parks and historical ar ...
who train game wardens, and the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is a department of the government of the U.S. state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails ...
that trains state
corrections officers. Police academies typically last from 18 to 30 weeks, though there are many variations. All police cadets are required to obtain at least a Basic Peace Officer Proficiency Certification from TCOLE before beginning active duty; some academies also require their cadets to obtain an Intermediate certification before graduating. TCOLE offers certifications for jailers and corrections officers, who must also undergo training prior to being commissioned, (albeit typically much less than police officers).
Utah
The basis of the Utah basic training for police officers is to protect the community and the citizens the officers are serving. They do this by completing basic training, firearms training, curriculum development, canine training, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, and physical fitness training. Training for Utah officers is broken into two separate sections, called blocks. The two blocks are Special Functions and Law Enforcement. In order to be certified in the state of Utah an individual must successfully finish both blocks of training. This training is intended to teach the officers to be as professional and as up to date as possible. Officers are also required to do an additional 40 hours of training annually in order to stay up to date on all current laws and police procedures.
Venezuela
Venezuelan National Police recruits are trained at the
Experimental Security University
The Experimental Security University (UNES, ''Universidad Nacional Experimental de la Seguridad'') is a state university in Venezuela founded in 2009. It specialises in providing training for Venezuelan police and security forces, in particular t ...
in
Caracas
Caracas ( , ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas (CCS), is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern p ...
.
Vietnam
Located in Tu Liem district,
Hanoi
Hanoi ( ; ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Vietnam, second-most populous city of Vietnam. The name "Hanoi" translates to "inside the river" (Hanoi is bordered by the Red River (Asia), Red and Black River (Asia), Black Riv ...
,
Vietnam
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...
, The Vietnam People's Police Academy is one of the leading schools of the
Vietnam People's Public Security
The People's Public Security of Vietnam (), alternatively the People's Public Security Forces (PPS; - CAND), also recognized as the Vietnamese police, Vietnamese Police or by its Vietnamese short name (), is the national police and the main ...
, training officers with university degrees and postgraduate degrees. The People's Police Academy is a training center under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Public Security
Ministry of Public Security can refer to:
* Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Brazil)
* Ministry of Public Security of Burundi
* Ministry of Public Security (Chile)
* Ministry of Public Security (China)
* Ministry of Public Security of Co ...
.
In 1968, the People's Police was established within the Department of the Public Security Police (now known as the Academy of the People's Security).
Its primary responsibilities are:
* Training police officers with university degrees and postgraduate courses;
* Studying the scientific topics of the National Crime Prevention; Administration of State Security Order, Criminal Law, Works of Justice investigation
* International Training Cooperation with foreign police academies
In addition to future police officers, it also trains firefighters who serve in the VPPS officer corps.
See also
*
Police training officer
*
Field training officer
*
Field training program
A field training program (FTP), also known as a probationary program, is a type of probationary training and evaluation program that gives trainees and recruits actual first-hand experience in their occupation and field of work. It is similar ...
*
Military academy
*
Recruit training
Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which Resocialization, resocializes its subjects for ...
References
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