Become a Police Officer

Training Requirements

Being a police officer is a difficult job to say the least. Therefore, proper training and guidance is an important factor to be considered. The Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission (A.P.O.S.T.C.) was established to ensure that officers be the best trained and qualified police officers available to serve the public’s need.

The Academy’s requirements are tough and expectations high. They are ten Alabama Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (A.P.O.S.T.C.) academies throughout the State of Alabama that serve both Law Enforcement and Corrections. For a Law Enforcement officer’s position/job, A.P.O.S.T.C. requires 520 hours of academic instruction. Each officer is expected to be academically and physically capable of completing the twelve (13) week course of instruction.
The aim of police training is to equip trainees with skills, knowledge and attitudes required for effective police work. Emphasis is placed on high standards of personal discipline, integrity, appearance and conduct. Like any other profession, becoming a police officer requires certain qualifications. These minimum qualifications are to ensure that only the best people are selected. After the completion of the 13 week basic academy, officers are generally placed with a seasoned officer or other wised called a “Field Training Officer” for an additional 6 to 10 week period of further one on one training. The new officer is also placed on a one year probationary period during all this training.
Training never stops during your career! Officers are required to take 12 Continuing Education Units/hours per year, plus firearms training and if the officer is Dräger trained, then he will have to re-certify in that also. Other certification are also required to be maintained and that is above the 12 CEU’s each year that A.P.O.S.T.C. requires, so training never stops.

Available Law Enforcement Training Academies

Before going through the academy, they must be employed full time as a cop, meaning they have to work an average of 40 hours per week and within 6 months of being employed they need to complete the academy training in order to be certified. Failing to do so will nullify their employment and they will have to wait two years before submitting another application.

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