This rigorous program is designed for students who have made the career decision to be peace officers and are enrolled in the Basic Peace Officer Academy affiliated with Cuyahoga Community College.  The certificate program encompasses the state-mandated 720-hour Peace Officer Basic Training curriculum, as well as additional coursework that will enhance graduate's background, providing greater career opportunities.  Program requirements include 24 credits earned by completing Tri-C's Police Academy program.  

In order to meet the qualifications for an Short-Term Certificate in Criminal Justice: Basic Police Academy, a student must successfully complete a Basic Police Academy. This is accomplished by maintaining a “C” or higher grade in each of the Criminal Justice courses attached to the Basic Police Academy (CJ-1380 Police Academy I, CJ-1390 Police Academy II, CJ-2280 Police Academy III and CJ-2290 Police Academy IV) as well as passing grades in the non-credit classes (ZPOL-1004 and ZPOL-1005) and passing the State Certification Examination during the course of one OPOTC certified Basic Police Academy session.

Tri-C offers both full-time (40 hours/week) and part-time (24 hours/week) academies.   The full-time academy admits students in both the Fall and Spring semesters.  The part-time academy admits students only in the Fall semester.  Students can complete the additional 10 credits of required coursework to complete the certificate program in the Summer term. 

Program contact: Learn more

 

This certificate will be automatically awarded when the certificate requirements are completed. If you do not want to receive the certificate, please notify the Office of the Registrar at RegistrarOffice@tri-c.edu.

Learn more here  and here about how certificate credits apply to the related degrees.

Related Degrees and Certificates

Program Admission Requirements

  • Application is required and available here.
  • High School Diploma/GED
  • pass the Entry Physical Fitness Assessment Exam
  • apply for and be accepted as a student at Tri-C and be in good financial and academic standing
  • successfully pass the National WebCheck for Law Enforcement (BCI&I/FBI)
  • successfully pass the five-panel drug screen
  • receive a physical exam in good health from their physician
  • have a valid Ohio driver’s license and currently have full driving privileges in the State of Ohio
  • NOT have a criminal background
  • be at least 20 years old at the time of acceptance to the Academy*

Other Information

*AGE GUIDELINES: There is no age requirement, however, potential Cadets should understand the unlikelihood of being hired / sworn (offered a Commission) with a police department until he/she is 21 years of age. The College also requires that all firearms be transported to and from the range by someone of at least 21 years of age.  The following OPOTC standards are in place and apply to all graduates of the Police Academy regardless of age:

  • The individual has one year after taking and passing the OPOTC State Certification Exam (SCE) to obtain a Commission without having to take any further classes.
  • If hired after the one-year anniversary of having passed the SCE, the individual must have enough time to finish any new OPOTC requirements before the second year anniversary date of the SCE occurs. If the deadline is not met, he/she must repeat the entire OPOTC Basic Police Academy.
  • If any individual does not receive a Commission by the second year anniversary of having passed the SCE, he/she must successfully complete another complete OPOTC Basic Police Academy.
  • In order to meet the qualifications for a Certificate of Proficiency in Criminal Justice: Basic Police Academy, a student must successfully complete a Basic Police Academy. This is accomplished by maintaining a “C” or higher grade in each of the Criminal Justice courses attached to the Basic Police Academy (CJ-1380 Police Academy I, CJ-1390 Police Academy II, CJ-2280 Police Academy III and CJ-2290 Police Academy IV) as well as passing grades in the non-credit classes (ZPOL-1004 and ZPOL-1005) and passing the State Certification Examination during the course of one OPOTC certified Basic Police Academy session.

Note:  The College offers two full time academies, one starting in Fall and one starting in Spring, and a part-time academy starting in Fall.   Once students begin an academy program, the student cannot switch to a different academy program (i.e. start in a full-time academy and switch to a part-time academy). 

Program Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  1. Recognize and practice ethical behavior associated with the criminal justice and public safety professions.
  2. Apply local, state, and federal legal standards, including statutory and case law, to adults and juveniles in civil and criminal matters, in both public and private sectors.
  3. Purposefully adapt oral, written and non-verbal styles and techniques to communicate effectively in diverse professional roles and environments.
  4. Maintain personal health and well-being in carrying out professional responsibilities.
  5. Apply understanding of law enforcement culture to develop and refine skill sets essential to specific law enforcement and public safety positions.
  6. Sit for the Ohio Basic Peace Officer Training Commission Exam.
Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredit Hours
CJ-1380 Police Academy I 1, 2 6
CJ-1390 Police Academy II 1, 2 6
 Credit Hours12
Second Semester
CJ-2280 Police Academy III 1, 2 6
CJ-2290 Police Academy IV 1, 2 6
 Credit Hours12
Summer Session
CJ-1111 Constitutional Law for Police 3
CJ-1120 Criminal Court Procedures 2
CJ-1130 Criminal Evidence 2
Select one of the following: 3
ENG-1010
 College Composition I
ENG-101H
 Honors College Composition I
 Credit Hours10
 Total Credit Hours34
1

 Students will receive credit for these courses upon successful completion of the Police Academy Program.

2

In order to meet the qualifications for an Short-Term Certificate in Criminal Justice: Basic Police Academy, a student must successfully complete a Basic Police Academy. This is accomplished by maintaining a “C” or higher grade in each of the Criminal Justice courses attached to the Basic Police Academy (CJ-1380 Police Academy I, CJ-1390 Police Academy II, CJ-2280 Police Academy III and CJ-2290 Police Academy IV) as well as passing grades in the non-credit classes (ZPOL-1004 and ZPOL-1005) and passing the State Certification Examination during the course of one OPOTC certified Basic Police Academy session.

MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement.  These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016.  Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.