Law Enforcement Certifications

As the job of a law enforcement officer becomes more complex and dangerous, training standards must be upgraded. This has led to agencies using newer training techniques that take advantage of technology and address contemporary issues.

Earning a law enforcement degree is a great way to jump-start your career in a variety of fields, including local, state and federal law enforcement management; correctional administration; security administration; criminal justice research; and teaching.

Certifications

Law enforcement certifications are a way for police officers to demonstrate their competency in a particular area. They can also be helpful to officers who want to develop additional skills.

Traditionally, training for law enforcement officers has been instructor-led in the classroom setting, but there are a variety of approaches to delivering training today. Newer techniques take advantage of the latest technology and help agencies extend their training budgets while addressing contemporary issues.

Some law enforcement agencies structure their yearly training content into five modules, where three focus on practical skills and the other two are scenario-based. In other agencies, unit leaders determine the training components based on the needs of their own police units.

If you are looking to enhance your leadership skills or improve your understanding of the field, you may be interested in earning a law enforcement certificate from an online university. At Walden, for example, you can complete a 14-week course of study in their School of Lifelong Learning without having to leave your job or commute to campus.

Certificate Programs

Law enforcement certification organizations provide a wide variety of certificate programs to individuals seeking entry into the field of law enforcement. These specialized programs prepare candidates for entry into local, state or federal law enforcement agencies.

These programs can be completed in 6 months to 2 years. They offer hands-on learning in criminal justice and policing practices, investigative techniques and police procedure, as well as civil and criminal law.

In addition, these programs also teach students how to conduct legal research and verify it for authenticity. These skills are helpful in any career that requires the ability to investigate and solve criminal cases.

Those who have an interest in advancing their careers in law enforcement can pursue a graduate certificate in criminal justice administration or law enforcement management. These post-baccalaureate programs usually include a small cluster of graduate courses that focus on the specific skills and proficiencies that can be applied to the professional field of law enforcement management.

State Statutory Requirements

Several states have statutory requirements for law enforcement certifications, which function similarly to a professional license. These laws establish a process for officers to become certified by their state police officer standards and training (POST) board or other state certifying agency.

The State of Ohio has the following statutory requirement:

All new law enforcement recruits must complete a commission-approved full basic recruit academy before they can be sworn as an officer in this state. The sworn officer must pass the State Officer Certification Examination upon completion of the training program.

This requirement is in place to ensure that officers are trained and educated to meet professional standards and are qualified to handle critical incidents.

The Commission also appoints and certifies law enforcement training instructors, curricula and specialized schools that provide law enforcement training throughout the state. It sets and enforces standards for law enforcement agencies statewide including physical, educational, and proficiency skills requirements.

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Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, or FLETC, offers a number of training courses for policemen, detectives, and Secret Service agents. It is also one of the largest schools for law enforcement professionals in the country, graduating more than 50,000 students per year.

The organization primarily operates from its headquarters in Glynco, Georgia, but has six other field locations that provide basic and advanced training. These include Artesia, New Mexico; Charleston, South Carolina; Cheltenham, Maryland; Los Angeles, California; and Orlando, Florida.

FLETC is engaged with professional associations and conducts ongoing research to ensure its training meets emerging needs, addressing trending issues such as anti/counter-terrorism, cybercrime, intelligence awareness, and critical infrastructure protection. The agency also hosts summits and conferences with academics and practitioners to foster conversations on current topics in policing. These events help to develop the future of law enforcement training.