About This Program
Join the ranks of law enforcement with Kent State's Peace Officer Training Academy certificate. Our comprehensive program provides the skills and knowledge needed to become a certified peace officer and serve your community with honor and integrity. Enroll now and start your journey towards a fulfilling career in law enforcement. Read more...
Contact Information
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- Location:
- Kent Campus
- Trumbull Campus
- Twinsburg, Ohio (spring 2025)
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- 5.7% faster than the average
- 688,400 number of jobs
- $65,540 potential earnings
Accreditation
The curriculum for the Peace Officers Training Academy undergraduate certificate is approved by the Ohio Attorney General - Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC).
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the certificate is selective. Applicants to the certificate must meet all admission criteria for acceptance into Kent State’s Basic Peace Officer Academy. Criteria includes the following:
- Valid driver’s license
- High school diploma or GED
- Age 20 or turning age 20 at time of enrollment
- Good physical condition
- No felony or drug convictions or arrests for domestic violence
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Identify the components and legal processes of the criminal justice system, and apply basic criminal laws to various situations.
- Explain the different types of police procedures and their effective uses in law enforcement.
- Use ethical, analytical and critical-thinking skills toward situations typical to criminal justice settings.
- Safely and properly conduct a traffic stop and respond to a domestic disturbance, dispatched call or crime in progress.
- Properly carry out comprehensive criminal investigations and write various reports.
- Proficiently provide first aid at the level of a first responder.
Full Description
The Peace Officers Training Academy undergraduate certificate prepares students to become law enforcement officers in the state of Ohio. Students pursuing the certificate must be accepted to Kent State’s Basic Peace Officer Academy. The certificate’s curriculum covers the basics of defensive tactics, firearms, driving, traffic, patrol, civil disorders and first aid. Students learn investigative methods and the fundamentals of policing, the criminal justice system, constitutional law and homeland security.
After successful completion of the certificate and the academy, students are eligible to take the state certification examination for law enforcement. Graduates of the certificate are able to matriculate into the A.A.S. degree in Criminology and Justice at Kent State.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.
