Why do academy lengths vary so greatly?

[Guy from Virginia]

Just curious.....why do academies vary so greatly in their time periods? For example, a couple of the municipal agencies here have academies that last anywhere from 20 weeks to 27 weeks. Then I looked into doing DOD for the Navy and their academy is only 10 weeks. That seems like a huge difference to me. The obvious answer is you see different type of stuff as a city cop versus a DOD base cop, but 22 vs. 10 weeks seems like a huge gap. What do you learn in a 22 week academy that you wouldn't cover in a 10 week? Seems to me they would want to give you as much training as possible. I have no experience in any academy so I have no clue as to an amswer. Anyone know?

[CustomsCop]

You have to remember that state requirements differ from those of the feds. I think Virginia requires about 750 hrs of training lplus you get "agency specific" training. DoD on the otherhand only does Phase 1/Phase 2 training and it is the same for all secuirty personel over in the navy.

[jaybird]

Good question,
I've pondered this one myself.
I know in Alabama, our Troopers go to school for 24 weeks. WOO! That's a long time.
Just like it was said above, each agency has things that they need to cover, SOP, etc.

In our state, we have PD's that have their own academy. I guess they cover what other PD's without their own academy would cover in a "in - house training" time.

I went through 8 weeks of in house training at my PD and then 12 weeks at the state academy. I guess you could say I spent 20 weeks in the academy?

Also, it seems that in the larger city's that are always hiring, they have the money to keep their own academy going because they have applicants all the time. But in smaller city's, they can't do this.

Maybe this helps,
Jay

[Nonsequitur]

All I can say is that the academy I am currently attending is 29 weeks...

I would love to be in a 10 week academy! That would mean I would be graduating in a couple weeks!:D

It all depends on the requirements of the departments and the state POST commissions to set the length and lesson plan. For instance we have a couple weeks of community relations and gang briefing as well as other city specific issues, plus the state mandated course requirements.

7 months is still a long time though...:burnt:
:gun:

[Birky]

OK in Virginia DCJS sets the minimum standards of hours that must be completed by a new officer. Municipalities with their own academies can make them whatever length they would like as long as it meets the minimum requirements. When I went through Basic Law Enforcement at my academy it was technically 13 weeks long (really 12.5). I know that the state police go for 17 weeks then go to the road for a couple then go back for another 17 weeks then go back to the road. In all they go something like 7 months. Virginina Beach and Norfolk are about 22 weeks long. The academy I went to in 1997 is now 17 weeks long. You also have to remember in Virginia there are like 12 regional academies and who knows how many department only academies. With the regional academies departments send their people who get to interact with people from other agencies so these academies can not teach department regulations like agency only academies can.:bounce:

[CO_Hopeful]

I think it also depends more on the daily length/weekly length of academies. I am currently attending a part-time academy that meets 3 nights a week for 4 hours, and 8 hours on Saturdays. That gives me 20 hours per week....therefore, the class will take me approx. 10 months. The same academy has a full time academy that runs 18 weeks I believe....but they meet for 40 hours a week.

So, maybe it's possible that some of the academies that run shorter sessions meet more during any given week. It basically boils down to what the state requirements are to become POST certified, or whatever certification agency you have in your state.

[JerseyBoy]

I have never heard of a "Part time" academy. Does New Jersey offer anything of this sort? I'm thinking no.

[CustomsCop]

Yes NJ has part time academies. I know both Cape May Co and Glouchester co. run them but I dont know off hand the entrance criteria.
http://www.cmcpoliceacademy.com