If you’re an aspiring police officer in Tennessee, you’ll need to get the necessary education and training to become an agent of the law.
Fortunately, there are several great police academies available in the state to help prepare you for your career in law enforcement.
To help you find the best police academies in Tennessee, we specifically created this guide.
But before we dive down to the main content, we shall answer some of the related questions about this topic;
How much are the police academies in TN?
Like any state, you can expect to pay a fee to enroll at a police academy in TN.
There are many academies that offer similar training and qualifications across different states, but some schools do not prepare candidates, as well as others.
The cost to attend any of the police academies in TN varies from $1,000 to $6,000 depending on the qualification, with a median cost of $2,000. Source: Indeed.com
How long is the Tennessee police academy?
The average length of police academies in TN is 18 weeks and a more intensive 12-week police academy is also offered.
If you have previous experience as a law enforcement officer, you may be able to enroll in a condensed program that lasts only 13 weeks.
Police academies are usually run through your local university and are considered community colleges that award college credit upon completion.
What are the best police academies in Tennessee?
Here, you will find the best police academies in the state that offer programs designed to prepare you for careers as law enforcement officers and first responders.
- The Walter State Police Academy
- Memphis Police Department Training
- Blount County Police Academy
- Cleveland State Police Academy
- Shelby County Sheriff Training Academy
- Chattanooga Citizens Police Academy
- Jackson Citizens Police Academy
- Nashville Metro Police Training Academy
The Walter State Police Academy
The Walters State Basic Law Enforcement is one of the top police academies in TN that offers an intensive nine-week, 506-hour course of instruction on basic law enforcement.
Some of the programs recruits will go through include;
- Basic Law Enforcement Training
- Specialized Law Enforcement Training Program
- Defensive and Tactical Driver Training Program
After the student has completed the programs in the academy, they will be awarded the Technical Certificate in Basic Law Enforcement Officer Education.
This qualifies the student to apply for certification by the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission as a certified peace officer in the state.
It’s important to note that the Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy is licensed by the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.
Memphis Police Department Training
Also referred to as The Citizen’s Police Academy of Memphis, this is one of the best police academies in Tennessee.
The idea is to offer law enforcement programs to the interested citizens of Memphis, teaching them how the police function.
The program is a three-hour, nine-week course held once a week. Academies classes are held at each of the Memphis Police Department’s stations.
Blount County Police Academy
The Blount County Police Academy is one of the top police academies in TN, located in Maryville, TN, this institution provides training to interested candidates and prepares them to become officers.
The program length at Blount County Police Academy is about 12 weeks long and is approved by the Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission (P.O.S.T.).
This academy will focus on the following skills.
- Basic Police Tactics
- Criminal Justice
- Defensive Tactics
- DUI
- Emergency Vehicle Operations
- Firearms
- Other Law Enforcement Related Courses
- Report Writing
- Traffic Accident Reconstruction
Cleveland State Police Academy
This is one of the top police academies in Tennessee that offers training to both officers and civilians to ensure that Tennesseans are safe and adequately served by confident and capable officers.
After you have graduated from the program here, you should be able to;
- Identify what it takes to pursue a career in law enforcement.
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Develop better communication
- Take effective decisions in line with the law enforcement principles, etc.
Shelby County Sheriff Training Academy
The Sheriff’s Office Training Academy seeks to improve regional law enforcement and correctional services by delivering high-quality training curriculums that simulate real-world experiences.
This is one of the best police academies in Tennesee and is accredited by the CALEA and ACA.
The Shelby County Sheriff Training Academy is located at 993 Dovecrest Road in Memphis.
Chattanooga Citizens Police Academy
The Chattanooga Citizens Police Academy is one of the famous police academies in Tennessee that was established in 1999.
The purpose of this institution is to enlighten the citizens about the values of law enforcement and bring a relationship between the police and the citizens.
The Chattanooga Citizens Police Academy is a nine-week Law Enforcement Education program that teaches what it’s like to be a cop and what happens in the criminal justice system.
The program consists of informative workshops, interactive panels, and a graduation ceremony. Participants receive Citizens Police Academy certificates.
Jackson Citizens Police Academy
This is one of the police academies in TN that provides a cutting-edge program designed to provide citizens of all backgrounds and occupations with the opportunity to become aware of the work that the Jackson Police Department does.
The length of this program here is 10 weeks and meets once a week for approximately 90 minutes.
Even though this program is intended to provide awareness of how the law enforcement agency works, it also does not qualify any of the participants to work in law enforcement.
Nashville Metro Police Training Academy
The Metro Police Academy in Nashville is one of the best police academies in Tennesse that has been developing elite officers since 1970.
With over 2,600 alumni graduating to date and a diverse Academy staff comprised of many areas of expertise.
This institution has made its name as one of the most esteemed public safety training academies in the nation, it is also a CALEA accredited institution.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Here are some of the questions often asked about the Tennessee Police Academies;
How long is the Walter State police academy?
The Walter State Police Academy is a nine-week, 506-hour long training program.
How long is Tennessee POST certification?
The Tennessee POST Certification is 40 hours of in-service training each year.
What are the Tennessee Police Academy’s Physical Requirements?
In order to be accepted into a police academy, you must pass an entrance exam and have strong physical stamina that can meet both short-term and long-term goals.
Some of the Tennessee Police Academy’s Physical Requirements include;
- One-Minute Sit Ups – 37 repetitions
- One-Minute Push Ups – 35 repetitions
- 300 Meter Run – 58.9 sec or less
- 1.5 Mile Run – 13:58 or less
Other Tennessee Police Academy requirements are; that the applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED, and U.S citizen, and submit to a background check.
What is the cost of the Police Academies in Tennessee?
The cost of the police academies in Tennessee varies from $1,000 to $6,000 depending on where you live, your qualification, and what program you choose.
Conclusion.
There are various police schools in Tennesse that can help you fulfill your dream of becoming a police officer, check out these schools and get enrolled to start your career as a police officer.
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