AI - police academy program

1. Police Academy (Basic Certification)

If you already meet a department's education requirements (e.g., you already have a high school diploma or a degree), the specialized training to become a certified officer is relatively short:

• Average Duration: 18 to 24 weeks (roughly 4 to 6 months).
• Intensive Programs: Some states, like Georgia, have recently increased their requirements to approximately 20 weeks (around 800 hours) as of 2025/2026.
• Post-Graduation: After the academy, most officers must complete an additional 3 to 6 months of Field Training (on-the-job mentoring) before they can patrol alone.