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.
