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Top Texas Police Academies | Eligibility, Requirements, Cost

Are you looking to become a top police officer sometime in the future? If yes, this article covers top Texas academies that provide the best of police training to students who go on to become star officers in the future.

Becoming a police officer in Texas may take many months and hard work to achieve but through determination and commitment, it will all be worth it when you join the police force.

The challenging process is meant to prepare you for the real work when you become part of a city police department and wear the police badge. A lot is expected of you when you are a police officer especially in threatening situations which always require you to be the first responder, and such is no easy task with little to no training.

Undertaking professional training helps you achieve your commitment to fighting crime. Police academies do just that! You are trained in not just basic physical training but also legal and firearms. You will go through rigorous training and testing to become the police officer in the uniform you are destined to be. And in most cases, students start their law enforcement careers before completing the police training in the academy.

In this article, we have described for you the eligibility, requirements, and cost of attending a Texas Police Academy. Stay with me!

Table of contents

Why Attend Texas Police Academies?

Texas police academies are the best choice for anyone looking to start a career in law enforcement in Texas.  While looking to give your commitment to the fight for the right cause in your community, you will need professional training in the fundamental areas of law and order. Like many police academies, it is a community of committed individuals looking to serve communities across the state of Texas and the USA.

The programs train you in the essential principles of police work, and all aspects the police force is involved in their field of work. The training will give you a comprehensive understanding of and practical skilling in firearms, physical fitness, and legal matters to mention but a few.

Where Is The Texas Police Academy Located? 

Texas is a state in the South Central region of the United States. It has a great list of police academies from which you can pick. The academies are widespread across the state from Dallas to Baytown. Other areas you may like to consider include Fort Worth, Houston, and Phoenix. It is important for you to prioritize the jurisdiction of your interest for an added advantage in your career.

What Are The Requirements For Texas Police Academies? 

Texas Police Academies usually need a high school diploma or its equivalent among other requirements before applicants can be admitted into the institution. The minimum requirements you will need to have to be enrolled into the police academies as stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are:

  • A high school diploma or its equivalent 
  • Clean criminal record
  • A valid driver’s license in some cases

High school students often get a head start in preparations for the police academy through taking electives such as physical education, criminology, legal studies, and psychology to have an added advantage in specialty areas of training and work.

Some police academies in Texas also request students to submit a physical fitness report from a doctor. Most of these contribute towards training in specific areas of police work. You should also be aware that some academies prefer candidates with associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in one of those fields.

Who Can Attend Texas Police Academies?

To attend Texas police academies, you should hold a high school diploma. Additionally, you may hold a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in legal studies, criminology, criminal justice, and other fields. All applicants of Texas police academies should have a clean criminal record for their application to be considered.

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What Should I Expect In Texas Police Academies? 

You should expect to not only cover the basics of police work but intense training in all fields as well. Some students have found the training to be demanding, however, this is designed to simulate real-life conditions.

You will also undertake classroom training as well as fieldwork. Texas police academies cover topics on state laws, criminal investigations, patrol procedures, firearms training, traffic control, defensive driving, self-defense, first aid, and computer skills. They also cover report writing which will come in handy across all fields in police work. You are required to undertake training on weapons, defensive tactics, and the use of force which may have included training on agency policies, de-escalation tactics, and crisis intervention strategies.

In addition, you should also expect to take training classes in self-improvement related to health and fitness. Legal education mostly focuses on criminal and constitutional law and traffic law. The police academies provide operations training mostly in patrol procedures, investigations, and emergency vehicle operations, demonstrating their comprehension of core police work.

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How Long Is A Police Academy In Texas? 

Police academy training lasts about six months. The rigorous training prepares students for a career in law enforcement. It covers all key aspects you will require in your career as a police officer. 

How Much Training Do Police Get In The Texas Police Academy? 

You will be trained for about six months with a curriculum covering search and seizure, criminal statutes, traffic laws, firearms training, driver training, and physical conditioning. You should expect some of the training sessions to be more difficult than others as it is more than just basic training. The intensity of the training matches that which you would be placed in if it were a real-life situation.

You learn the core skills and knowledge to succeed in a military environment and therefore it requires hard work, commitment, and determination. From negotiating with hostile parties to issuing traffic tickets, you will be trained in not just the most important scenarios but all possible scenarios to allow you to serve as a police officer. Once you graduate from the police academy, you will be on probation for the first year of your employment.

How Do You Join The Police Academy In Texas? 

For you to be enrolled in the police academies of Texas, you will have to meet the minimum requirements. We have listed  for you a step by step process which you can follow to apply for enrolment:
1.    Verify you meet the minimum qualifications
2.    Pass entry tests such as the physical test
3.    Participate in a background check 
4.    Complete registration and payments for the program

How Much Does The Police Academy Cost In Texas? 

The police academy program will cost you between $2,750 to $3,000. The tuition covers uniforms, textbooks, and training materials which you will require during your enrolment and access to several facilities. Although, with some police academies, the cost could be as low as $400.

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Top Police Academies In Texas

1. University of Texas Police Academy

The University of Texas System Police Academy prepares cadets for a career in law enforcement through a rigorous academic and physical training program. The purpose of the training program is to provide the state of Texas with well-trained, professional police officers and civilian personnel and to provide employees with opportunities to improve their knowledge, skills, and abilities.

VISIT ACADEMY 

2. Dallas Police Academy

This is a comprehensive pre-employment training experience for individuals seeking a career in the law enforcement industry. . Participants receive classroom training designed to prepare each student for the state licensing examination and engage in hands-on training to better acquaint them with the rigors of police work. Basic training in the academy includes both classroom education and skills acquisition. Cadets are required to demonstrate proficiency in all areas of instruction to successfully complete the academy. 

Dallas Police Academy Website

3. Houston Police Academy

The Houston Police Academy utilizes traditional classroom instruction, practical field exercises, and required skills testing. Due to the intensity of the cadet training program, both in academic rigor and physical fitness, cadets are not allowed to hold other types of employment or attend other educational classes while attending the academy.

Houston Police Academy Website 

4. TEEX Central Texas Police Academy

The TEEX Basic Peace Officer Academy prepares cadets to begin a career in law enforcement. This school offers training in 3 qualifications, with the most reviewed qualifications being criminal justice certification, detective and criminal investigator, and law enforcement certification. The training allows students to succeed by maintaining a positive learning environment and establishing a positive attitude toward work and the police department.

TEEX Central Texas Police Academy Website

5. Baytown Police Academy

The academy provides officers of the Baytown Police Department and visiting officers with the best quality of training available. Peace Officers play a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of the public. Time to complete this education training ranges from 1 week to 6 months depending on the qualification, with a median time to completion of 1 week. The cost to attend Baytown Police Academy is $400 with great flexible hours.

Baytown Police Academy Website 

FAQs On Texas Police Academies

What is the passing score for the Texas Police Academies exam?

The passing score is 70%

What are the disqualification guidelines for Texas police academy applicants?

The disqualification guidelines are Narcotics Behaviour, Poor Driving History, Excessive Force/Violence

Do you get paid while at the academy?

Yes, police officers get paid full salary.

Do some students fail the police academy exam?

Yes.

Conclusion

Wearing a badge is the pride of many men and women in that uniform. Being a police officer is a role with great respect and responsibility. It is a life or death job, and sometimes you can not afford to make a mistake because the price is too high. With proper training and guidance, being a police officer can quickly become easy in your early months of serving. The hard work and commitment pay off in the end.

Everyone has a different experience with police academies. From the first day you enroll to the last day of graduation, it is a unique experience for each individual. This article should enlighten the expectations of joining a Texas police academy. It will provide guidance on the process you will go through and help you an idea of each step. Have you had any experience with police academies? You are highly welcome to share with our readers and us your experiences or expectations. Feel free to leave a comment, we look forward to it.

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Ajah Excel is a team growth and performance expert with over nine years of experience in blogging and personal development. He leads a team of 36 crazy, restless innovators with an enviable work culture at Silicon Africa Technologies Limited – a fast-rising tech firm from the SouthEast. Excel is the founder of Kiiky.com and WriterGig. He is also the co-organizer of TEDx Ikenegbu and convener of Social Media Fest. He is a vibrant learner who yearns to share his knowledge to educate and inspire young Africans. He has a B.Tech in Information Management Technology with certifications in growth hacking, effective communication, leadership, team, and personal development, to mention a few. Ajah Anayochukwu Excel is a passionate public speaker, creative writer, and brand storyteller.

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