POST academy non affiliated

[Just-in]

How much will completing a POST academy better my odds and seperate me from the pool? I don't have any formal education in law enforcement or criminal justice. All of my schooling before I returned was in fire science and ems. I returned a year ago and am majoring I psychology because it is something I enjoy learning and feel I could apply elsewhere if I never get hired in L.E. I think it has helped me as a person as well, but anyway as far as an academy, is it advised for someone in my shoes? I've looked at a few, I'm not quite sure how but I think I can figure out how to twist it into my work schedule. Or are there other routes such as J.C.'s similar to firefighter one academies where there are a few prerequisite courses then you enroll in the academy.

Thanks
-Justin

[lawman18]

You best bet for education in LE would be business science (if you want to promote), or english (we write ALOT), then criminal justice. I have a major in abnormal psychology and a minor in social behavior and nobody at my department cares. They are big on "business" anything because that is the way all departments are going, it is a business now not law enforcement. As for you going independent, not all those guys get picked up. I had 7 in my class when I started and only 1 graduated with us but he never got picked up by anybody (last I heard and that was 16 years ago). Try to find a big department (Sheriff, LAPD, anything large) because they are always looking to replace the retirees and stuff. Going through as an independent is also expensive. You have to buy all the uniforms, gun, thousands of rounds of ammo (and that is hard as hell right now), books, gym clothes, bags, gadgets, and pay for the field trips to the coroners office and stuff. Then there is the outside class stuff that you guys will have to do together that you will have to pay for and the fact that you will be doing this for a solid 6 months with no form of income because you won't be able to hold a job because you will be writing reports til midnight then getting your uniforms ready for the next day at 0630. Unemployment will kick you out because you will be attending a "trade school" so you will have a hell of a time. Sorry to Piss in your Cheerios but you really need a department to hire you before you go through.

[1911su16b870]

Your level 1 POST certificate will give you a leg up for immediate entry into field training with an agency that picks you up. Obviously it is not a 100% guarantee because that depends on all aspects of your personality, demeanor and interview etc with the LEA. I would say a pre-service certificate is a good way to go as long as you make sure you get your applications in with agencies that you want to work for within a couple years of graduating or finishing the academy.

[lawman18]

You can go reserve with a department and they will put you through a series of academy levels and you can get in that way. Just another option. It is part time and they give you all the required gear.

[Just-in]

Thanks for the info.

[SFFRONTMAN]

That's what I did in 2011. I self sponsored myself through the SRJC year long academy. About 6 months in I started applying to agencies and was lucky to get picked up with a department before graduation. It is definately a leg up as far as entry level positions go. If you have any questions feel free to pm me.

[12ga]

I got an undergraduate degree in criminal justice (useless!) and the put myself through the academy (SRJC), finished at the top of my class, and then......

........began a career in a completely separate field.

Don't count on getting in with just the POST academy.

My case was different though, I wanted this other field more than I wanted LE.

[NineteenElev3n]

Prior to attending my academy class, I lost over 150-pounds (naturally), because I decided to get into a career that I always wanted. I had physical challenges that I had to work on in order to pass an entrance exam to get into the academy. I decided to attend an extended format academy, because primarily, it worked best with my current job status (my backup just in case the law enforcement career did not work), my schedule, and location.

I attended a CA POST extended format academy and was non-affiliated. It was a one-year academy class. Since I was non-affiliate, I had to eat my own cost of the academy. The cost was approximately a little over $4500 after purchasing my own firearm, ammunition, uniform supplies, etc. I was able to keep my full-time job while attending the academy. It was VERY difficult balancing home life, the academy, and work. I had ZERO social life and free time. It felt like I lost a year of my life which was one of the most rewarding, but most difficult.

We started with 40-something people in my class (all of my classmates were non-affiliated) and we graduated with 20-something (all still non-affiliated when we graduated). Out of the 20-something that graduated, less than 10 people got jobs. One quit and one failed FTO. I was very fortunate to be one of the few in my class to get hired approximately six months after graduation, pass FTO, and then pass probation.

It was a VERY long and hard road, but it was worth it! If you want it bad enough and if you have a clean record, you WILL find a way to make it happen! You can do it, but it is a very big, challenging, expensive, and time-consuming commitment. If I can do it, you can do it!

Getting a POST Basic Academy Graduation Certificate will help your odds of getting hired, but with that, a minimum of a bachelor's degree with an excellent work record and background will further increase your odds of getting hired.

With all of the above, plus learning how to perform at oral boards, spending many hours doing ride alongs, and being mentored by friends that are currently in law enforcement will also help. I also recommend that you look into modular format academy classes. That route may take longer, but you have more to show for when you pass each module (a total of three).

In the extended academy format, if you double-tap (fail a remediation) during month 11 (yes, I witnessed it), you have nothing to show for during those 11 months and will have to start the academy over again. In the modular academy format, if you fail a module and pass a previous module, you just have to repeat that module.

Good luck to you and I hope my advice helped!

[mixicus]

Having graduated a POST academy will help in the hiring process. It shows you invested in yourself and the process. To a dept, being an academy grad means you are 26 weeks closer to getting in a car than a 'recruit'. It means you aren't going to drop out during an academy once you get hired (expensive in time and money for the dept). It will also open up additional application opportunities as you can now put in for 'recruit' and 'entry level/academy trained' postings.

Get a degree in something that interests you and can make a living at outside of LE (not CJ). There are many ways to articulate the value of most degrees to the dept. At most CA depts any degree is good for the pay bumps. From the POST perspective, any accredited degree will accelerate the obtaining your certificates.

There are many ways to make yourself look better as a candidate. Every dept will place slightly different emphasis on them. College degrees, academy grad, military service, languages, life experience,...etc. The more of those you have in your packet, the greater possible differential between you and another candidate.

With a work schedule, you may look into an extended format academy insted of a full time one.

[trob]

I can't imagine trying to hold a job and go to a full time POST. I would recommend one of the classes through a college that is a year long thing. However, some of the "graduates" i've seen that come out of those classes are far from being job-ready (as in, they dont know how to do much of anything).

[Just-in]

Thanks for the advice gentlemen. Looks like I will just continue applying where I fit in and go from there. I've been learning a lot so far but at some point I want to put it to use, even reserve money and retirement are not what i'm after. I want to do the job, working proactively with the community.

[Doheny]

You best bet for education in LE would be business science (if you want to promote), or english (we write ALOT)...

huh?

http://askville.amazon.com/meaning-word-alot-lot-peoples'-writing-find-dictionary/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=2182658

[Jonnyboy182]

I was self-sponsered through the academy. I went to the extended academy so it took me 11 months while I was working full time. It was not easy!
Many (most) departments are NOT putting people through academies anymore, the pool of graduates is so big as it is.

My class had about 100 people (we were modular so people joined up in L2 then L1.) We graduated 40. Out of the 40 that graduated 20-25 have jobs currently with a few of those as reserves. I'm currently a Deputy Sheriff.

Degree helps. Criminal Justice is useless lol.

PT was roughest for me-Be ready!

If you have any questions just send me a pm, I will do my best to help you with them!

[IA300]

I was a level 1 reserve for an agency that wanted to hire me. But I still needed module D or a basic academy certificate. But they weren't going to pay for the training. I had to.
I decided on a full time academy, cost me close to $5000. Half way through, the city council froze the position and I ended up independent. There were 14 independents that started and only 5 graduated. I got picked up pror to graduating and two others got picked up after graduation, the fourth got picked up later and the 5th never did.
You can always look into the extended academy, but it is a lengthy process.

[Che762x39]

We started with 40-something people in my class (all of my classmates were non-affiliated) and we graduated with 20-something (all still non-affiliated when we graduated). Out of the 20-something that graduated, less than 10 people got jobs. One quit and one failed FTO. I was very fortunate to be one of the few in my class to get hired approximately six months after graduation, pass FTO, and then pass probation.

Thanks for giving him good information.

What I would add since I may have been the FTO who terminated that trainee. If you have no aptitude for police work, regardless of POST academy a BS degree in CJ and a 180 IQ. You may not have the aptitude to work as a street cop