Thank you for your interest in becoming a police officer. Joining the ranks of Georgia’s police force is a high honor and will be an extremely challenging, but very rewarding, step on your career path.
In Georgia, the peace officer certification process is regulated by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST). Therefore, some of the processes and paperwork you must complete will be through the POST website, while others will be completed directly through the GPSTC regional academy where you will receive your training.
Students attending basic training who are not employed by a law enforcement agency are referred to as “pre-service candidates.” Upon meeting or completing the application process, candidates may be registered in GPSTC’s Basic Law Enforcement Training, which is a rigorous program that consists of 408 course hours and takes 12 weeks to complete. After a candidate has completed the program, they are eligible for POST certification and for employment as an entry-level law enforcement officer.
Prerequisites
In Georgia, the certification process to become a police officer is regulated by the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council (POST). Candidates pursuing Basic Law Enforcement Training at GPSTC must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
- Not have been convicted of a crime for which the punishment could have been imprisonment.
Basic Police Officer Training Program Highlights
Length of Program: 12 weeks
Non-Refundable Tuition: $3,093
Fees: Fees range from $132 to $270 depending on location
Dates Offered: View dates the program is offered
Locations offered: All GPSTC Regional Academies (Note: Forsyth location does not accept pre-service candidates)
Questions?
Contact the Regional Academy you’d like to attend.