POST sets the standards, then certifies police academies across the state of California to provide the Regular Basic Course ( basic academy ). The Basic Course is the training standard and entry-level training requirement for police officers, deputy sheriffs, school district police officers, district attorney investigators, as well as a few other peace officer classifications.
Academy
The Academy ( basic course ) is a minimum requirement of 664 hours of training, but many academies often provide over 800 to 1000 hours of training. When participating in the Academy, you will be subjected to incredibly intense and rigorous mental and physical training.
You’ll take countless physical, academic, and hypothetical tests to train and understand the complex facets of what it takes to be a police officer. In addition, you’ll be trained in preparation for physical fitness assessments such as the Work Sample Test Battery ( WSTB ).
The general structure of the police academy regular basic course is a one-part instructional sequence that’s at least 664 hours. With the intensive format, the academy is full time, generally on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. whereas the extended format is part-time and meets on the weekends or evenings.
Finally, there’s a modular structure that has three portions that can fulfill the requirements for each type of California reserve peace officer. The training lasts at least 730 hours so that all the standards can be covered. This modular structure also offers an intensive and extended training format in order to accommodate and meet all of these standards. This modular format includes taking various comprehensive module tests that must be passed in order to take the next one.
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