Paying way through Academy? Good or Bad

[Legendary]

Hi. I have not posted much here, but I do a ton of trolling and reading random forums. I'm currently testing with a few cities where I live in Arizona and about 3/4s of the way through in the process...A friend of mine could not pass his written test 2 times at 2 different places, so he decided to do this thing we call LETA where I live. Essentially its like an academy, you go 3 times a week for about 20 hrs total a week. You basically get AZPOST certified and also get 30 credit hours towards CJS/AJS. Is it worth it to do this? The class is 10 months long and runs about 3500$. After he graduates he has to still go through the written test, oral, and everything, but claims he wont need to go through the academy. Is this something agencies look at or is it just a thing that people do....I dunno. I would post a link to it, but cant because <15 posts.

Thanks for any help. If this was posted elsewhere sorry :eek:

[Curt581]

It's a gamble. A lot depends on your ability to get hired at all. Spending $3500 on an academy won't help you a bit if you can't pass all the entrance tests or flunk a background check or medical screening.

[Taxx]

...you go 3 times a week for about 20 hrs total a week...

For how many weeks? I don't know about AZ, but in WA our basic law enforcement academy is 20 weeks, 40 hours a week = 800 hours. If you are only getting 20 hours a weeks then you would be in the class for 40 weeks, to receive similar training. OUCH! I would doubt the class would replace an Academy, but I have seen stranger things.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

For how many weeks? I don't know about AZ, but in WA our basic law enforcement academy is 20 weeks, 40 hours a week = 800 hours. If you are only getting 20 hours a weeks then you would be in the class for 40 weeks, to receive similar training. OUCH! I would doubt the class would replace an Academy, but I have seen stranger things.

This is the way the Reserve LE Academy is set up in Va. Geared towards working professionals, they attend the Academy at night and on Saturdays for an ungodly amount of weeks (most of a year), until they are certified. Takes an enormous commitment.

[Kimble]

This is the way the Reserve LE Academy is set up in Va. Geared towards working professionals, they attend the Academy at night and on Saturdays for an ungodly amount of weeks (most of a year), until they are certified. Takes an enormous commitment.

Pretty similar to the reserve academy in AL. It meets every other Saturday & Sunday for 13 months.

[Taz_bb2]

That was how I did it in FL. 28-32 hours a week for 27 weeks, while working 40 hours a week. :eek: I paid for it out of my own pocket, but FL is different as most agencies don't sponsor you through it.

That being said, like others have shared, if he can't get past written or oral exams...he's in trouble. I know of quite a few guys that went through my class and others around mine that paid for the academy, completed it by the skin of their teeth, and couldn't pass the civil exam to save their life. :eek: And this was after numerous agencies gave them the time for PT testing and sometimes oral boards. :rolleyes:

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be a LEO, but a basic understanding of math and English is a must.

[BJJVad]

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be a LEO, but a basic understanding of math and English is a must.

Does this mean I am over qualified?

[Citicop]

In the St. Louis Metro Area, this is about the only way to get the Academy, as there are almost no agencies that will put you through.

I did a part time academy, nights and weekends while working full time. It took a year to get through, but the certification is the same as any other Academy in the state.

Citicop.

[BP348]

In the St. Louis Metro Area, this is about the only way to get the Academy, as there are almost no agencies that will put you through.

That's how it was when I was in FL. The agencies wouldn't even talk to you if you hadn't already passed an academy

[Legendary]

Wow! Great responses from everyone, I greatly appreciate it! Yeah, I am thinking to myself, "well, maybe I should do it, it might help" but at the same time, the only reason my friend did it was because he could not pass the written portion and the one that he did he could not pass the oral. Im thinking I should be ok, since I have already passed Writtens, PTs, Orals, etc ... I would rather go through the Academy w/ a full class of people learning with everyone around me, rather than what he says he has ... 6 people in his class...Dunno, just seems odd to me ... Or a big waste of time here in Az.

[Samuel]

Does this mean I am over qualified?

PROPELLER HEAD PROPELLER HEAD !!! :p