Question regarding MCOLES

[Hockey9019]

ferriscj posted in AAC the requirements for MCOLES certification in our state. Just curious, when I got to the Police Training portion, it said

This may be done by completing successfully, an approved college preservice program or a basic training academy. Candidates seeking reciprocity from other states may apply for the Recognition of Prior Training and Experience Program.

What is "an approved college preservice program"? Not an academy? Does anywhere actually offer that? Just curious on that....

[Jay7376]

A lot of community colleges offer something like that.

The program is two years long and at the end of the two years the student has a associates degree and is MCOLES certifiable.

Kind of like a police academy in slow motion.

[Hockey9019]

A lot of community colleges offer something like that.

The program is two years long and at the end of the two years the student has a associates degree and is MCOLES certifiable.

Kind of like a police academy in slow motion.

Oh k...so no police academy, no lets see how physically fit (other then the MCOLES physical) they are, see if they are cut out for LE?

Delta offers a 2 year degree, but I thought you still had to go through an academy NO MATTER WHAT in Michigan? Not true then?

[Jay7376]

Oh k...so no police academy, no lets see how physically fit (other then the MCOLES physical) they are, see if they are cut out for LE?

They still have to pass the same MCOLES physical and they have PT classes during the two years. But the "academy" is not nearly as stressful as a normal academy.

Delta offers a 2 year degree, but I thought you still had to go through an academy NO MATTER WHAT in Michigan? Not true then?

Evidently not true. I have several friends who went this route with no problems. They are at a distinct disadvantage during the hiring process simply because they only have an associates degree, not because of the type of academy they attended.

The academy is spread out over the two years sticking to the normal college semesters.

[Hockey9019]

Oh...well I learned a new thing I guess...

Can you name a few of the colleges? Just curious?

Is the cost of classes more? Its hard here because you have to drop over $6,000 for the academy and its pretty intense, to not know if you WILL pass or not.

[Jay7376]

The only one I know for certain is Grand Rapids Community College.

As for the cost....I have no idea.

[GrahamX05]

Lake Superior State, and Ferris.

I'm not sure what Ferris' program is like but at LSSU, PT is done both fall and Spring semester MWF at like 0620 til 0730 I believe.

[pafindr]

Mid Michigan Community College in Mount Pleasant and Harrison has two LEO programs.
One is a transfer for a 4 year college, basically you get an Associates without Academy and can take more classes later on for a Bachelors degree.
http://www.midmich.cc.mi.us/files/58...ASCrjLE4Yr.pdf

The other is a 2 year Associates including Academy training.
http://www.midmich.cc.mi.us/files/58...jLEPreServ.pdf

pafindr

[ferriscj24]

Ferris State University. Hence, the Name you see up and to the left! Get your Bachelor Degree and MCOLES Certifiable while you're at it. Notice I wrote "certifiable" not "certified". You need to get hired w/in a year to activate the certification.

[Piggy]

Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

You'll have a PT class like any other academy, and you'll still have to pass the state required PT test.

[Strijder]

KVCC is a 17 week paramilitary academy, unlike the two semester or two-year programs being discussed.

Battle Creek's Kellogg Community College is another two-semester program I believe.

[bluelightzgrl]

Oakland Community College does it as well.

Hey Hockey...
Here is a list of all the schools (with links to pages).

MCOLES Training Academies & Programs

[Hockey9019]

Oakland Community College does it as well.

Hey Hockey...
Here is a list of all the schools (with links to pages).

MCOLES Training Academies & Programs

Awesome thank you for another resource added to mine.

[ferriscj24]

Hockey...do a simple Google search on 'MCOLES' and you'll find their website. It should answer just about any question you have...

[ferriscj24]

Also. I obviously attended Ferris, and am partial to it, of course. We had a 4 year Criminal Justice program (Bachelor's Program). You can branch off into 3 different areas to specialize which track you want to go into.

1) Law Enforcement
2) Corrections
3) Generalist

Now, when I went through, the second 2 years was the MCOLES "academy". It was a very relaxed program, with the exception of our PT/DT. The classroom work was jeans, sweatshirt and a ball hat for me. I hear the program has changed now and is more para-military oriented. Nevertheless...Ferris has an outstanding program, with outstanding instructors...and I have no regrets.