Academy Entrance

Academy Entrance Requirements

The Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety provides recruit programs in various

formats, designed to prepare students to meet requirements of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC). Upon successful completion of an academy, students apply to take the State Officers Certification Exam (SOCE). A successful completion of the state exam allows the graduates to be eligible for employment as a Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Corrections Officer, or Correctional Probation Officer in the State of Florida. Standards for each program of study are set by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC), staff from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Florida Department of Education (FDOE) and state law. The PCC Institute of Public Safety exceeds those minimums in all areas of training.

Students are admitted into the program based on performance. The selection process involves passing a CJSTC-mandated Basic Abilities Test effective January 1, 2002. Then the applicant is given an application. All areas of the application form MUST be completed. This form complies with state law and CJSTC requirements. In addition to the passing the Basic Abilities Test and completing the application, the applicant will be required to successfully pass the Physical Abilities Test (law enforcement applicants only), and go before an IPS Oral Interview Board.

Points are assigned to each phase of the application process. Scores are then totaled. Admission to the class is dependent on these scores and the number of seats available. Applicants may be placed on a waiting list. This list will be maintained for the next academy class, but it is the applicant's responsibility to re-apply for the next class.

Applicants who are admitted to the class will be provided a copy of the Academy Rules & Regulations, along with requisite course materials on the first day of class. Applicants who are admitted to the class will be required to take the College Placement Test (CPT), unless otherwise exempted.

All basic academy programs, as well as Advanced and Specialized programs adhere to paramilitary discipline standards. All entry requirements and disciplinary standards are reviewed periodically. These standards may be elevated at the direction of the KCTIPS Advisory Committee, with approval of PCC's Administration with or without notice. Any modifications will appear in the Rules & Regulations provided to Cadets on the first day of class.

* Be at least 19 years of age

* Be a high school graduate or equivalent

* Submit to FDLE and FBI criminal history checks

* Submit a copy of driving history

* Successfully complete the application and selection process

* Be of good moral character

* Be a citizen of the United States

* Not have received a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces

* Have a Bachelors Degree if applying for Correctional Probation Academy

You must not have been convicted of any felony, or misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement. Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of a felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement shall not be eligible for employment or appointment as an officer, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication. Notwithstanding this subsection, any person who has pled nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false statement, prior to December 1, 1985 and has had such record sealed or expunged shall not be deemed ineligible for employment or appointment as an officer.

* If you have a sealed or expunged record you have not disclosed to the training school, you may complete the training but may not be eligible for employment or appointment as a criminal justice officer.

* In addition, Federal Law prohibits a person from performing law enforcement officer duties if convicted in any court of the misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Basic Abilities Test

During the 2000 session, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1481 requiring applicants entering into a criminal justice basic recruit program to successfully pass a Commission-approved basic abilities test. The final language is located in Florida Statute 943.17:

943.17 Basic recruit, advanced, and career development training programs; participation; cost; evaluation. The commission shall, by rule, design, implement, maintain, evaluate, and revise entry requirements, job-related curricula and performance standards for basic recruit, advanced, and career development training programs and courses. The rules shall include, but are not limited to, a methodology to assess relevance of the subject matter to the job, student performance, and instructor competency.

(1) The commission shall:
(g) Assure that entrance into the basic recruit training program for law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers be limited to those who have passed a basic skills examination and assessment instrument, based on a job task analysis in each discipline and adopted by the commission.

The Commissions' recognition of a need for a basic abilities test for individuals entering basic recruit academies was recognized some years before the actual legislative initiative. The Commission, with the cooperation of certified training academies, criminal justice agencies, and independent developers and evaluators completed the final stage of evaluating tests that will measure essential abilities (needed for individuals to comprehend and apply the core fundamentals of the profession at the entry-level). Throughout the selection process, it has been the intent of the Commission to approve multiple tests so that certified training academies would have discretion in choosing the test that fits best in their training school administration.

Polk Community College's Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety currently administers the Basic Abilities Test for both Law Enforcement and Corrections applicants. The test consists of multiple-choice questions that assess memorization, language, visualization and reasoning skills.

The Institute does not administer the Corrections Probation test. Applicants should come to the Criminal Justice Institute office on the Winter Haven campus to prepay and register for the test prior to test day.

Physical Abilities Test

The primary goal of the PAT is to determine if an individual possesses the basic skills to perform the physical tasks required of criminal justice officers. In order to achieve this goal, the PAT was designed to assess physical attributes that reflect core enabling knowledge, skills and abilities, and essential tasks common for law enforcement, corrections and correctional probation officers.

The test begins with the individual seated in a full size automobile (or police car), seat belt on, with hands at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions on the steering wheel. The individual has a pull-away flag belt with ribbons (similar to those used when playing flag football) around his waist. The trunk key is in the glove compartment which is closed. An unloaded weapon and a baton are in the trunk.

On the command "go", the individual unfastens the seatbelt, removes the key from the glove compartment and gets out of the car. The individual then reaches behind him with each hand and removes the flag. After opening the trunk, he/she removes the weapon and baton. After placing the weapon out of the way, the individual begins a 220 yard run carrying the baton with him.

After the run, the individual enters an obstacle course. The first obstacle is a 40 inch wall followed by three hurdles of 24, 12 and 18 inches. After the hurdles is a 50 feet serpentine run followed by a crawl through a 27 inch high, 8 feet long crawl area.

After completing tile obstacle course, the individual drags a 150 pound dummy for 100 feet. He/she then goes back through the obstacle course beginning with the low crawl and ending with the 40 inch wall. This is followed by another 220 yard run. After the run, the individual picks up the weapon and dry-fires 6 times with each hand. Then he/she puts the weapon and baton back in the trunk, re-enters the car, replaces the key in the glove compartment, puts on his seatbelt and puts his hands on the steering wheel. At this point, the test ends.
To pass the test, an individual must complete the entire course in 6 minutes 4 seconds or less.

Click here to view/print the diagram of the Physical Abilities Course.

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