Program Description:

The Police Pre-Academy Training Certificate Program is a state-wide designed option for individuals meeting the admissions requirements to begin the certification process as a law enforcement officer in SC. 

The Police Pre-Academy Training (PPAT) certification is for individuals who seek to become employed as a law enforcement officer in South Carolina and become Class-1 Certified Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA) and the Law Enforcement Training Council (LETC) pursuant to South Carolina Code of Laws Chapter 23.

The PPAT certificate is designed to qualify for state financial aid, specifically Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA) and the South Carolina Workforce Industry Needs (SCWINS) scholarship.

Mission Statement:

The Police Pre-Academy Training (PPAT) Certificate qualifies as the first mandatory blocks of instruction to enter the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. All courses have been aligned with current SCCJA & LETC training standards and requirements as required by law. The certificate will enable individuals to continue and complete the remaining portions of their academy training if they successfully complete all other qualifications as mandated by the program and law. The curriculum will include basic and introductory law enforcement training, tactics, and procedures. SC Criminal Law and Procedure as well as relevant industry training, tactics, and operations are included in certificate.

Entrance Requirements:

1. Must be a U.S. Citizen. 
2. Must be a high school graduate or have an equivalency. 
3. Must successfully pass a criminal background check. 
4. Must be at least 20 years of age to enter program. 
**Individual does not have to be currently employed with a law enforcement agency to enter the PPAT program but will have to become employed with a SC Law Enforcement Agency prior to attending the 8-week academy program in Columbia. The individual does not have to be 21 years old to enter the program but should not be more than a year away from turning 21 when entering the program. Agencies will still have the option to hire someone and put them through their own pre-academy certification process incurring their own time and costs, if they choose.

Type of Program:

Day or evening certificate 

Requirements for Completion:

Requires a minimum grade of “C” in all courses.

Employment Opportunities:

Students who complete the certificate program and pass all four course exams will be eligible to seek application with a law enforcement agency and complete the remainder of the required physical and examination training to become certified LEO.

Visit our department web page at https://www.gvltec.edu/academics_learning/education-professional-studies/criminal_justice/index.html

Listed below is the ideal grouping of courses in order by semester. This plan assumes a full-time schedule. Note, however, that many variables can affect this plan, and not every course is offered every semester. Please see your advisor to map out your own personalized progression toward graduation.

Note: Please contact your advisor for recommended evening schedules.

Plan of Study Grid

First Semester		Hours
CRJ 281	Police Science I	3
CRJ 282	Police Science II	3
CRJ 283	Police Science III	3
CRJ 284	Police Science IV	3
	Total Semester Hours	12
	Total Required Credit Hours	12