Police Academy Certificate

The Police Academy is a two semester program that runs fall and winter semester. All applicants must first complete an application and be screened to the MCOLES Standards. All potential recruits must pass all of the minimum MCOLES Standards, attend an interview and be selected into the program. Please refer  to grcc.edu/criminaljustice for a schedule.

Standards

(Please refer to michigan.gov/mcoles/ for all standards for Michigan Law Enforcement Officers).

• Ethical Requirements: The Police Academy at GRCC prides itself on high ethical standards. Comprehensive background checks are conducted on all applicants. The potential recruit must possess a strong moral character and be free from any felony convictions. Misdemeanor convictions are determined on a case by case basis.
• Physical Requirements: the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) requires potential recruits to pass a pre-enrollment physical fitness test. These standards are based on age and gender. The standards and individual events can be found at michigan.gov/mcoles/. A passing score on this test must be completed by the application deadline and 180 days prior to the start of the police academy.
• Medical Standards: The recruit must pass all medical standards required by MCOLES. Recruits must pass the vision, hearing, drug test and medical standards during the application process. All information will be available with the Police Academy application.

Police Academy admissions requirements

Students who do not have an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university must complete (or transfer to GRCC) the designated general education courses before being able to take any of the Police Academy courses. Exceptions or waiver of these requirements are considered by the Police Academy Director and/or the Criminal Justice Department Head.

Admissions for this program includes a full criminal background check. Students must provide a social security number in order for this process to be completed.

Criminal History

You cannot have any felonies on your record, including adult expungements. Misdemeanor crimes will be discussed on a case-by-case situation. Law Enforcement demands people with a strong moral character.

Fitness

You must be at a physical fitness level sufficiently high enough to pass the pre-enrollment physical agility test. Do not take your fitness level for granted. You must prepare for this test. To check out the test details, go to MCOLES, Physical fitness test. Testing dates will be available with the application packet in May.

Off-Campus Requirement

The classes for Firearms and Emergency Vehicle Operations are both within 10 miles of GRCC's campus. Both classes are required for the Police Academy program. Students are responsible for their own transportation and any cost associated with it.

How to apply for the program

After applying to grcc.edu at www.grcc.edu/apply, student recruits should submit this interest form for the Police Academy. 

Visit our Police Academy Information and Application page, and michigan.gov/mcoles/ Michigan Law Enforcement Standards.

History of convictions may affect employment
Employment within the Criminal Justice field may be delayed or denied depending on a history of convictions involving felonies, misdemeanors and/or involving controlled substances.