Which Schools Offer Law Enforcement Certification in Florida?

Learn about law enforcement certification in Florida. Get information about degree programs available and requirements to make an informed decision about your education. Schools offering Law Enforcement degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Career Info for Law Enforcement Professionals in Florida

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, to become a certified law enforcement officer you must be at least 19 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, be a U.S. citizen and have a clean criminal record (www.fdle.state.fl.us). You also have to complete basic recruit training, pass the SOCE and find law enforcement employment in the state within four years of beginning your recruitment program.

In May 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 636,410 police and sheriff's patrol officers were employed in the U.S. (www.bls.gov). In that year, these professionals earned a mean annual wage of about $56,000. This number was about the same as the annual average salary of law enforcement officers in Florida during that time, which was estimated around $56,000 as well. Florida employed 35,370 law enforcement officers in 2011, making it the fourth-largest employer of these professionals in the nation for that year. Furthermore, the BLS estimated that employment for police and sheriff's patrol officers nationwide would grow by seven percent from 2010-2020.

Law Enforcement Certificate Programs in Florida

Miami Dade College

  • Program: CMS Law Enforcement BRT Career Certificate
  • Program Length: 760 contact hours
  • Tuition: $3,164 for residents and $11,309 for non-residents during the 2011-2012 academic year
  • Prerequisites: Florida Basic Abilities Test (FBAT), voice stress analysis test, background check, fingerprinting, physical screening and physical agility test
  • School Type: 4-year, public, approximately 64,000 undergraduate students
  • Address: 300 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132-2297
  • Phone: (305) 237-8888

The Law Enforcement Officer program at Miami Dade College can prepare you for a career with law enforcement agencies in Florida. Offered through the School of Justice, you will be required to complete courses in human issues, communications, firearms, defensive tactics, patrol, traffic crash investigations and physical fitness training. At the completion of this certificate program, you will be able to take the State Certification Exam required for employment.

Miami Dade College

  • Program: Cross-Over Corrections to Law Enforcement Officer Career Certificate
  • Program Length: 434 contact hours
  • Tuition: $1,920 plus uniforms during the 2011-2012 academic year
  • Prerequisites: Complete Law Enforcement FBAT, be a certified corrections officer in good standing and pass a criminal history check
  • School Type: 4-year, public, approximately 64,000 undergraduate students
  • Address: 300 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132-2297
  • Phone: (305) 237-8888

If you are already a certified corrections officer and want to become a certified law enforcement official, you might be interested in the college's Cross-Over Corrections to Law Enforcement Academy. To enroll, you must be a U.S. citizen, be in good standing with your current corrections facility employer, have at least one year of work experience and pass a criminal background check as well as the Law Enforcement Florida Basic Abilities Test. Completing this training course enables you to sit for the SOCE. Courses cover vehicle operations, patrol, criminal investigations, traffic stops and stun gun usage.

St. Petersburg College

  • Program: Law Enforcement Academy
  • Program Length: 22 weeks full-time
  • Tuition: $4,000 for residents and about $9,705 for non-residents during the 2011-2012 academic year
  • Prerequisites: Criminal background check and completion of either 30 credits of college-level coursework or an active military tour of duty with an honorable discharge
  • School Type: 4-year, public, approximately 33,000 undergraduate students
  • Address: 6021 142nd Avenue, Largo, Florida 33760
  • Phone: (727) 341-4772

The Southeastern Public Safety Institute at St. Petersburg College includes a 22-week Law Enforcement Academy program that prepares you to take the SOCE. Instruction covers topics such as investigation methods, self-defense techniques, weapons instruction and patrol operations. Some coursework may be applied to the college's associate degree requirements. You can expect to study investigations, weapons, defensive tactics and patrol.

Law Enforcement Associate's Degree Programs in Florida

Miami Dade College

  • Program: Associate in Science in Criminal Justice Technology: Basic Law Enforcement
  • Program Length: Two years full-time
  • Tuition: $3,164 for residents and $11,309 for non-residents during the 2011-2012 academic year
  • School Type: 4-year, public, approximately 64,000 undergraduate students
  • Address: 300 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132-2297
  • Phone: (305) 237-8888

This program is technical in nature, which means it's intended for those who interested in roles as technical support staff; however, graduates are not eligible to become sworn police officers. You learn about crime prevention, crime scenes, law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Core classes cover probation and parole, juvenile criminals, criminology, corrections and police procedures, among others; these are paired with electives and general education units. Miami Dade College also offers a criminal justice administration degree program at this level.

Law Enforcement Bachelor's Degree Programs in Florida

Miami Dade College

  • Program: Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Management
  • Areas of Specialization: Law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, security and loss prevention, emergency management, crime scene investigation, field internship placement, basic law enforcement academy, basic corrections academy and criminal justice
  • Program Length: Four years full-time
  • Tuition: $3,164 for residents and $11,309 for non-residents during the 2011-2012 academic year
  • Prerequisites: An associate's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.0 or at least 60-credit hours from an accredited institution
  • School Type: 4-year, public, approximately 64,000 undergraduate students
  • Address: 300 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132-2297
  • Phone: (305) 237-8888

The School of Justice at Miami Dade College offers multiple public safety degree and law enforcement certification programs. The school's Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Management includes 10 concentrations for you to choose from, including law enforcement and basic law enforcement academy tracks. Topics covered in these tracks include the relationship between the police and society, criminal investigation techniques and law enforcement administration procedures. You spend the final semester of the 4-year program in a basic training academy and, upon graduation, are qualified to take the State Officer Certification Exam (SOCE).

St. Petersburg College

  • Program: Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration
  • Specializations: Criminal justice, emergency medical services, fire science and emergency management, gangs enforcement management, cross discipline
  • Program Length: Four years full-time
  • Tuition: $2,988 for residents and $10,897 for non-residents during the 2011-2012 academic year
  • Prerequisites: 15 semester hours of transferrable general education courses and minimum GPA of 2.0
  • School Type: 4-year, public, approximately 33,000 undergraduate students
  • Address: 6021 142nd Avenue, Largo, Florida 33760
  • Phone: (727) 341-4772

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration at St. Petersburg College requires general education courses in communications, mathematics, science, ethics and fine arts. Over the course of four years, you need to complete major courses in management, planning, administration, law and finance. Each of the five specialties requires additional courses. For instance, the criminal justice specialty requires courses in corrections, gang awareness, patrol issues and criminal investigation theory.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:

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