Applications for our 2025 class will be available soon. If you would like to have an application e-mailed to you when they are available, send an e-mail to bpa@lakelandcc.edu and put "Application Request" in the subject line.
Lakeland's Basic Police Academy is administered by the College in conjunction with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council (OPOTC). The Basic Police Academy is required training to become a police officer in the State of Ohio. The curriculum includes all topics required by the OPOTC, and others as determined by the Academy Commander. Attendance at all classes is mandatory. To maintain a safe and quality learning environment, the size of a police academy class will not exceed 30 students/cadets.
Please contact us with any questions.
How to become a Police Officer in Ohio
To become a police officer in Ohio, applicants must complete a Peace Officer Basic Training Academy that is approved by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC).
Lakeland provides an open enrollment police academy, meaning that if you meet the qualifications listed below, you are eligible to enroll in our police academy.
Find more information from the Ohio Attorney General here.
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Must be 20 years of age by the start of the Academy.
- Must be a high school graduate or GED equivalent.
- Must possess a valid Ohio driver's license.
- Must pass Lakeland's Psychological exam prior to acceptance into the Academy.
- Must pass the OPOTC Physical Fitness Assessment evaluation prior to acceptance into the Academy.
- Must pass a drug screen test prior to acceptance into the police academy.
- Must not have any felony convictions or serious misdemeanors.
- A sealed or expunged felony convictions as an adult and/or juvenile may exclude applicant from entering the police academy.
- Must not have a conviction of any domestic violence offense as defined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2919.25.
- Must not have more than one OVI conviction within the past three years. OVI convictions greatly reduce your potential to be hired by a police department.
- Must not have any misdemeanor convictions within the past two years of the start of the application process (minor misdemeanors excluded*).
- Must not have any convictions for a sex offense as defined in Ohio Revised Code 2907.
- Must not have any convictions for any offense of violence as defined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2901.01(A)(9).
More information on requirements and minor misdemeanor exclusion.
To be eligible for admittance to Lakeland's Basic Police Academy, a student must attain the minimum score for all three skills as set on the Entrance Physical Assessment Form. Failure to meet all three skills disqualifies entry to the academy. There are no exceptions.
To be eligible to graduate from Lakeland's Basic Police Academy, a student must attain at least the minimum for all three skills as set on the Final Physical Assessment Form near the end of the Academy. Failure to meet the minimum in all three skills will result in dismissal from the academy. A chart has been given below for your reference. There will be no exceptions.
Final physical fitness standards
The cost of Lakeland's Basic Police Academy is under review and will be announced by spring 2025.
Cadets who have completed Lakeland's Basic Police Academy who have completion of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy final exam and Lakeland's paperwork are eligible for eighteen (18) college credit applicable to an associate of arts degree in criminal justice.
Many students ask what types of funds are available for Lakeland's Basic Police Academy. The Basic Police Academy is not a federal financial aid eligible program; therefore, federal funds (Pell Grant and/or federal student loans) cannot be used to pay tuition. There are limited scholarship funds that Lakeland's Basic Police Academy students are encouraged to apply for as well as the Charles E. Schell loan program. Applications for scholarships and the Schell loan program are in the enrollment packet. For more information, contact Lakeland's Financial Aid department.
If you are an open enrollment cadet, a firearm will be provided.
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Council requires applicants to have a National WebCheck performed. The SF 102unv form is included in your application packet.
A mandatory psychological examination will take place at Lakeland Community College
Once per year.
Full-time: Monday – Friday | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Some evenings and weekends
If you have any further questions or need additional information, please contact Lakeland's Basic Police Academy
