Course Description

The six-month Basic Peace Officer Certification Program prepares prospective peace officers through a mandated Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) course curriculum.

At the completion of the program, cadets will be able to demonstrate the role and function of a Texas Peace Officer and identify, analyze, and resolve law enforcement issues, problems, and concerns. In addition, successful cadets will receive an endorsement as an eligible candidate for the Texas Peace Officer Licensing exam. Texas Southmost College is certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement as a Police Training Academy.

Cadets who complete the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement State exam are eligible to work throughout Cameron County and the State of Texas. The Criminal Justice Institute has more than 21 hiring partners within Cameron County and the surrounding areas.

The Basic Police Officer Certification Course covers 752 hours of instruction mandated by the State of Texas. The training includes academics, fitness, practical application (hands-on), and reality-based training.

General Requirments

• Applicants must be United States Citizen
• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age before the “end of course” review date of the start of the police academey or 18 years old, if the applicant has received an associate degree or 60 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university.
• Applicants must provide documentation for one of the following
  • High school diploma/transcripts or General Educational Development (GED)
• College readiness assessment (TABE/TSI)
  • TSI Reading: 351
  • TSI Writing: 351 (through 2020) or diagnostic scores of 5 and 5+ on the essay
  • TSIA2 ELAR:945+ and a score of 5 on the essay
  • TSIA2 ELAR Diagnostic: 5 and score of 5 on the essay.
  • TSI waived with an Associate’s Degree or Higher
• Criminal Background Requirements:
  • Must have an honorable discharge from the military (if applicable)
  • Is not currently charged with any criminal offense for which conviction would be a bar to licensure
  • Has never been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years (10) from the date of the court order.
  • Has never been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B or Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years.
  • Has never been convicted or placed on community supervision in any court of an offense involving family violence as defined under chapter 71, Texas Family Code.
  • Is not prohibited by the state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle; ( must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License).
  • Is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Course Information

• Program Cost: $4,500
• Dates:
  • January – June (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
  • July – December (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
  • January – December (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)

Upon completion of the program, students will have the opportunity to:

• Receive legal training from Cameron County District Attorneys
• Receive mandated certifications from local, state, and federal agencies
• Receive TSC Certificate of Completion
• Receive Occupational Skills Award. OSAs emphasize practical, hands-on training aligned with industry standards to ensure relevance and value in the job market.
• Receive preparatory training to complete the TCOLE Peace Officer exam

Peace Officer Program Requirements

AGF Personal History Statement

Authorization to Release Information

Texas DPS Driving Records