Get Florida Law Enforcement Officer Certification
To have a law enforcement career in the state of Florida, you have to graduate from an approved training program and pass the state's certification exam for all its officers. This requirement applies to law enforcement officers as well as to correctional and probation officers. You may be exempt from the basic recruit training program if you have previously served as a police officer in another state, or for the military or federal government. To determine if you are exempt, read the Officer Requirements document published by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/getdoc/4c487a42-8430-4b68-9f94-5cd0370ca200/Equivalency.aspx.
Instructions
1. Enroll in a law enforcement program at an accredited college or approved state training center in Florida.
Consider one of the following: Brevard Community College, Central Florida Community College, Chipola College Criminal Justice Training Center, Criminal Justice Academy of Osceola, Criminal Justice Institute at Valencia Community College, Daytona State College, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Florida Corrections Academy, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol Training Academy, Florida Keys Community College, George Stone Are Vo-Tech Center, Gulf Coast Community College, Hillsborough Community College, Indian River State College, Lake Technical Center Institute of Public Safety, Lake City Community College, Lee County Vocational / High Tech Center (Central), Manatee County Sheriff's Office Training Center, Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami Police Training Center, Miami-Dade College, North Florida Community College, Northwest Florida State College, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando Community College, Polk State College, Santa Fe College, Sarasota County Technical Institute, Seminole State College, South Florida Community College, Southwest Florida Public Service Academy, St. John's River Community College, St. Petersburg College, Tallahassee Community College, Washington-Holmes Technical Institute, Withlacoochee Technical Institute.
2. Complete all the required coursework for your chosen degree. You may either earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in one of the many law enforcement disciplines available. Alternatively, you might receive a Police Academy Basic Recruit Certificate. For example, at Miami Dade Community College, you can earn either an associate's or bachelor's degree from its School of Justice. This program, as well as all the ones at the various accredited schools listed in Step 1, will prepare students for their Florida Law Enforcement Officer test.
3. Pass the State Officer Certification Examination (SOCE). The cost for taking the test is $100. You can either apply on line (see references), where you can pay with a credit or debit card, or you can submit a CJSTC Form-500, Application for State Exam, accompanied by a cashier's check or money order. Check with one of Florida's local law enforcement agencies to see if they can provide you with a copy of the form.
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