The IUP Criminal Justice Training Center is certified by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) to provide Act 120 training. The CJTC operates several municipal police academies designed to provide Act 120 training and certification. See Current Academy Schedules for locations and dates.
As a recruit, you will obtain the knowledge and professional skills necessary to enter the law enforcement field. Graduates are qualified to be hired as officers in cities, boroughs, townships, and municipalities in Pennsylvania.
The 919-hour curriculum is mandated by MPOETC. Cadets must successfully complete 27 exams, covering five modules of training, with an average score of 80 percent per module. Failure to achieve an 80 percent average in a module will call for dismissal of the cadet. The cadet will need to retake the failed module to continue in the program.
The following is a list of the main areas to be covered during the academy.
Academy Overview
- Introduction to the Academy
- Introduction to Law Enforcement in Pennsylvania
- Physical and Emotional Readiness
- Laws and Procedures
- Defense Tactics
- Motor Vehicle Law - Enforcement - Accident Investigation
- Motor Vehicle Collision Investigation
- Patrol Procedures and Operations
- Principles of Criminal Investigation
- Human Relations
- Crisis Management
- Families in Crisis
- Basic Firearms
- Operation of Patrol Vehicles
- Report Writing
- Case Presentation
- First Aid and CPR
- Handling Arrested Persons
- CIT Training
For detailed information regarding the academy physical conditioning requirements, refer to the MPOETC website and go to Training then Physical Fitness