Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Academy

Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Academy

Degree Type

Law Enforcement Academy

Program Code

N/A

Time to Degree

18 weeks (720 hours)

Start Date

August / January

How You'll Learn

On Campus

Daytime

Waukesha County Technical College
Building W
800 Main Street
Pewaukee, WI 53072

WCTC’s Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Academy prepares you to become certified as a law enforcement officer and enhances your ability to gain employment with a law enforcement agency. Build upon your previous classroom knowledge through additional training in topics such as defense and arrest tactics, emergency vehicle operation, firearms and vehicle contacts.

August 2 – December 8, 2023

  • Pre-service applications accepted April 8 - June 8, 2023.
  • Pre-service interviews will be conducted by the end of June 2023.
  • Deadline for agency registration is June 20, 2023.
  • Agencies must have names of their prospective recruits to us by July 1, 2023 for this academy.

January 8 – May 10, 2024

  • Pre-service applications accepted September 4 – November 10, 2023.
  • Pre-service interviews will be conducted by the end of November 2023.
  • Deadline for agency registration is November 30, 2023. 
  • Agencies must have names of their recruits to us by December 8, 2023 for this academy.

August 7 – December 13, 2024

  • Pre-service applications accepted April 8 – June 11, 2024.
  • Pre-service interviews will be conducted by the end of June 2024.
  • Deadline for agency registration is June 25, 2024.
  • Agencies must have names of their recruits to us by July 5, 2024 for this academy.

January 6 – May 9, 2025

  • Pre-service applications accepted September 1 – November 10, 2024.
  • Pre-service interviews will be conducted by the end of November 2024.
  • Deadline for agency registration is November 30, 2024. 
  • Agencies must have names of their recruits to us by November 30, 2024 for this academy.

August 6 – December 12, 2025

  • Pre-service applications accepted April 1 – June 11, 2025.
  • Pre-service interviews will be conducted by the end of June 2025.
  • Deadline for agency registration is June 25, 2025.
  • Agencies must have names of their recruits to us by June 25, 2025 for this academy.

Tuition Costs

The tuition for the Police Academy is $5,000. This may change per the Department of Justice.

Additional Estimated Costs

  • Any laptop
  • Uniform costs

How to Apply

1. Register Your Recruit

720 hours: 18 weeks, from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday

Register Your Recruit

Session Dates Price Seats Available
Police Recruit Academy August 2 - December 8, 2023 $5000.00 0
Police Recruit Academy January 8 - May 10, 2024 $5000.00 0
Police Recruit Academy August 7 - December 13, 2024 $5000.00 1
Police Recruit Academy January 6 - May 9, 2025 $5000.00 0
Police Recruit Academy August 6 - December 12, 2025 $5000.00 0

2. Welcome Email

When you sign up an officer(s), you will receive a welcome email from WCTC approximately five (5) weeks before the start of the academy. This email, which you must forward to your recruit, will include pertinent information that must be attended to in a timely manner.

3. Physical Readiness Test

Your recruit must take a Physical Readiness Test. The test will be conducted at YMCA of Greater Waukesha County (YMCA in city of Waukesha only) View the entrance and exit physical fitness standards. Test results are only good for 6 months, so schedule the assessment no more than 180 days from the start date of the academy.

  • Contact the YMCA business office at 262.542.2557 to set up an appointment. A $55 fee will be charged over the phone. Should the recruit not pass, another appointment can be scheduled for another day, and another fee will be charged.
  • Bring the following to your appointment:
  • Upon completion of the test YMCA staff will forward passing results only to WCTC.
  • WCTC will prepare a certificate of successful completion and email it to the applicant within two weeks.

Agencies can hold spots by using "TBD" for name if not yet known.

  • Admission is restricted to those who qualify under Wisconsin Department of Justice administrative rules.
  • Candidates must possess at least 60 college credits, undergo a criminal history and driver record check, successfully complete a medical examination by a licensed health care provider and participate in a personal screening interview.
  • Recruits are responsible for the cost of a weapon, magazines and other related duty gear in addition to tuition and study materials.

Entrance Requirements

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a United States citizen
  • Be of good moral character
  • Have achieved at least 60 fully-accredited college credits
  • Possess a valid Wisconsin driver's license or other such valid operator's permit recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as authorizing operation of a motor vehicle
  • Successfully pass a physical readiness test
  • Complete a criminal history records check
  • Complete a DJ-LE 327 Application
  • Complete an oral interview with a panel
  • Undergo FBI fingerprinting (only done if accepted in Academy)
  • Undergo a medical assessment (only done if accepted in Academy)

 1. Physical Readiness Test

The test will be conducted at YMCA of Greater Waukesha County. View the entrance and exit physical fitness standards. Test results are only good for 6 months so schedule the assessment no more than 180 days from the start date of the academy.

  • Contact the YMCA business office at 262.542.2557 to set up an appointment. You will pay the $55 fee over the phone. Should you not pass, you can schedule another appointment for another day and are required to pay another fee.
  • Bring the following to your appointment:
  • Upon completion of the test, YMCA staff will enter your results in the Wisconsin Department of Justice Physical Readiness Test database.
  • Once your results have been entered, you will receive an email from the Department of Justice outlining those results. This email will serve as your record of having completed the PRT.
  • A copy of this email is required for your Law Enforcement Academy application packet.

2. Complete Application Packet

Mail or email the following required documents prior to the application deadline (late applications will not be accepted) to:

Maureen Ashenfelter
WCTC - Recruit Academy
800 Main Street, W-120
Pewaukee, WI 53072

  • Copy of driver's license
  • Official college transcripts (if sending from an outside vendor, please put Attn: Jodi Crozier)
  • Copy of high school diploma or high school transcripts
  • Copy of your Physical Readiness Test Certificate (PRT)
  • Completed DJ-LE 327 Application for enrollment in training

Email the following required documents prior to the application deadline (late applications will not be accepted) to Maureen Ashenfelter:

Do not include any other items, except for those mentioned above and do not answer questions in section 6 of the application packet. Handwritten documents not accepted. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed or accepted.

3. Program Acceptance

  • Completed applications will be reviewed and those chosen will be invited to interview with a panel of criminal justice executives.
  • Those accepted in the program will be notified approximately 5-6 weeks prior to the start of training.
  • If accepted to the academy, you will also need to complete a medical assessment and undergo a FBI fingerprint check.

Program Details

Jodi Crozier
Academy Director
262.691.5070

Maureen Ashenfelter
Administrative Assistant
262.691.5569

If you have an interest in working in law enforcement and possess at least 60 college credits, this program may be right for you. The academy is a great fit for those who have worked in safety and security positions and want to take the next step to become a certified law enforcement official.

  • Law Enforcement Officer
  • Police Officer
  • Detective

$52,700 – $83,400 annually

Salary range estimates based on wages for related occupations in Waukesha County as reported by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI). Individual wages may vary based on experience, industry, location and specific job requirements.

Check the WCTC Graduate Success Report to view our graduates’ entry wages.

This program is not currently eligible for financial aid. 

Want to use your military benefits? Contact Sue Schroeder, 262.691.5431.

What Makes This Program Unique?

1

Admission can be achieved through the hiring law enforcement agency or directly by students who have at least 60 college credits and pass additional qualifying standards.

2

Past WCTC academies have had 100 percent hired rates.

3

All of the instructors who teach in the academy are currently working in or retired from law enforcement and related fields.

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