Welcome to the Palomar College Police Academy Website

"Professionalism Through Training"

We are not yet accepting applications for the 2026 Police Academy, which will begin in January 2026.

We will start accepting applications in Summer 2025. 

Join our Interest List to be notified when the application becomes available.

To receive information and updates about the academy or courses we offer, please join our Interest List

We offer the POST-Certified 40-hour PC 832 Arrest Course. 

Click here for details and course dates.

To view our academy brochure, click here.

As a dually accredited program, the Palomar College Police Academy is the best choice for future law enforcement professionals. The Basic Police Academy Program is certified by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and recognized by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

All academy staff are recognized law enforcement professionals and current subject matter experts.  As full-time law enforcement officers and acting deputy district attorneys, academy instructors & staff continuously develop and refine the training and curriculum that is critical to the future success of Palomar College Police Academy Recruits and graduates. 

Our program is a modular format, which allows recruits to either complete the entire year of training or to attend in modules. Modules are completed in descending order: Module III, then Module II, and then Module I. For more information about this format,  click here.

Any academy training program offered is with the approval of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Training is conducted at the Public Safety Training Center located at 182 and 184 Santar Place in San Marcos, CA. This facility is fully equipped with law enforcement and general public safety equipment and classrooms.

Have you already completed an academy and are you looking to learn about how to earn free college credits for your POST-Certified academy through Credit for Prior Learning?  Click here to learn more!

Dates and Deadlines

Modules are completed in descending order (Module III, then Module II, and finally Module I).

We hold one academy class per year, which begins in January with the mandatory Police Academy Preparation Course. 
If attending the entire program (Modules III, II, and I), the course is completed in mid-December each year.

Start dates of any academy training program are with the approval of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

We are no longer accepting applications for any module of the 2025 Police Academy.
We will begin accepting applications for the 2026 Academy in Summer 2025. See the relevant dates and deadlines listed below for further details.
Application Deadlines for Class 35 (2026 Academy):
  • Module III or Full Year:  Coming soon
  • Module II:  Coming soon
  • Module I: Coming soon

Applicants will be required to complete a three-part testing process, including a Physical Abilities Test (PAT), written exam, and an interview.  Further information, test dates, and details will be provided here when we begin accepting applications for the next academy class.
Acceptance decisions will be made after the application deadline.  The most qualified applicants will be accepted into the Palomar College Police Academy Program and space will be limited. All notices will be sent from policeacademy@palomar.edu.  Applicants should add the academy email to their safe senders list and monitor their spam/junk folders to ensure they receive all correspondence.

Mandatory Academy Preparation Course for Police Academy Class 35 (2026 Academy*):
*This is restricted to those recruits accepted into the program

There is a mandatory Police Academy Preparation Course (AJ 85) required for all recruits accepted into Module III.  This course will begin in January 2026.

Mandatory Academy Orientation for Police Academy Class 35 Modules II and I (2026 Academy):

There is a mandatory Orientation Day for recruits accepted into Modules II or I:

  • Module II: TBD
  • Module I: TBD

Location: Public Safety Training Center
Address: 184 Santar Place, San Marcos, CA 92069 (PSTC Training building in front of fire tower)

Note: The first portion of Academy fees will be due at the start of the Police Academy Preparation Course.


Academy Class 35 Dates (2026 Academy): (exact dates coming soon)
  • Police Academy Preparation Course: January 2026
  • Module III: February - April 2026
  • Module II: April - July 2026
  • Module I: July 2026 - December 2026

Starting with the Academy Preparation Course, recruits will attend training with the following schedule for the duration of the training program:

Day** Hours
Tuesday 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm*
Wednesday 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm*
Thursday 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm*
Saturday 8:00 am -  5:00 pm*

* Recruits are required to arrive 30 minutes before the start of training.

 **Courses may have adjusted hours on some Saturdays (five times total) or may be conducted on some Sundays (three times total per academy).  Recruits will be notified of any changes in the academy schedule in advance.