Welcome to the Palomar College Police Academy Website

"Professionalism Through Training"

We are now accepting applications for the 2025 Police Academy.  

The academy begins on January 4, 2025.

Apply now to the 2025 Police Academy

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

Public Safety Programs offers the POST-Certified 40-hour PC 832 Arrest Course. 

Click here for details and course dates.

To view our 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.

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 now accepting applications for the 2025 Police Academy.  APPLY NOW

Application Deadlines for Class 34 (2025 Academy):
  • Module III or Full Year:  Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11:00 pm
  • Module II:  Friday, February 7, 2025 at 11:00 pm
  • Module I:  Friday, May 9, 2025 at 11:00 pm

 

Applicants may be required to submit additional documentation or to meet with the Academy Coordinator prior to admission.  Further information will be provided to applicants following receipt of their academy application.  Acceptance decisions will be made after the application deadline on November 1, 2024.  Decisions will be sent via e-mail no later than November 8, 2024.  The most qualified applicants will be accepted into the Palomar College Police Academy Program and space will be limited to 40 recruits.

Mandatory Academy Preparation Course for Police Academy Class 34 (2025 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 begins on January 4, 2025.

Mandatory Academy Orientation for Police Academy Class 34 Modules II and I (2025 Academy):

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

  • Module II: Saturday, February 22, 2025
  • Module I: Saturday, May 17, 2025

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 34 Start Dates (2025 Academy):
  • Police Academy Preparation Course: Saturday, January 4, 2025
  • Module III: Saturday, February 1, 2025
  • Module II: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Module I: Tuesday, July 8, 2025

The Police Academy Preparation Course will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for 4 weeks prior to the start of Academy Module III.   When Module III begins, 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 prior to 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.