The “Basic Peace Officer Course”
In order to be a peace officer in the State of Texas, three things must take place: police candidates must successfully complete the Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC), take and pass the State “Peace Officer Licensing Examination” administered by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE), and gain employment with a law enforcement agency. Some law enforcement agencies may hire potential peace officers and pay them while they attend the BPOC, however, law enforcement jobs in this area are highly competitive and most departments will only take applications from those who have already completed the BPOC and passed the State licensing examination.
The Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) Regional Training Academy (RTA) offers a full time BPOC that meets from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. This “Day BPOC” is approximately 19 weeks in length. The RTA also provides a “Night BPOC” that meets Monday through Thursday from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and most Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The “Night BPOC” is approximately 9 months in length. See BPOC course content for details.
Those interested in signing up to attend the day or night BPOC must sign up by going to our web site, click on “Training”, then click on “Law Enforcement Training”, then click on “Basic Peace Officer Course”. Choose the BPOC course you are interested in and click on “Show Interest” and provide us with your information. We will contact everyone on the list to take part in our application process for the Basic Peace Officer Course (See Basic Peace Officer Course Application Process below for details). Those who want to secure their position in the class (contingent upon passing the application process) may pay for the course (by credit card) on line.
Minimum Requirements for Acceptance in the Basic Peace Officer Course
All prospective students wanting to attend the Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) must be able to meet the five requirements, i.e. Age, Education, Entry Test, Physical Ability, Psychological Ability, Criminal Background and Citizenship as set out below.
Age
A. Applicants may be 18 years of age by the graduation date of the Basic Peace officer Course if they meet the following criteria:
- Have completed a minimum of an associates degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average or
- Have completed a minimum of two years of military service and separated from the military service with an Honorable discharge.
NOTE: See List of Accreditations for Colleges and Universities listed at the bottom.
B. Must be 21 Years of age by the graduation date of the Basic Peace Officer Course.
Education
A. Must be a High School graduate or
B. Must have a GED and have successfully completed a minimum of 12 credit hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average or
C. Have completed a minimum of two years of military service and separated from the military service with an Honorable discharge.
NOTE: Completion of two years of military service with an Honorable discharge takes the place of any educational requirement.
Reading Comprehension, Knowledge of Grammar and Mathematics
A. Must take and pass the Basic Peace Officer Course Entry Test that measures your reading comprehension, knowledge of grammar and mathematics. This test is rated at a 12th grade level. Note: There is no way to study for this examination.
Physical Ability
A. Must take and pass a physical examination, completed by a medical doctor licensed by the State of Texas, indicating that you are physically sound and free of any physical defect that would keep you from performing any activity that a peace officer would perform in the line of duty including any training associated with BPOC. See BPOC Physical Training.
B. Must have a drug screen, completed by a medical doctor licensed by the State of Texas, indicating that your body is free of any illegal of substance.
Psychological Ability
A. Must take and pass a psychological examination, from a psychologist or psychiatrist licensed by the State of Texas, indicating that you are free from any psychological defect that would keep you from performing any activity that a peace officer would perform in the line of duty.
Criminal Background
A. Applicants cannot have ever been convicted of any felony offense or a Class A misdemeanor within this State or any other State in the United States.
B. Applicants cannot have been convicted of a Class B misdemeanor (within this State or any other State in the United States) within the last 10 years.
Note: Any probation, adjudicated or unadjudicated will count as a conviction.
Citizenship
A. All applicants must be citizens of the United States.
Cost Associated with the Basic Peace Officer Course
The tuition for the Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) is $1,200.00. This fee must be paid in order to hold your position in the class and must be paid, in full, no later than the Friday before the course begins. There are no refunds after 8:00 AM of the first day of the course. There are no grants or financial aid available for this course, however, veterans may collect their VA benefits while attending this course. See VA benefits for more information.
The following is a list of mandatory items and approximate cost associated with each:
(Note: You may barrow any of the listed equipment except uniforms)
Item Amount Approx. Cost each Total Cost
Uniform Shirts* 3 $25.00* $75.00*
Royal Robbins 511 Pants (khaki) 3 $38.50 $115.50
Police Tactical Boots (Black) 1 pr $64.95 $64.95
Capable of toe and heal being shined
Garrison Belt (Black) 1 $13.50 $13.50
PT Shorts and Shirts* 2 $15.00* $30.00*
Running Shoes 1 pr $50.00 $50.00
Duty Rig (nylon black is acceptable)
Duty Belt 1 $14.00 to $23.90 $14.00 to 23.90
Duty Belt Keepers 1set $6.90 to $9.50 $6.90 to $9.50
Handcuffs Case 1 $7.90 to $14.90 $7.90 to $14.90
Collapsible Baton Holder 1 $12.90 $12.90
Double Magazine Holder 1 $11.90 to $21.90 $11.90 to $21.90
Holster 1 $13.50 to 49.50 $13.50 to 49.00
Handcuffs 1 $22.90 $22.90
ASP Baton 1 $45.00 to $80.00 $45.00 to $80.00
Handgun 1 $375.00 to $800.00 $375.00 to $800.00
Glock, H&K, Smith & Wesson, Sig. Must be full size, Semi Auto, Double Action
Any Cal. From 9mm to 45. ACP
Mouthpiece 1 $1.00 $1.00
Ammo for Range
1000 handgun 1000 $8.00 per box X 20= $160.00
5 Buckshot OO or OOO 1 $8.00 $8.00
Lease Vehicle for driving 4 days divided by 3 students $50.00
Misc. note paper, pens and binder $25.00
Tuition Money Order Only $1,200.00
Entry Level Testing Money Order Only $25.00
Criminal History Check Money Order made out to TCLEOSE $40.00
Grand Total = $2,225.95 to $2,892.95
Note: These are approximate prices. Prices may change at any time.
The RTA will provide information from venders for discounted prices.
*Must be purchased by vender
Uniforms and boots must be purchased by the first day of class, all other equipment must be gained by prior to the course that the equipment is needed for. The course schedule will be provided to the student during the first day of the course.
Payments to the Regional Training Academy
All payments made to the RTA, Uniform Vender or the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) must be paid by a cashiers check or money order. NOTE: tuition may be paid by credit card through our web site.
Entry Test Paid at test site – no refunds $25.00
Tuition Paid in full by the Friday before the starting date of BPOC $1,200.00
Uniform Shirts & PT gear Payable to Beverly Johnson Amount of order
Criminal History Payable to TCLEOSE $40.00
Application Process for the Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC)
If you are interested in this course you should provide your information to the RTA by clicking on the Show Interest found on the Basic Peace Officer Course block found on our web site. To insure your position for this course, contingent upon successful completion of the application process, you can pay for the course through our web site. If you are not accepted as a student, your tuition will be credited back to your account.
Approximately five to six weeks out from the beginning date of our BPOC, we will notify everyone who has provided us their information via the “Show Interest” portion of the BPOC information block of the course announcement on our web site. All applicants will be scheduled to take the Entry Test that will measure the applicant’s reading comprehension, grammar and mathematical knowledge. This test is based on a 12th grade level. There is no way to study for this test. All applicants will have to make an average grade of 70% on this test to be eligible to continue in the application process. Those who pass the Entry Test will be given an orientation and packet to be completed by a predetermined date.
The Packet will include the following:
1. The BPOC Application Check Off form. This form is to be turned in with your paperwork. You should not write on this form. This is for staff use only.
2. The General Information Form. All requested information must be completed. This gives the RTA staff information they need to contact you.
3. The A-1 Report of Student Enrollment Form. This form is completed by both the RTA staff as well as the cadet applicant. The cadet applicant must complete blocks 1 through 16, and the questions under block 16. The applicant must also read the back of this form and sign the bottom attesting that they fit the requirements listed on the back of the form. Note: if the student signs the back of this form knowing that they do not fit the requirements as listed on the back of this form, the student will be filed on for perjury. The RTA will fill out blocks 17 through 27 and the director of the academy will sign the bottom of the front page of this form. This form will be sent to the Texas Commission On Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE).
4. The Capital Area Council of Governments Regional Training Academy Sponsor Intent Form. This form should only be filled out by applicants how have been hired by a law enforcement agency and will be paid by that agency for attending the BPOC.
5. The L-2 Declaration of Medical Condition Form. This is a State form that you must bring to a physician (who is licensed to practice medicine in the State of Texas) who will complete a physical examination and drug screening examination. It is mandated that both the drug screen and the physical examination be signed off by the same physician. The drug screen results must be mailed directly to the RTA. The physician will attest that you are physically sound and free of any physical defect which may adversely affect the performance of duty of a peace officer. The physician will also attest that a drug screen was completed and no trace of drug dependency or illegal drug use present in the applicant’s body.
6. The CAPCOG RTA Medical Screening Form. This form requires that the physician, who completes the physical examination, provide the listed medical information indicated on the form in order for the applicant to be evaluated for physical exercise.
7. The L-3 Declaration of Psychological and Emotional Health form. This form must be completed by a Psychologist or Psychiatrist licensed in the State of Texas. The Psychologist or Psychiatrist must attest that the applicant is free of any psychological emotional problems that would keep the applicant from performing the duties of a peace officer.
8. List of Licensed Psychologists and Psychiatrists who provide the law enforcement evaluation service. This list is intended to provide cadet applicants with names of mental health providers who provide this service. This is not an endorsement of any mental health provider.
9. Pre-Basic Peace Officer Course Enrollment/Licensing TCIC/NCIC Record Request.
This form is a request for TCLEOSE to check the background of non-sponsored applicants. TCLEOSE will check the applicant’s criminal history to ensure they are in conformance of standards required to attend the BPOC. Note: You cannot have been convicted of a Class B Misdemeanor within the last 10 years or have ever been convicted of a Class A Misdemeanor or any Felony. You must be cleared by TCLEOSE prior to being accepted in the BPOC. Note: If you have been arrested for a Class B Misdemeanor within 10 years or arrested for a Class A Misdemeanor or any Felony and were never prosecuted, you must have the court who dropped the case, notify the “DPS Crime Record Service, Error Resolution Unit” (512-424-7256) of this situation before you can be cleared to attend the BPOC. You must provide a money order for $40.00 made out to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Do not mail this to TCLEOSE. This must be turned in with all of your other paperwork. The RTA will submit this form to TCLEOSE.
10. List of Accreditation Agencies. This sheet is for the applicant to use to make sure that the college, university or trade school attended are accredited. TCLEOSE and the RTA will only accept credit from colleges, universities or trade schools that are accredited by one of these agencies.
11+ sheets are information regarding venders