Certifications for those currently employed are also available

​(Santa Ana, CA) - Providing quality, up-to-date professional training that meets the needs of California’s criminal justice system, Santa Ana College’s (SAC) Criminal Justice Academies (CJA) Department is recruiting the generation of law enforcement professionals for its next class.

The CJA Department assists students in taking the steps they need to pursue their passion with programs that fulfill the requirements mandated by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

With 60 permanent courses designed for pre-academy, academy and post-degree students, SAC’s graduates will leave fully understanding their responsibilities and authority as police officers, be ready to perform their job through fair and honest behavior and to treat all people with dignity and respect.

Students starting their law enforcement journey will enroll in three academy preparation courses: Pre-Employment Preparation for Law Enforcement (PEP), Physical Fitness for Law Enforcement and Training Academy Preparation (TAP). After completing SAC’s pre-academy classes, students will then take academy courses consisting of 984 hours of full-time instruction throughout a rigorous 26-week period where they will receive a concentrated combination of academic students, physical conditioning, field training and discipline to prepare students for an entry-level career in law enforcement.

Finally, Law Enforcement officers needing to obtain their 24 hours of POST-certified training may additionally choose to enroll in SAC’s advanced officer training courses, allowing officers to complete the certifications necessary for their continued employment.

Courses are located at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy in Tustin, where students will learn in a 53,000 square foot complex situated on 15 acres of land that includes classrooms, lecture halls, training yards, an auditorium/gymnasium, dual obstacle courses, weight room and full-service video and production studio. Through the college’s 48-year partnership with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the program has been afforded the benefit of sharing responsibilities and resources with the agency.

More than 800 recruits are served annually through the program. To date, over 60 federal, state, county and municipal agencies have used SAC’s program for training new police recruits. The program’s 277 part-time, adjunct faculty members and one full-time instructor are a large part of SAC’s stellar reputation within the law enforcement community as the program is universally known as the most challenging police academy program in the region.

About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, provides invaluable workforce training, and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

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