Police Basic Training

Curriculum Code: 1510 I Liberal Arts Credits: 0 I Program Credits: 30

Police Basic Training is a 30-credit certificate program that prepares students for careers in law enforcement that meets and exceeds the requirements for Phase I Pre-employment Police Training established by the New York State Division of Criminal Services. By completing this course of study, graduates have an advantage in securing law enforcement employment over other candidates that lack this important credential.

Prospective students in Police Basic Training are not required to be employed by a law enforcement agency to enroll. However, students must meet entrance requirements that include a separate application process that involves physical abilities testing to ensure students can meet the physical demands of being a law enforcement officer.

Courses must be completed in sequence in consecutive semesters as a cohesive unit. Participation is required in all phases of the educational process. A course grade of C or better is required in all courses for students to graduate from the program.

Police Basic Training Information Sessions

Register here for Police Basic Training Information Sessions:

Information Sessions for Police Basic Training (Fall 2025 – Spring 2026) will be held spring 2025. We would like to know that you are interested in a career in law enforcement. Share your interest with us and receive updates about Police Basic Training by filling out the form below:

What is Police Basic Training?

Police Basic Training prepares people with a sincere interest in serving the public and the desire to do so knowledgeably, fairly, and with integrity.  Police Basic Training covers nearly all the subject matter of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service’s Basic Course for Police Officers curriculum.  Additional training to complete the Basic Course for Police Officers occurs once a student has completed Police Basic Training, been hired as a law enforcement officer, and been sworn in.

Do I need to be hired as a sworn officer to be admitted into Police Basic Training?

No, a prospective student does not have to be hired and sworn in as a police officer.  Employment as a police officer is not required for Police Basic Training, which is considered Phase One of the Basic Course for Police.  The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services allows sworn and non-sworn personnel to attend a Phase One program. Students must be of good moral character, legal residents of the United States, and cannot be convicted felons.

Are there any age requirements?

No, Columbia-Greene’s Police Basic Training Program does not have an age requirement. However, to be appointed as a police officer in New York, a person must be at least twenty years old. Full-time police officer candidates cannot be over forty-three years old when they take the written examination. There is no upper age restriction for part-time police officer employment. Time spent in the military may be credited to the upper age restriction, allowing a person over forty-three to be eligible for appointment as a full-time police officer.

What are the physical fitness requirements to pass the course?

Being physically fit is essential to be a police officer and is an integral part of Police Basic Training Programs in New York.  Students are expected to meet physical fitness benchmarks for their age and gender at the beginning, during, and after the Program.  The physical fitness requirements are under the “PBT Physical Abilities Requirements.”

When do classes meet?

Police Basic Training classes meet on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. and all day Saturday beginning at 7:00 a.m. Classes begin just after Labor Day and conclude mid-March.

Do I have to attend the entire program? Are there exemptions based upon previous training, education, or work experience?

Police Basic Training must be completed in its entirety. Students are required to participate in all facets of the training process; no exemptions are permitted.

How much does it cost to attend Police Basic Training?

Police Basic Training is a two-semester program.  Based upon current rates, tuition and college fees are approximately $6,000 for both semesters.  Tuition costs can be offset through financial aid and other institutional support.

Students can also expect to spend approximately $800 to $900 on equipment and supplies out of pocket.

Are Police Basic Training students eligible for financial aid?

Financial aid and other forms of institutional support are available to Police Basic Training students. Our goal is to make the program affordable and accessible to qualified applicants.

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility.  Additional information about Financial Aid can be found at the Financial Aid Office’s webpage: https://www.columbiagreene.edu/tuition-financial-aid/financial-aid/

We highly recommend that students contact the Columbia-Greene Financial Aid Office for additional information and assistance. The Office is in the main building and can be contacted by phone at 518.697.6360 or by email at finaid@sunycgcc.edu.

Do graduates of Police Basic Training get hired?

While we cannot guarantee employment, Police Basic Training meets all standards required for law enforcement training as set forth by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). This includes attendance, physical fitness, and academics, all conducted within a paramilitary training environment.  DCJS-certified instructors teach coursework.

We familiarize students with the civil service testing process, assist them with developing resumes, and review the requirements they must meet for law enforcement employment per the NYS Professional Policing Act of 2021.  The Professional Policing Act

requires law enforcement agencies to follow minimum standards when screening applicants for law enforcement employment, including but not limited to background investigations and psychological testing.

What happens once I get hired?

Once you are hired and sworn in as a law enforcement officer, your employing agency will enroll you in Phase Two Police Basic Training to complete the Basic Course for Police Officers. Subjects covered in Phase Two are firearms, counterterrorism, active shooter response, and other topics that DCJS has designated to be taught only to sworn law enforcement officers.    We conduct Phase Two annually at Columbia-Greene.  Phase Two typically begins shortly after completing the Police Basic Training course in late March or early April.

What if I don’t get hired within two years of graduating from Police Basic Training?

If you are not hired by a law enforcement agency within two years of completing Police Basic Training, but are hired within ten years of graduation, you would not have to repeat the entire program.  You would be required to attend a Police Refresher Course, Phase Two, and any remedial training identified by your employing agency through proficiency testing.