Law Enforcement Officer Pre-Service Program

Typically, individuals must be hired by a Montana law enforcement agency before they attend the Law Enforcement Officer Basic Course. The Pre-Service Program allows individuals to apply directly to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy to attend this course. Under the Pre-Service Program, individuals who are accepted into the Basic Course:

• have not yet been hired by a law enforcement agency
• are not sworn law enforcement officers
• pay for the course themselves

Placement Rate

Since the inception of the Pre-Service Program, the Montana Law Enforcement Academy has an over 95 percent placement rate for Pre-Service Program graduates with law enforcement agencies across the state.

Cost

The total cost of the Pre-Service Program is $3,910, which includes:

Applicants are responsible for pursuing any alternative funding sources that may be available, such as grants, scholarships, veteran's plans or job service programs. If other funding is used, applicants must notify the Academy's Administration Office of the financial arrangement prior to registration. Applicants who fail to provide the required prior notice are expected to make full payment at registration.

How to Apply

Because a limited number of positions in each Law Enforcement Officer Basic Course class are available for pre-service applicants, acceptance into the course is competitive. Pre-service applicants must take a written and physical exam to determine their fitness for the law enforcement profession.

1. Request an application packet, which is available for a $10 processing fee. Checks should be made payable to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. To request a packet, contact:

   Montana Law Enforcement Academy
   2260 Sierra Road East
   Helena, MT 59602-8839
   Phone: (406) 444-9950
   E-mail: mlea@mt.gov

2. Fully and accurately complete the application and all forms in the packet and return them to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. The Academy then sends applicants a confirmation letter that includes the date, time and location of the required testing.
3. Take the required tests:
   1. Written test – the three-part POST test that includes a peace officer selection test, a reading skills test and a writing skills test. Applicants must obtain a passing score on each phase of this examination.
   2. Physical fitness assessment – a series of physical examinations including push-ups, sit-ups, sit and reach, and a 1½-mile run. Applicants must meet the physical fitness requirements for their age and gender.
4. The Academy then schedules applicant interviews based on an initial ranking. After the interviews, the Academy assigns a final ranking to determine if and when an applicant may attend the Law Enforcement Officer Basic Course as a pre-service student.
5. Applicants accepted into the course must then send the $200 acceptance deposit to the Academy. Applicants who fail to submit this deposit will lose their position in the course.
6. Applicants must pay the remaining $3,700 during registration on the first day of the course (unless, prior to registration, they have notified the Academy's Administration Office that they have arranged an alternative funding source, as explained under Cost).