Law Enforcement Basic Training

POST Basic Patrol Academy spans over the course of 17 weeks. Class meets M-TH from 7:00AM to 5:00PM. A typical day consists of classroom instruction, scenario-based training, physical training, and a thirty-minute lunch break. Due to the nature of this training, this schedule is subject to change. Recruits will be given notice of any changes in advance, either by academy coordinators or Canvas announcements.

The CEI Basic Patrol Academy offers options for both self-sponsored students and agency sponsored students. For information about the registration process for self-sponsored students, please reach out to CEIPOST@cei.edu to set up a preliminary interview.

No. Payment is due in full at the time of registration for all WTCE classes.

Yes. This program is approved for Idaho Launch funding for adult learners. Students may also be sponsored by a local law enforcement agency. Eligible students may be able to utilize military education benefits for this academy; please contact Krysta Madrigal in CEI’s Armed Forces Center at krysta.madrigal@cei.edu or 208-535-5447 for more information.

Most course materials are included in the cost of tuition. For agency sponsored students, anything not included in tuition is typically provided by their agency after hire.

Self-sponsored students are responsible for the purchase of materials not included in tuition. This includes a duty belt, body armor/vest, handcuffs, and firearms range safety equipment, firearm and appropriate holster, 1,000 rounds (minimum) of range ammunition, a working laptop, notebook, and pens/pencils. Students will receive a list of approved firearms at the time of their preliminary interview. Firearms are subject to inspection by academy staff prior to firearms training.

For a comprehensive list of course materials, please reach out to CEIPOST@cei.edu. Students will also receive a comprehensive list of materials during their preliminary interview.
If there are any financial concerns about materials, please let the coordinator team know and assistance options can be discussed.

Recruits must have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and be at least 21 years old. Additionally, recruits must be a US Citizen and obtain the following: documentation from their healthcare provider stating that they meet physical requirements, a polygraph test, fingerprinting, and a criminal background check. All other pre-registration requirements will be discussed during the preliminary interview.

For agency sponsored students, most of these requirements will be met during the hiring process.

Agency sponsored students will be registered by their agency of hire.
Self-sponsored students must attend an interview with the academy coordinators, where they will discuss the requirements stated above and any others. Students must return proper documentation to academy coordinators by a specified due date (given during the interview) and receive POST approval to attend the Academy. This process can take anywhere from 3-6 months to complete.

After this process is complete, academy coordinators will contact you to finalize registration. 

Students must be 21 years old to attend the Patrol Academy.

The Patrol Academy is offered once per calendar year, typically in the summer.

Attendance is crucial for all CEI Law Enforcement Training Academies. Events like sickness, family emergencies, etc. may be considered an excused absence if academy coordinators are contacted well in advance. Unexcused absences are inexcusable and will result in disciplinary action.

Per Idaho POST, students may not be absent for more than 16 hours of classroom instruction. Students are responsible for all missed instructional time. If a student misses ANY skills-based training, they will not be eligible to graduate from the Academy.

CEI does not assist with job placement. However, it is important to note that students who complete the program have three years to be hired by a duly recognized Idaho agency to utilize their basic law enforcement training for officer basic certification.

The Basic Detention Academy is 7 weeks long and consists of lecture, scenario-based training, and physical readiness training. Classes will be held Monday-Friday, generally from 7AM-5PM, with a 1-hour lunch break. Due to the nature of this training, this schedule is subject to change. Recruits will be given notice of any changes in advance either by academy coordinators or Canvas announcements.

The CEI Basic Detention Academy offers options for both self-sponsored students and agency sponsored students. For information about the registration process for self-sponsored students, please reach out to CEIPOST@cei.edu to set up a preliminary interview.

No. Payment is due in full at the time of registration for all WTCE classes.

Yes. This program is approved for Idaho Launch funding for adult learners. Students may also be sponsored by a local law enforcement agency. Eligible students may be able to utilize military education benefits for this academy; please contact Krysta Madrigal in CEI’s Armed Forces Center at krysta.madrigal@cei.edu or 208-535-5447 for more information.

Most course materials are included in the cost of tuition. For agency sponsored students, anything not included in tuition is typically provided by their agency after hire. Self-sponsored students are responsible for the purchase of materials not included in tuition. This includes a duty belt, body armor/vest, handcuffs, a working laptop, notebook, and pens/pencils. For a comprehensive list of course materials, please reach out to CEIPOST@cei.edu. Students will also receive a comprehensive list of materials during their preliminary interview.

If there are any financial concerns about materials, please let the coordinator team know and assistance options can be discussed.

Recruits must have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and be at least 18 years old. Additionally, recruits must be a US Citizen and obtain the following: documentation from their healthcare provider stating they meet physical requirements, a polygraph test, fingerprinting, and a criminal background check. All other pre-registration requirements will be discussed during the preliminary interview.

For agency sponsored students, most of these requirements will be met during the hiring process.

For agency sponsored students, registration will be managed through the agency with whom they are hired. For self-sponsored students, students must attend an interview with the academy coordinators, where they will discuss the requirements stated above and any others. Students must return proper documentation to academy coordinators by a specified due date (given during the interview) and receive POST approval to attend the Academy. This process can take anywhere from 3-6 months to complete.

After this is complete, academy coordinators will contact you to finalize registration. 

You must be 18 years old to attend the Detention Academy.

The Basic Detention Academy will run twice per calendar year, typically one in early spring and one in the fall.

Attendance is crucial for all CEI Law Enforcement Training Academies. Events like sickness, family emergencies, etc. may be considered an excused absence if academy coordinators are contacted well in advance. Unexcused absences are inexcusable and will result in disciplinary action.

Per Idaho POST, students may not be absent for more than 16 hours of classroom instruction. Students are responsible for all missed instructional time. If a student misses ANY skills-based training, they will not be eligible to graduate from the Academy.

The Emergency Communications Academy is 2 weeks long and takes place M-F from 7AM-5PM, with a 1-hour lunch break.

The Emergency Communications Academy does not accept self-sponsored students. Recruits must be hired as an Emergency Communications Officer with a valid state or local agency to enroll in this academy.

No. Payment is due in full at the time of registration for all WTCE classes.

No. Payment is to be covered by the student’s agency of hire.

Tuition covers the cost of course materials needed for scenario-based trainings. However, students are required to bring their own laptop that is compatible with Microsoft Teams, as well as a notebook and pens/pencils for lecture. Students may bring their own keyboard, mouse, and headset to use during scenario training if they desire.

Recruits must be hired as an Emergency Communications Officer with a valid state or local agency, have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and be at least 18 years old. Additionally, recruits must be a US Citizen and obtain the following: documentation from their healthcare provider stating they meet physical requirements, a polygraph test, fingerprinting, and a criminal background check. Most or all of these requirements will be met during the hiring process with the student’s agency.

Registration will be managed by the student’s agency upon hire.

You must be at least 18 years old to attend the Emergency Communications Officer Academy.

The Emergency Communications Officer Academy typically runs twice per calendar year, once in January and once in August.

Attendance is crucial for all CEI Law Enforcement Training Academies. Events like sickness, family emergencies, etc. may be considered an excused absence if academy coordinators are contacted well in advance. Unexcused absences are inexcusable and will result in disciplinary action.

Per Idaho POST, students may not be absent for more than 16 hours of classroom instruction. Students are responsible for all missed instructional time. If a student misses ANY skills-based training, they will not be eligible to graduate from the Academy.