Police Academy

Scranton Campus
(toll free) 1-877-346-3552 or 570-961-7874

Hazleton Campus
570-459-1573 or 570-961-5811

Lackawanna College operates an outstanding Police Academy which offers a wide array of programs and courses revolving around the field of law enforcement.  Lackawanna College is the only institution providing such programs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Police Academy training is not only indispensable in itself but it can also serve as the basis for an individual earning as associate degree in Criminal Justice.

Among the programs conducted by Lackawanna College’s Police Academy are Act 120, In-Service for Police Officers, Act 235 Lethal Weapons Certification,  Sheriff’s and Constables’ Training.

Lackawanna College can also provide entry level and promotional exams for police and fire departments.

• ACT 120
• IN SERVICE
• ACT 235
• CONSTABLES’ TRAINING
• CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE
• PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS

ACT 120

Under Pennsylvania ACT 120, any person employed as a municipal police officer in the Commonwealth is required to have successfully completed a 785.5 hour course of instruction covering all areas of police work. Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to work as police officers in Pennsylvania. Police Academy training is not only fundamental to becoming a police officer but can serve as the basis to earning an Associate Science Degree in either Criminal Justice/Police-Security/ACT 120 or Criminal Justice Counseling/ACT 120. This alliance permits students to earn their degree in a much shorter period of time, at a considerable savings and without duplication of course work. Upon accomplishment of the ACT 120 program, a student can earn up to 21 credits towards the Criminal Justice Program.

Lackawanna College provides that program for individuals hired by police departments or for citizens seeking full or part time employment in the police field.  Many police departments require that individuals complete the Act 120 before they are considered for employment.

The Act 120 curriculum covers  areas of law enforcement that are pertinent to municipal police officers, such as Criminal Law, Motor Vehicle Code, Rules of Criminal Procedures, Firearms, Self Defense, Driving and Ethics.

Lackawanna College, Scranton, offers the Act 120 Municipal Police Officers Training Program at its main campus in Scranton. The Police Academy offers a full time Act 120 Program, with students attending classes Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM with some weekends and evenings and lasts about 21 weeks. The part time Act 120 program consists of 3 nights a week 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM and Saturday or Sunday 8 AM to 4:30 PM and lasts about 12 months.

The satellite center in Hazleton (50 miles south of Scranton) offers 2 full time Act 120 classes - one starting in January and the other in July. Both of these classes run for 5 months Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. The Hazleton Center also offers part time classes (Starting each September) running for 10 months on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM and Saturdays 8 AM to 4:30 PM., starting September and ending July of each year.

Act 120 Requirements

The application process for the Police Academy involves submission of the following documents:

1. Application ($30.00 Fee)  Non-refundable
2. Control Sheet
3. Copy of valid Driver’s License
4. Copy of Social Security Card
5. Criminal History Report
6. Driver History
7. Grade Release Form
8. Health Insurance/Signed Waiver Form
9. High School Diploma/Transcript/GED
10. Medical Exam Form
11. Personal and Professional History Information Sheet
12. Vision Exam

 Tests that will be scheduled through the Academy office are as follows: 
 

1. Physical Fitness Agility Test ($45.00 Fee)
2. Psychological Report/MMPI Test (Applicant Responsibility)
3. Reading Comprehension Test (No Fee)

30 days prior to start date of class, all pertinent documents, as well as required testing and interview must be completed.           

To apply online for the Police Academy please go to https://portal.lackawanna.edu click on Police Academy and then click on Apply for Police Academy Admission

Current Schedule:
                

ACT 180 IN SERVICE 
Active municipal police officers and county detectives must take 12 hours of mandatory training each year.

Course Description
Course Schedule

ACT 235
The state of Pennsylvania requires that any person wishing to become a certified security officer or is privately employed and required, as a condition of employment, to carry a lethal weapon must participate in a 40 hour Lethal Weapons Training Program. Lackawanna College also offers 8 hour recertification classes to persons who have received Lethal Weapon Training.  

CONSTABLES’ TRAINING
Training programs are offered for constables and deputy constables.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE
For any student completing the Act 120, Lackawanna College will provide 24 credits toward an Associate's degree without duplication of course work and also can earn their degree in a shorter time at considerable savings.

PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS
Lackawanna College Police Academy offers training for the following programs:

• Expandable Baton
• OC
• Tactical Handcuffing

We also customize and develop training for entry level          police and fire testing as well promotional testing. The Police       Academy also tailors specialized training for individual departments.