Program: Crossover From Correctional Officer to Law Enforcement Officer (5798) (C.C.) - Florida State College at Jacksonville

Career Certificate (Clock Hour program)

This is a Limited Access program.

Mission/Purpose

The mission of the Crossover from Corrections Officer to Law Enforcement Officer career certificate program is to provide education and training to prepare students to take and pass the Law Enforcement State Officer Certification Examination and to perform the duties of an entry-level police officer.

The Program

This program provides training to satisfactorily perform the basic duties and responsibilities of an entry-level police officer. Applicants must be State of Florida certified corrections officers and successfully complete the selection process described below prior to being admitted into the program. Once admitted, students can expect to be part of an academically and physically rigorous program. Students must pass 14 written exams with a minimum score of 80% and demonstrate 100% proficiency in the high liability area of vehicle operation.

Program Accreditation

The Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Center is a certified training center through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) at fdle.state.fl.us. The program is based on the mandated curriculum established by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission at fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Commission/CJSTC-Home.aspx. For more information about the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Center, visit fscj.edu/campuses/north-campus/northeast-florida-criminal-justice-center.

Application Procedure

Students must pass an entrance interview prior to acceptance into the program. Students must meet the following program entry requirements:

Be at State of Florida certified Corrections Officer. View FDLE Officer Requirements at fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Officer-Requirements/How-to-Become-an-Officer.aspx.

Not have falsified their program application or personal history.

Completion of this program is intended to lead to employment in certain safety sensitive positions that are also physically demanding. To address student safety as well as a student’s ability to be employed within the current employment environment, all students, after taking and passing the Law Enforcement Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT), are required to submit the following to the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Center:

Drug screen

Criminal background check

Physical exam

Driver history check

Proof of health insurance

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Curriculum

Professional Coursework

Total Contact Hours: 518

Record of Conviction of a Crime

If the students enroll in an internship or cooperative education class and are seeking experience at a law enforcement agency or facility under Children and Family Services then a background check is performed by the law enforcement agency or facility, and the student may be denied employment (paid or non-paid) based on their criminal record.

Graduation Requirements

In order to be awarded a career certificate, students must have met the following requirements.

Fulfill all academic requirements for the chosen program of study as outlined in the Florida State College at Jacksonville catalog and curriculum.
Earn the required number of clock hours for the chosen program of study with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on a 4.0 scale on all courses that apply to the chosen program of study.
Complete a minimum of 25 percent of the total clock hours required for a certificate’s program requirements as a student at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Fulfill all obligations, financial or otherwise, to the College before graduating.
Meet or exceed the program’s exit score requirement(s), if applicable, or meet the criteria to earn a waiver.

Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.

A student’s graduation date will be the date of the end of the College term in which the student has fulfilled all academic requirements. (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates, since the grade change is effective at the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up.)
Students who enter under the (2023/2024) catalog will be assigned to the degree or certificate requirements in effect during the 2023/2024 academic year. The student’s assigned catalog year will remain in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.
Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite requirements and/or corequisite courses listed in the course descriptions. Students are advised to be guided by these requirements.

Articulation

Upon successful completion of the program students may receive articulated College credit toward the Criminal Justice Technology (2239) (A.S.) degree. See the program description and official articulation agreement for credit award requirements. Students may pursue one or more certificates to develop or upgrade their skills in a particular field, or pursue the A.S. degree and earn technical certificates while completing the requirements for the degree. Contact an advisor to determine the career education path that is best for you.