Law EnforcementTraining Academy
POST-accredited. 9.5 months. 35 credits to a Certificate — or keep going for your AAS degree. Train at the San Luis Valley Law Enforcement Regional Training Center in Alamosa.
About the Program
Become a Colorado Peace Officer
The Law Enforcement Training Program at Trinidad State College is accredited by the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST). The program prepares students to become professional law enforcement officers who can think clearly, apply communication and human behavior principles, and effectively use hands-on skills as situations require.
After completing the academy, graduates sit for the Colorado POST certification exam. Those wishing to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree may do so by completing an additional 27 credits beyond the certificate.
San Luis Valley Law Enforcement Regional Training Center, Alamosa, CO
Class schedule: Weekday evenings 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, plus many Saturdays and Sundays.
Degrees & Certificates
Whether you want a full degree or a fast credential, every TSC program earns you industry certifications and every certificate stacks toward the degree.
AAS Degree — Basic Law Enforcement
Complete the certificate, then add 27 credits to earn your associate degree.
Basic Law Enforcement Certificate
Entry-level credential that qualifies you to sit for the Colorado POST exam.
Program Cost
Where You Can Study
This program is offered at the following TSC campus locations.
FAQ's
You will learn the skills required to perform duties as a law enforcement professional. The Colorado POST Board has established the curriculum and mandated training hours. Attendees are referred to as recruits and must complete all mandated hours before they are eligible to sit for the state certification exam. Moderate discipline is applied during academy sessions and field training exercises — preparation for the standards of a law enforcement agency.
Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) - Certificate
Each certificate is a standalone credential. Click any certificate to see the full course list.
Certificate Name
A two-semester law enforcement academy program covering foundational police training, basic law, arrest control, defensive driving, and firearms — preparing graduates for a career in law enforcement.
Semester One (17 credits)
- LEA 1001 – Basic Police Academy I (6 credits)
- LEA 1005 – Basic Law (8 credits)
- LEA 1006 – Arrest Control Techniques (3 credits)
Semester Two (18 credits)
- LEA 1002 – Basic Police Academy II (12 credits) Pre-/Co-Req: LEA 1001
- LEA 1007 – Law Enforcement Driving (3 credits)
- LEA 1008 – Firearms (3 credits)
Basic Law Enforcement AAS Degree
Click any semester to see the full course list.
Semester One
Foundational law enforcement training covering police academy fundamentals, basic law, and arrest control techniques.
- LEA 1001 – Basic Police Academy I (6 credits)
- LEA 1005 – Basic Law (8 credits)
- LEA 1006 – Arrest Control Techniques (3 credits)
Semester Two
Advanced police academy training in defensive driving and firearms, completing the Law Enforcement Training Academy certification — with the option to continue toward an Associate's Degree.
- LEA 1002 – Basic Police Academy II (12 credits) Pre-/Co-Req: LEA 1001
- LEA 1007 – Law Enforcement Driving (3 credits)
- LEA 1008 – Firearms (3 credits)
Students complete the Above as Part of a Law Enforcement Training Academy (offered on the Alamosa Campus only)
For students who wish to continue, completion of the following courses will earn them the Associate’s Degree in Basic Law Enforcement
Semester Three
General education requirements in English, math, and communication, paired with five criminal justice courses covering topics such as criminology, crime scene investigation, policing, and corrections.
English courses: (3 credits)
Choose one:
- ENG 1015 – Technical English and Communication (3 credits)
- ENG 1021 – English Composition I (3 credits)
Mathematics courses: (3 credits)
Choose one:
- MAT 1140 – Career Math
- MAT 1240 – Mathematics for Liberal Arts
- MAT 1340 – College Algebra
- MAT 1260 – Introduction to Statistics
Communication (3 credits)
Choose one:
- COM 1150 – Public Speaking
- COM 1250 – Interpersonal Communication
Five 3 credit courses with a CRJ prefix one of which must be CRJ 1010 Intro to Criminal Justice (3 credits)
Choose five:
- CRJ 1010 – Introduction to Criminal Justice (required)
- CRJ 2030 – Criminology
- CRJ 2057 – Victimology
- CRJ 1027 – Crime Scene Investigation
- CRJ 1045 – Correctional Process
- CRJ 1025 – Policing Systems
- CRJ 1010 – Introduction to Criminal Justice
Semester Four
A single GT Pathways elective drawn from the arts, humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences.
A GT Pathways course in one of the following disciplines
Choose one:
- AH1
- AH2
- AH3
- AH4
- SS1
- SS2
- SS3
- SC1
- SC2
POST Exam
Pass Rates
Colorado POST exam pass rates for TSC LETA graduates, as reported by the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board.
2024
93.75%
2023
91.87%
2022
100%
2021
80%
2020
94.12%
2019
69.23%
Per POST policy, pass rates for schools with 10 or fewer applicants in a given year are not reported to protect candidate privacy. View full statewide statistics (PDF).
Contact Us
Have questions about this program? Reach out to a faculty or staff member.
- TitleDirector
- DepartmentLaw Enforcement Academy
- LocationAlamosa, Colorado • SLV Regional Training Center
- EmailTate.Kindschuh@trinidadstate.edu
- TitleFaculty/Division Chair
- DepartmentCriminal Justice & Physical Education
- LocationTrinidad, Colorado • 110 Davis
- EmailSarah.Sloane@trinidadstate.edu
- TitleDean of Instruction
- DepartmentBUS, CIS, ECE
- LocationAlamosa, Colorado • 112 Main
- Emailemily.hammer@trinidadstate.edu