Western Iowa Tech Community College is a designated Regional Law Enforcement Training Facility by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council. The Western Iowa Tech Law Enforcement Academy provides Basic Level II certification training to officers hired by a law enforcement agency in the state of Iowa. The 9-week continuing education program provides 400 hours of training and prepares students for police officer certification.

Academy Dates

Western Iowa Tech typically offers two academy sessions each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. 

Fall 2023 Academy
September 18 - November 17, 2023

Spring 2024 Academy
March 11 - May 9, 2024

WITCC Law Enforcement Academy

The Academy courses are taught by experienced, active-duty law enforcement with current industry experience. Academy instructors are ILEA-certified and currently employed at local and state law enforcement agencies, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the State of Iowa 3rd District Judicial Office. Students benefit from an excellent student-to-teacher ratio and receive well-rounded instruction covering a variety of industry-specific topics. 

Program courses include: 

  • 21st century policing, ethics
  • Diversity and unbiased policing
  • Law, court testimony
  • Physical training
  • Defensive tactics and verbal defense
  • Building searches
  • Sex abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking
  • Accident investigation
  • Emergency medical services
  • Drug recognition
  • OWI and vehicle stops
  • Use of firearms in a state-of-the-art shooting range
  • Use of force
  • Active shooter
  • Search and seizure
  • Crime scene investigation and crime photography
  • Mental health
  • Radar
  • Iowa lottery security
  • Fingerprinting
  • Felony calls
  • Reporting
  • Science-based de-escalation training
  • Precision driving

Officers receive the following certifications during the course of the training:

  • Advanced Law Enforcement Diploma (15 credits)
  • ASP Baton Certification
  • ASP Handcuff Certification

Academy students receive additional perks as a student of Western Iowa Tech Community College:

  • MacBook Air to use while in the program
  • Free parking, laundry, and WiFi
  • State-of-the-art gym, weight room, and exercise equipment
  • Nature trails

Program Cost

Tuition and Fees: $3,902
Housing (optional): $200-275/week

Enrollment Requirements

To attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Basic Level II Academy, you must first be hired or sponsored by a law enforcement agency and satisfy the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Satisfactorily completed:
    - A two-year or four-year police science or criminal justice program at an accredited educational institution.
    -OR-
    - Law enforcement training in another state commensurate with basic training required in Iowa, and be able to provide verification of same.
  2. Official transcripts must be provided to ILEA; a final determination of eligibility for the Level II academy will be made by the staff at ILEA prior to acceptance into the program.
  3. Is a U.S. Citizen and a resident of Iowa or intend to become a resident upon being employed.
  4. Is 18 years of age at the time of appointment.
  5. Holds a valid Iowa Driver’s license.
  6. Is not addicted to drugs or alcohol [modified for Chapter 400 civil service positions by 400.17 of the Code of Iowa].
  7. Is of good moral character as determined by a thorough back ground investigation including a fingerprint search conducted of local, state, and national fingerprint files and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
  8. Has successfully passed a physical fitness test adopted by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. See physical agility requirements in item 14;
  9. Is not, by reason of conscience or belief, opposed to the use of force, when necessary, to fulfill that person’s duties.
  10. Has uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the occupational demands of law enforcement.
  11. Has normal hearing in each ear. (Hearing aids are acceptable if a candidate can demonstrate sufficient hearing proficiency to perform all necessary duties of a law enforcement officer.)
  12. Has been examined by a physician and meets the physical requirements necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer.
  13. Undergo psychological testing.
  14. Undergo cognitive [Basic Skills] testing. (Paraphrased from the ILEA webpage, Frequently Asked Questions of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.)
  15. Must pass the physical agility requirements below.
    Physical Agility Requirements for Males 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+
    Sit-ups (1 min.) 38 35 29 24 19
    Push-ups (1 min.) 29 24 18 13 10
    1.5 mile run 12:51 13:36 14:29 15:26 16:43
               
    Physical Agility Requirements for Females 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+
    Sit-ups (1 min.) 32 25 20 14 6
    Push-ups (1 min.) 15 11 9 12 * 5 *
    1.5 mile run 15:26 15:57 16:58 17:54 18:44

Registration

To register for the Western Iowa Tech Law Enforcement Academy follow these steps. 

  • First complete the Western Iowa Tech Academy Registration Form below. 
  • Within 10 days of hire, submit a Report of Hire (ROH) noting on the report that the new hire's path to certification is through the Western Iowa Tech Community College Regional Academy. 
  • Include a completed Medical Report. 
  • Submit a copy of the student's high school diploma and college transcripts to ILEA using this form. 
  • Email a copy of the student's high school and college transcripts to transcripts@witcc.edu.
  • Application is reviewed by ILEA.
  • Upon approval, application is sent to Western Iowa Tech. WIT processes registration and sends the student a program informational packet via email.
  • Western Iowa Tech emails a date and time for the physical agility test. Students must pass the agility test in order to be accepted into the program. If students cannot attend the Western Iowa Tech agility test, they must contact ILEA to schedule an agility test.