Enrollment Guidelines & Procedures

The LRSC Peace Officer Training Program prepares candidates for licensure and service in North Dakota law enforcement. The one-semester, ND POST-approved basic police academy provides eligibility for licensure.

The program is offered each spring in Devils Lake, summer in West Fargo, and fall in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The application process is the same for all students regardless of the program's location. Lake Region State College does not provide food service or housing for sessions in West Fargo or Grand Forks. Students must have a place to stay within commuting distance of the training location.

Minimum Qualification to Apply:

  • Applicants must be of good character.
  • Applicants must have an acceptable driving record and held a valid driver’s license for at least two years before applying. They must have zero points on their license by the time they graduate.
  • Applicants must meet the drug use and criminal history guidelines for admission, which are also included in the application packet.
  • Applicants must have a 2.0 GPA in their most recent college semester or an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Criteria for Admission:

  1. Complete the Peace Officer Training Program Application
     

  2. Complete an ND POST-approved psychological exam

    • Devils Lake, ND/Grand Forks/West Fargo: This test can be taken by appointment in Devils Lake. To schedule, call the Program Coordinator at (701) 662-1683 or 1-(800) 443-1313 ext. 21683. The non-refundable fee for this exam is $150 and must be paid for at the time the test is administered. Checks must be payable to the North Dakota POST Board. You can also set up a psychological test with Dr. Jay Phillippi in Fargo by contacting him at 701-866-3641. When making an appointment, inform him the test is for the Lake Region State College Peace Officer Training Program. The psychological test costs $160. Checks must be payable to Dr. Phillipi.
       

    After steps 1 and 2 are completed, the following steps must be completed in any order:

  3. Medical Physical Exam Form: A physician's certification that the candidate is healthy and physically able to complete the program. Applicants must turn in the completed form to the Director of Peace Officer Training when the exam is completed. Applicants are responsible for the exam cost and may schedule with a family physician, walk-in clinic, or other medical facility.
     
  4. Complete all requirements for admission to Lake Region State College as mentioned on the Application Process page on the website.
     
  5. Submit a copy of his or her birth certificate.
     
  6. Background Investigation: An extensive social history and criminal background investigation is conducted on those applicants who pass the psychological examination. The investigation may include interviews with current and former employers, teachers, and neighbors. An extensive criminal history and driving record check is also conducted. The student will be required to be fingerprinted and screened through the national and state background investigation systems.
     
  7. Acceptance: Applicants who have completed steps 1-6 listed above and meet all guidelines will be offered a roster position. The position will be in the academy session and location of their choice. Acceptance into the program is NOT competitive and is based on the file completion date.

Once accepted into the program, the applicants must be fingerprinted by a law enforcement agency using a "live scan" machine. Most major police and sheriff agencies in the state, and all with long-term jails, have these machines. The one-page acknowledgment form must be sent to officially complete your student file. The Peace Officer Training Program does not accept actual fingerprint cards.