College/Academy Question

[prater]

For starters I'm from Irving, Texas.
I'm a few months away from my 21st birthday and my goal is to become a police officer, now (summer) I have been planning my schedule for next semester and found that one of the Dallas County Community Colleges offiers a law enforcement academy, the only problem is it is eight hours a day five days a week. I am currently employed full time as an LP agent and can't quit work for six months at this point in my life. I am still planning on going to school, but this got me thinking, what should I do? Do you get payed for your time in the academy? Are there any other schools around here with a LE program (I don't mean like bachelor program such as UNT/UTA, I mean like hands on technical training). Or should I just stick with what I am doing now, which is working towards my associates so I can apply at a million different PD's and when/if I am hired just go through their academy.

Any Advice would be greatly appreciated.

[1895bombdog]

The course will offer you required training mandated by TECLOSE. I believe it should be over 625 hrs. The course will prepare you to test and receive your state peace officer certification. Most colleges will offer this course during the weekends or evening hours for people in your work situation. In Texas most departments require you to be certified before they will even talk to you. Only the larger Depts. like Dallas, Houston, DPS have their own academy where you are paid to attend. Once employed by a Dept your certification will be submitted to the state and you will receive your Basic Peace Officer License.
Some dept require a min or 45-60 college hrs. while others just require you to be certified even if you have a degree.