The Law Enforcement Academy at Tuscaloosa offers three (3) basic training courses per year. Each Basic Course covers 560 hours of training over fourteen(14) weeks. During this time, students are provided with the entry level knowledge and skill needed to begin their careers in law enforcement.
In teaching the Basic Course, LEAT follows the 560 Hour Basic Training Curriculum prescribed by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission.
Basic Course costs will be invoiced to the student's agency. These costs include all manuals and materials needed to complete the training (except ammunition). Ammunition can be purchased from the LEAT at an additional cost or departments can provide their own ammo.
These APOSTC classes prepare officers for their certification and are taught by highly qualified professionals from around the State of Alabama. A Basic Training session consists of 560hrs of training over 14 weeks.
After approval by APOSTC the recruit should arrive at the Academy ready to learn and prepared to pass the prescribed APOSTC physical agility and ability test.
Students must be sworn and employed by a law enforcement agency to attend a basic course at any academy in the state. In Alabama, APOSTC Rules & Regulations do not allow a non-sworn individual to attend an academy.
Agencies must complete all application paperwork with APOSTC. Applications should arrive at APOSTC three (3) weeks prior to session start date.
Physical Ability/Agility Exam. During the first week of attendance in the academy, you will be required to meet the following standards:
The Academy uniform is; a royal blue polo short sleeve shirt, khaki 5.11 (or similar brand) tactical pants, a black crew neck t-shirt, black work boots or shoes, a black belt and Academy ballcap. Sponsoring agencies must provide the pants, t-shirts, belt and boots.
The Polo shirt can be purchased from The Law Enforcement Academy Tuscaloosa or purchase from MAC (Municipal and Commercial) Uniform in Birmingham, AL or Blue Water Vinyl in Northport, AL.
Training starts at the time prescribed on the acceptance letter sent to your agency, so make a good impression by being on time and in your seat when the session begins. Arrive wearing personal appropriate physical training clothing. Bring running shoes with you for the physical agility and ability test. Sweat clothing is available for purchase (or can be billed to your agency). Shower facilities are available on-site so you may bring showering necessities to freshen up after the agility and ability testing.
Lodging for your stay at the Academy is available at several area hotels.
Magnolia (formerly the Grand) $1,800.00 for 14 weeks 5621 Hwy 69 South Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 rvaughn@leat.org | La Quinta Inn 3920 McFarland Blvd. E. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 205-861-2500 Call for Availability & Govt. Rates | Courtyard Tuscaloosa 4115 Courtney Drive Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 205-750-8384 Call for Availability & Govt. Rates |
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Fairfield Inn 4101 Courtney Drive Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 205-366-0900 Call for Availability & Govt. Rates | Home2Suites by Hilton 2610 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401 205-349-2002 Call for Availability & Govt. Rates |
Note: If your agency elects to have the recruit stay at the Magnolia (preferred vendor) then the agency rep needs to email Capt. Vaughn at rvaughn@leat.org to make the reservation. DO NOT contact the Magnolia directly as you may be mistaken for a non-academy reservation requiring a 6-month lease and deposit. Students staying at Magnolia will have to furnish their own linens (for a double bed) and bath towels.
If you mention the Academy when you make your reservations, you should be eligible for the hotel’s Government rate or special pricing for LEAT. You may be able to avoid the applicable tax if your agency can provide a tax exempt document. Notify the Academy Staff if you have problems with these vendors.
Disclaimer: These are vendors who have offered special pricing for housing for the Academy, but are not contracted or affiliated with the Academy.
To graduate from the Basic Course, you must meet the APOSTC mandated basic course requirements as specified in APOSTC Rule 650-X-4-.01.
These requirements include:
Firearms are not permitted in the building unless specifically called for by Academy staff. Firearms should be secured in the trunk of your vehicle or otherwise secured. This policy will be strictly enforced. However, your duty belt will be needed early in the session. Officers wear the duty belt with a provided blue gun for much of the session. A gun cleaning kit will also be needed.
Handgun
1,000 rounds, 3 magazines, and a duty flashlight
Shotgun
5 rounds of 12 gauge 00 buck shot (9 pellet)
5 rounds of 12 gauge (1 ounce slug)
1 box of #8 or #6 (12 gauge bird shot)
Rifle
20 rounds of .223 rifle ammunition
One of the education requirements of APOSTC is that the recruit must pass 47 hours of firearms training and qualify on two of three attempts on the firearms course. A minimum score of seventy (70) is required to pass each attempt. Qualifying only once during the firearms qualification attempts will result in required successful attendance in the next Academy Session’s firearms week in order to achieve certification.
Failing to qualify at all (no attempts resulting in at least 70%) will result in the recruit being removed from training and barred from employment and certification as a law enforcement officer for two years. Shotguns and rifles will be provided for long gun familiarization.
New technologies are changing law enforcement and we have to change to keep up with technology. The Academy Staff requires that each officer attending the Academy has an ALACOP username and password with permissions for eCrash so that they can log in as themselves during eCrash training. The agency’s ALACOP administrator should ensure that the officer has and is familiar with their ALACOP username and password and that the officer is granted eCrash privileges prior to attending the session.
Student’s cell phones, beepers, and lincs are not permitted in the classroom and should be left in your vehicle. Emergency messages may be left with the Academy Staff for delivery to students at 205-759-3000.
The Law Enforcement Academy at Tuscaloosa has several sessions for basic training of new peace officers for various agencies. These APOSTC classes prepare officers for their certification and are taught by highly qualified professionals from around the State of Alabama. A Basic Training session consists of 560hrs of training over 14 weeks.
The following dates have been set for the 2025 Academy Sessions:
| Session | Dates |
|---|---|
| Session 25-01 | Jan 6 - April 10 |
| Session 25-02 | April 21- July 24 |
| Session 25-03 | August 11 - Nov 13 |
| Lateral / Refresher #26 | Dec 1 - Dec 18 |
