Law Enforcement

Program Application with selection process is required for the 1 – year law enforcement certificate coursework. To enter this course of study, students must meet these institution and program-specific criteria:

1. Apply for Admission to ECC: https://apply.eastcentral.edu/
   • Under Academic Goals, select Degree- or Certificate-Seeking –> Social Science Pathway –> Law Enforcement. Contact Admissions at (636) 584-6588 for questions
2. Request all official transcripts (High School, High School Equivalency, Home school, Technical School, and College) be sent to
   • Email: admissions@eastcentral.edu
   • Mail: 1964 Prairie Dell Road, Union, MO 63084
3. Apply for Financial Aid
   • Complete the FAFSA and the ECC Scholarship Application.
   • ECC’s School Code is 008862.
   • Refer to the Financial Aid Checklist for detailed information.
4. Placement into ENG 101 or have successfully completed ENG 101 (any assessment used to determine placement must be within 5 years from the start of the program)
5. Complete and submit the Law Enforcement Application by the specified deadline: **DUE JUNE 2, 2025**
   • 2025 Law Enforcement Application Packet (Basic Training Academy)
   • Pay $25 application fee.
6. Additional Admission Requirements include:
   • 20 years of age prior to the start date of the 1-year law enforcement certificate program (and turn 21 prior to taking the MPOLE).
     Applicants sponsored by a law enforcement agency who will turn twenty (20) years of age prior to taking the MPOLE at the end of program are eligible to apply.
   • Must be a citizen of the United States
   • Possess a current, valid driver’s license
   • Vision in each eye must be correctable to 20/40
   • Received an “honorable” discharge or “under honorable conditions” discharge if having served in the military.
   • No disqualifying criminal history as outlined in Section 590.080.1 and Section 590.100.1, RSMo. Must be free from conviction. Must have no gross misconduct indicating inability to function as a peace officer. No Felony Conviction, SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence), or SES (Suspended Execution of Sentence).
7. Schedule and complete the law enforcement applicant interview process.
   • Dates are listed in the Law Enforcement Application packet.
8. Schedule and complete physical fitness assessment consisting of a 1-mile run, 2-minute push-ups, and 1-minute sit-ups with satisfactory results. Dates are listed in the Law Enforcement Application packet. If the applicant does not meet minimum standards, they may not be admitted. Minimum entrance standards are:
   • Sit-ups – Must be able to complete at least 10 in a minute
   • Push-ups – Must be able to complete at least 10 in two minutes
   • Complete 1-mile run (run or jog without stopping)

After acceptance and prior to the start of the program:

• Criminal background check with satisfactory results through the Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI. The fee is set and charged by IDEMIA at the student’s expense. Information is provided after acceptance.
• Drug Screening with satisfactory results: accepted students are drug tested prior to the start of the program and may be tested during the program. A positive drug test may result in immediate dismissal from the program.
• Medical examination with satisfactory results (completed within 90 days before the scheduled beginning date of the program) is required after acceptance at the student’s expense.
  • Must be examined by a licensed physician (licensed to practice medicine in the State of Missouri).
  • Applicant must be physically and psychologically capable of performing the job task and licensing requirements of the law enforcement profession.
• Attend Program Orientation – See Law Enforcement Application Packet for date.

During the program, accepted students must satisfactorily complete a physical fitness assessment.

Physical Fitness Assessment Charts are provided in the application packet. Assessments for the 1.5-mile run, 2-minute push-ups, and 1-minute sit-ups will be given at the end of the first semester with the final assessment being done at the end of the second semester. Students that do not participate in the physical assessment or do not meet the basic requirements of the final physical assessment may be dismissed from the program.

The Law Enforcement certificate program is designed to assist students to acquire the skills and knowledge essential to the role of a competent peace officer.  Upon successful completion of this program, students achieve a Certificate of Achievement in Law Enforcement and are eligible to sit for the MPOLE (Missouri Peace Officer License Exam). Students have the option to take additional general education coursework to complete an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement.

The Law Enforcement program is approved by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development and is pending approval of the Higher Learning Commission. As a new basic training center, the East Central College Phelps Law Enforcement Training Center has a probationary license from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Law Enforcement, Certificate of Achievement

• Program Description
• Academic Degree Map (PDF)

Law Enforcement, AAS

• Program Description
• Academic Degree Map (PDF)

For additional information, please contact:

• ECC-Phelps Law Enforcement Training Center
  2303 North Bishop
  Rolla, MO 65401
  (573) 202-6960
  LETC@eastcentral.edu
  • Christina Ayres, Director
    (573) 202-6959
    christina.ayres@eastcentral.edu
  • Karen Swope, Administrative Assistant
    (573) 202-6960
    karen.swope@eastcentral.edu

• Student Services: Admissions, Advisement, Financial Aid, & Cashier
  500 Forum Drive (at Rolla Technical Center)
  Rolla, MO 65401
  (573) 466-4100
  eccrolla@eastcentral.edu

Licensed peace officers are responsible for protecting citizens and property through crime prevention and law enforcement within a defined jurisdiction. Licensed peace officers are critical to our public safety infrastructure and enforce federal, state, and local laws. Peace officers may provide life-saving CPR, investigate and document crime scenes, interview witnesses and suspects, make arrests, testify in court, and write detailed reports.

Per the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) statewide long-term occupational projections for Missouri, police and sheriff patrol officer positions are expected to grow by 3.8% from 2020 to 2030 with an anticipated 1,157 statewide annual openings and annual salary of $56,480. MERIC’s long-term occupational projections for the Central region projects growth by 4.8% from 2020 to 2030 for police and sheriff patrol officer positions with an annual salary of $49,026.

Licensed Peace Officers find opportunities in several areas:

• Police Officers
• Sheriff’s Deputies
• Bailiffs
• Public Safety Officers for Hospitals, Colleges, and Universities
• Detectives

Continuing Law Enforcement Education