Law Enforcement Certification
Law enforcement in North Carolina is a growing profession. In 1971, the General Assembly adopted the Criminal Justice Training and Standards Council Act which led to the adoption of minimum entrance standards as well as a mandatory basic training requirement for all sworn law enforcement officers, effective in 1973. The present basic training requirement consists of a minimum of 602 hours of training.
The Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission is the agency that is charged with the task of regulating the law enforcement profession, with the exception of Sheriffs, deputies, detention officers, and telecommunicators. The Commission implements education and training programs in an endeavor to raise the level of competence of law enforcement personnel.
As a result of better quality training, greater technological sophistication, improved salaries and an excellent pension plan, employment in the law enforcement profession has become an attractive and rewarding career choice. North Carolina currently employs approximately 17,500 sworn police officers who serve in more than 500 state agencies, colleges and universities, county police departments, municipal police departments and local ABC enforcement agencies. The future looks bright for the law enforcement profession in North Carolina.