Law Enforcement Academy

Start by applying through our Drury GO application and choosing the Law Enforcement Certificate.

1. You can apply for the Drury GO application up to a year in advance.
2. Once admitted, you must wait until 120 days before the academy begins to start the P.O.S.T. application.
3. All materials are due 15 days before the academy classes begin.

Sign up for one of our information sessions to learn more about what needs to be reported for the law enforcement academy. Or contact Caitlin Hall at (417) 873-6840 for any specific questions.

Applicants need to:

• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be at least 20 years of age (21 to take the P.O.S.T. test)
• Have graduated from an accredited high school* or completed their GED
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Have no DWI or related arrest in the last 3 years
• Have no felony convictions
• Have no drug arrest in the last 3 years
• Not have an active Full Order of Protection
• Have no conviction for domestic violence assault
• Pass a physical from a doctor
• Have up-to-date auto insurance
• A laptop is required

*Students who graduated from a non-public high school must provide documentation that the school is accredited by the Department of Education from that state. Students who graduated from a non-accredited high school or online high school must submit a HiSet or GED certificate. Click here for HiSET testing information.

We recommend applying for the FAFSA. You can always deny the aid if you do not want it. We also recommend applying for the Missouri Blue scholarship and Fast Track Grant if you are eligible. If you want more information on financial aid matters, please attend one of our information sessions. (To apply for Missouri Blue, you do not need to complete the FAFSA, but completing the FAFSA can be helpful for additional funding.)

We have not seen someone get denied Missouri Blue. However, if P.O.S.T. starts to run low on funds, they would generally just award an amount lesser than their starting number to each students so each student can receive something.

Contact Kristina Smith at ksmith073@drury.edu or (417) 873-6665.

Start conversations with an agency as early as possible. Ask about their hiring process, whether they’re willing to sponsor you through the academy, and if they would hire you right after graduation. Sponsorship arrangements vary by agency, so terms will be between you and the agency.

Yes! We have agencies coming into the academy each week to get in front of our class and are ready to interview and hire our students right after graduation. A high percentage of our students (over 85%) have a job secured by the time they graduate.

To list a few of many:

• Our teaching instructors are from multiple different areas and agencies. They are always recruiting and reporting back to their agencies.
• We provide around 780 hours of training, but we are only required to give 600 hours. We deliver extra practical training, things you’ll be dealing with on a day-to-day basis, and extra skills that are good to have in your back pocket.
• After you graduate from our academy, Drury gives you 24 college credit hours that can go directly toward an Associate degree in law enforcement.

Yes, you will receive firearms training. We provide the gun, holster, and ammo, but you must provide ear protection, eye protection, and a belt for the holster.

The first few weeks, you will need to bring your own polo and workout shirt. You will receive our Drury ones a few weeks after the start date. You must provide your own:

• Black BDU pants
• Black polish duty boots
• Black workout shorts
• A laptop is required
• A water bottle
• Athletic shoes (You can buy wrestling shoes at your own expense, or you can train in your socks on ours)

A minimum of eight enrolled students is required for the West Plains location to hold a session. If we can’t meet that threshold, mirror applicants may attend the January or June class in Springfield, or they may wait until the next part-time mirror academy that starts in August.

We have three different academy start dates:

• January – Full-time academy, with graduation being in July
• June – Full-time academy, with graduation being in December
• August – Part-time academy, with graduation being the following May

The part-time class and full-time class schedules look a little different. The full-time schedule runs primarily Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The part-time schedule run primarily Monday through Thursday 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Both schedules include many Friday and weekend sessions.

Students may miss up to 30 hours of the academy in non-mandatory areas. Any additional hours missed must be made up on your own time, coordinated with the instructors and directors, and at your own expense.

There are no minimum physical requirements per say, but physical trainings are required. There is a required test at the beginning of the academy and the end of the academy.

• As many sit-ups as you can do in 1 minute
• As many push-ups as you can do
  • There is no time limit on this. However, once you are in your hand placement, you cannot change it. This is until failure or bad form is reoccurring.
• A 300-meter sprint
• A mile-and-a-half run
• A vertical jump

You can start by looking at the test, finding which areas are your weakest, and working on them gradually. Continue to work on your overall strength, but focus on what you want to get better in.

P.O.S.T. stands for “Peace Officers Standards and Training” and is directly overseen by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Apply to Drury’s program first. After you are admitted, you will receive an email with the P.O.S.T. admit materials to get you started.

You cannot sign up for LEA orientation until your P.O.S.T. admission is confirmed. A packet will be sent to you after that.

You can sign up for one of our information sessions. If you still have any questions, feel free to reach out to Law Enforcement Academy Coordinator Caitlin Hall at (417) 873-6840.