The police academy in Ohio requires at least 740 hours of state-mandated training, which usually takes 15 to 22 weeks in a full-time program or eight to twelve months in a part-time or evening program. The exact calendar time depends on the academy you pick, whether you attend full-time or part-time, and how many hours your program adds on top of the state minimum.
The 740-Hour State Minimum
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) sets the baseline curriculum every recruit in the state must complete. As of January 2026, that curriculum totals a minimum of 740 hours.1Ohio Attorney General. Changes to Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training to Take Effect in July 2025 Ohio Administrative Code 109:2-1-16 breaks down the specific units, topics, and hour allocations.2Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 109 2-1-16 – Explanation of the Basic Training Course
That number is a floor. The rules describe the curriculum as “an absolute minimum program” and encourage academy commanders to exceed it where they can.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 109 2-1-03 – Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Program Course Plenty of academies do. Any hours an academy adds for department rules, local ordinances, or extra skills practice don’t count toward the state total, so the time you actually spend in the building is often higher than 740.
Full-Time Programs: 15 to 22 Weeks
A full-time academy generally meets five days a week, eight hours a day. At that pace, some programs finish in as few as 15 weeks. Youngstown State University’s main campus follows this model, delivering 740-plus hours across a 15-week block with additional weekend sessions for hands-on skills.4Youngstown State University. Police Academy Other full-time academies run closer to 18 or 20 weeks depending on how many extra hours they add and how breaks are structured.
Full-time is almost always the route for agency-sponsored recruits, meaning people a department has already hired and is paying through training. You’re on the payroll while you’re in class.
Part-Time and Evening Programs: Eight to Twelve Months
Part-time programs exist for recruits who haven’t been hired yet and need to keep working while they train. These programs often meet in the evenings, with class running from around 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and stretch across two full semesters.4Youngstown State University. Police Academy At roughly four hours per session, reaching 740 hours takes considerably longer. Plan on eight to twelve months.
The tradeoff is flexibility. You can hold another job while earning your certification, instead of going without income for four or five months.
What Those Hours Cover
Understanding the time commitment is easier when you know what fills it. The 740 hours blend classroom instruction with hands-on practice across several major blocks.
Legal Instruction
A large portion of classroom time goes to legal topics: crimes against persons, crimes against property, and offenses against the administration of justice as defined in the Ohio Revised Code. Arrest, search, and seizure law alone accounts for 36 hours. Additional time covers civil liability, use-of-force law, and courtroom testimony.5Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. OPOTA ITAG Proposal for Statewide Endorsement
Firearms and Physical Skills
Firearms proficiency is tested at the range with both handguns and shotguns, and recruits must meet marksmanship standards before graduation. Physical conditioning runs throughout the entire academy rather than sitting in a single block, with fitness assessments at both the start and the end of training. Benchmark scores increase over the course of the program.
Patrol, Traffic, and Investigation
Patrol operations training covers responding to calls, managing scenes, and interacting with the public. Traffic enforcement and crash investigation get dedicated hours. Tactical communication and de-escalation strategies are woven through multiple units.
Medical Training Changes for 2026
Starting with the 2026 curriculum, basic first aid, CPR, and AED certification are no longer taught during academy hours. Recruits must complete those online as a prerequisite before the academy begins. The academy now includes eight hours of active shooter and threat response training that incorporates tactical medical skills and a duty to render aid.1Ohio Attorney General. Changes to Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training to Take Effect in July 2025 Build in time for the prerequisite certifications before your start date.
Finishing the Hours Isn’t the Finish Line
Completing 740 hours doesn’t make you a peace officer. You still have to pass a state certification exam and meet the OPOTC’s physical fitness standards.
The written exam, administered under OPOTC supervision, tests everything in the curriculum. If you fail, you get one retest within the testing window provided to you. Fail the retest, and you cannot sit for the exam again until you complete another full basic training course at an approved school.6Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 109 2-1-11 – Certification Examination That is not a typo. A second failure sends you back through the entire academy.
The physical fitness assessment sets strength and endurance benchmarks that recruits must meet at the end of training. The end-of-program standards are higher than the entry-level benchmarks measured on day one, so the expectation is that your fitness has improved during the course. Failing the physical, like failing the written exam, prevents certification.
Between scheduling the exam, waiting for results, and completing any required paperwork for your agency, add a few more weeks to your overall timeline past the last day of class.
Where You Can Train
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) in London, Ohio, is the state’s flagship facility, run by the Attorney General’s office.7Ohio Attorney General. Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Most recruits, though, don’t train there. The OPOTC certifies academies at community colleges, universities, and county or municipal training centers across the state. Youngstown State University, Cuyahoga Community College, Sinclair College, and dozens of others run OPOTC-approved programs.
The curriculum is standardized statewide, so the 740-hour baseline is the same wherever you go. What varies between academies is scheduling, tuition, and the number of extra hours added beyond the minimum. Choosing a program usually comes down to geography, cost, and whether a full-time or part-time schedule fits your life.
Keeping the Certificate After Training
Once certified, you have an ongoing training obligation that is separate from academy hours and much smaller in scale. Every certified peace officer in Ohio must complete at least 24 hours of continuing professional training each calendar year.8Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 109.803 – Continuing Professional Training Many agencies require more.9Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 109 2-18-02 – Officer Training Requirements
If you leave law enforcement and later want to come back, your certificate goes inactive rather than expiring.10Ohio Attorney General. Ohio Makes It Easier for Former Officers to Return to Service Reactivation requires refresher training based on how long you’ve been out: up to 40 hours for a one-to-four-year gap, and 80 hours for anything longer. The refresher is only valid for one year after completion, so if you don’t land an appointment within that window, you’ll need to take it again.11Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 109 2-1-12 – Appointment Requirements These hour counts are a fraction of the original academy and shouldn’t be confused with the 740-hour basic training requirement.