Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What programs do you offer?

A: The Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) is a state certified Law Enforcement and Corrections training academy. CJI offers the Law Enforcement and Corrections Certification Programs and Advanced/Specialized courses for certified, sworn officers.

Q: Do you offer Equivelency for Out-of-State/Federal Law Enforcement Officers?

A:  No. There are a number of training centers in the surrounding counties that provide this service.  Click on the following link for contact information:  Selection Centers  

Q: Do you provide Mandatory Retraining (40 hours) for LEO or Corrections?

A: No.  There are a number of training centers in the surrounding counties that provide this service.  Click on the following link for contact information:

Brevard CC CJI         Daytona Beach CC ESI          Seminole CC CJI          

Q: Do I need to be a student at Valencia to apply to the Criminal Justice Institute?

A: Yes. You must apply to the college before you can enroll in the Criminal Justice Institute. You can apply online at http://www.valenciacc.edu/admissions

Q: What is the cost of tuition?

A: Tuition for Florida residents is $2,300 for the Law Enforcement Academy and $1,500 for the Corrections Academy. Out of state tuition is approximately $6000 for the Law Enforcement Academy and $3000 for the Corrections Academy (cost subject to change).

Q: How do I qualify for Florida residency?

When completing your Valencia Admissions Application, you must prove Florida residency by providing supporting documents that are dated at least 12 consecutive months prior to the term for which the residency is sought.

Q: Is financial aid available for the Criminal Justice Institute programs?

A: The Law Enforcement Academy is the only financial aid eligible program that we offer. Refer to Valencia 's Financial Aid Department for more information on applying. Financial aid should not be applied for until you have been accepted into the Law Enforcement Academy .

Q: What is the deadline to apply to the Criminal Justice Institute?

A: The Criminal Justice Institute programs allow year-round enrollment.   Once a student meets all the eligibility requirements and obtains the required score of 79% for Law Enforcement and 72% for Corrections on the appropriate version of the CJ-BAT, the student can submit their application.  Applications are date stamped upon receipt and placed in date order on the wait-list.

Q: How long is the wait-list?

A: Currently, the estimated wait is 6 months to 1 year. The length of time that you will wait to get into an academy is based on the number of agency employed/sponsored applicants that we admit.

Students are admitted into the Academy in the following order of priority:

1. Applicants employed by any agency which is a member of the CJI Advisory Board.
2. Applicants employed by any other agency in the state.
3. Applicants who are sponsored by any agency.
4. Applicants who have received a CJ degree from Valencia Community College.
5. Pre-service applicants that are on the waitlist.

Q: What can I do while I'm waiting to begin the program?         

A: Many students complete their AAS or AS degree in Criminal Justice . You must successfully complete a state mandated training academy program such as those offered by the Criminal Justice Institute in order to be a sworn law enforcement or corrections officer in the state of Florida, however a degree in Criminal Justice will make you a more competitive candidate for a law enforcement position.

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