Basic Law Enforcement Training Certificate (C55120)

Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) is designed to teach students essential skills required for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers with state, county, or municipal governments, or with a private enterprise.

This program uses State-commission-mandated topics and methods of instruction. General subjects include, but are not limited to, criminal, juvenile, civil, traffic, and alcoholic beverage laws; investigative, patrol, custody, and court procedures; emergency responses; and ethics and community relations. All instructors hold General Instructor Certification from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

Successful graduates receive a curriculum certificate and are eligible to be sworn as law enforcement officers through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and/or the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission once they are hired by a law enforcement agency.

Academic Progress

The Basic Law Enforcement Training student must maintain a grade of seventy-five (75) or above on all practical and written tests. Some dexterity tests require a 100 percent pass rate.

Admission and Program Requirements

In order to be eligible for admission to the BLET program offered at Cleveland Community College, an individual must:

1. Meet the Minimum Standard for Employment Criteria outlined in North Carolina Code Book-General Statute 17-A and Title-12 Chapter 9 North Carolina Administrative Code
2. Be 20 years of age by the first day of class
3. Provide an official high school, Adult High School, or GED transcript
4. Provide copy of birth certificate and driver's license
5. Pass a medical physical exam (F1 & F2 forms to be completed by the student and the F2 form to be completed by a licensed physician) Note: Physician must sign both forms
6. Not have committed a felony or serious misdemeanor(s)
7. Possess a valid North Carolina driver’s license
8. Be a U.S. citizen
9. Be of good moral character
10. Obtain sponsorship from a North Carolina public law enforcement agency
11. Provide the School Director with a certified criminal record check for local and state records for the time period since the trainee has become an adult and from all locations where the trainee has resided since age 16. An Administrative Office of the Courts criminal record check or a comparable out-of-state record check will satisfy this requirement
12. Meet, and be interviewed by, the BLET director
13. Provide a copy of military discharge form (DD-214 long form) if a current or former member of the military Note: Students may also have to obtain a SF-180 form
14. Complete an application for admission to the College (Additional information and a link to the application is available in the How to Apply section of the website.)
15. Complete and submit to the BLET director an application for admission into the BLET program. Application for admission forms and detailed information must be obtained from the BLET director.
16. Contact Student Affairs at 704-669-4081 to set up an appointment to take the reading placement test. Students are required to place into the 10th grade reading level or higher within one (1) year prior to admission into BLET.

Selection Process

1. All sixteen admission requirements must be met
2. Final selection for admission is based on a review of the required admission requirements

Students who successfully complete the Basic Law Enforcement Training requirements must also successfully complete the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission mandated examination, which is required to be employed as a law enforcement officer in the State of North Carolina.

Enrollment in the Basic Law Enforcement Training program is limited. Applicants are advised to apply early.

All applications for the Basic Law Enforcement Training program must be updated each semester.

If there are any questions, please contact the Admissions Office at Cleveland Community College.

Special Restrictions

Cleveland Community College and the Basic Law Enforcement Training program have the goal to remain in full compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, job-related tasks have been established for this program and all students must be in full compliance with each of these tasks to be admitted. A listing of these tasks is available upon request.

Students who successfully complete a Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) course accredited by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission, will receive credit for the following courses toward the Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice Technology. Students must have successfully completed Basic Law Enforcement Training, and passed the Commission's comprehensive certification examination, since the year 2000.