An individual must first be employed by a law enforcement agency, and then the agency will “sponsor” the candidate to come to the Academy for the training.

We do not permit self-sponsorships.

All certified out-of-state LE candidates with more than one (1) year of law enforcement employment/experience (one year begins upon completion of training and subsequent employment) with a 3 year or less break in service are eligible for a Training Review.

To make a request for an out-of-state training review, an authorized official for the hiring agency must complete and submit the one-page Training Review Request Form along with the following required documentation prior to Registration:

1. Certificate of Completion (BLE Course, Basic Corrections or Detention Course, or Federal Training Course)
2. Curriculum/Syllabus showing hours and topics of training
3. A completed POST letter that has been received from the out-of-state POST agency
4. A Letter of Good Standing from the current or last agency the applicant was employed with
5. Indication that a Letter of Good Standing has been requested for Federal/Military candidates; or a Verification of Employment Letter for SCDC Correction candidates

Should the agency receive a training review approval you are then considered eligible for Special Basic Training for Class 1 (see below).

Special Basic Training consists of two weeks of training with the hiring agency. Once training is completed the candidate will have to successfully complete one day of testing here at the academy. Testing consists of firearms, driving and a cumulative exam that covers legal and behavioral science topics. Those who are unsuccessful will be required to complete the full 12 weeks Academy Training – 4 weeks with the hiring agency and 8 weeks here at the Academy.

The SC Criminal Justice Academy offers basic mandated classes for: Class 1 Law Enforcement Certification, Class 2 Detention Officer Certification, Class 3 Advanced and Basic Limited Duty Officer Certification, and Class 4 Telecommunications Officer Certification.

We also offer advanced training classes. Advanced training classes can be found in our Master Training Catalog here: Course Catalogs – South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. This includes Basic Detective, Fingerprinting, Traffic, Firearms Instructor, Driving Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Leadership classes to name a few.

We graduated over 1,000 law enforcement officers and over 450 detention officers in 2025. We offer over 60 advanced training classes with approximately 9,000 officers trained.

As an active officer with ACADIS access, you can print your training history through ACADIS. Go to the Training section on your profile, click Reports, then Training History Report.

If you are inactive, you can request an official transcript request here: Document Order Form or unofficial transcript request here: SCCJA Document Order Form

Once you are hired by a Law Enforcement Agency, and complete Registration if needed, your ACADIS Portal Account will become active.

1. Visit the ACADIS Portal website.
2. Click “Don’t have an account? Signup” below “Sign In”
3. Fill out the appropriate information, then click “Finish”
4. Go to your email and find the message sent to complete your signup request.
5. Click on the URL in the email and complete the security questions required for completion of the account setup. 
6. Click “Continue” and if all questions were answered correctly, you should be able to accept the terms of use and create an account password. (If you are not directed to this screen, you need the Training Transcript from ACADIS and should check with your Training Officer.)
7. Once you’re finished creating a password, you should click “Submit” and continue to edit your profile.

Email Acadis@sccja.sc.gov

Please send a copy of your updated driver’s license, marriage certificate or divorce decree to cert@sccja.sc.gov

The training officer at your agency has the rights to register candidates for a class.

Information on accommodations can be found here:

Directions for Testing Accommodations

Application for Testing Accommodations

Directions for Food Accommodations

Application for Food Accommodations

Once reviewed THE OFFICER will fill out the necessary accommodation form. The applicable form needs to be submitted 30 days in advance prior to training. Disability should be documented

You can email MCQuagliato@sccja.sc.gov

You will need to email TSDeckard@sccja.sc.gov with a copy of the final disposition documentation.

Yes, once you separate from service your certification becomes inactive. Eligible Class 1 and Class 2 candidates who have a 1 – 3-year break in service from the date of separation will be required to successfully complete Special Basic Training. All other certification classes who have over a year break in service will be required to complete full training again.  

You will need to reach out to the agency that submitted the separation. We will not make adjustments to separation paperwork without written direction from the submitting agency.

Please refer to the following LETC Orders below for more information:

2021-LETC-002.pdf

2021-LETC-001.pdf 

Complete the Application for Approval as SC Reserve Department by July 15^th of each year – Register! Follow the rules!

A reserve officer is a non-paid (with exceptions to approved public activities) volunteer who assists a law enforcement agency in enforcing the laws of South Carolina. The reserve officer is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the agency head.

A reserve officer candidate must successfully complete the SC Reserve Officer Training Program to include an end of course written examination prepared by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

Every reserve officer must be in proximate contact, by radio or another device, with the full-time officer to whom he/she is assigned at all times. Reserve officers cannot supervise or direct activities of Class 1 or Class 3 law enforcement officers or other reserve officers.

For more information on reserves, please read through the Reserve Administrative Guide here: 2026-Reserve-Admin-Guide-Revised.pdf

The hiring agency will need to email GVMalkiewicz@sccja.sc.gov.

The only advance certification a reserve officer can hold is Speed Measuring Device.

First, check the CJA catalog to ensure the hours/curriculum are comparable. Equivalencies only given for certification classes (BID, SSI, FIS, Patrol Rifle Instructor).

Email a letter on letterhead signed by agency head (or TO if that is not same person). Include (1) name and Academy ID of officer, (2) equivalency being requested (3) name of course taken that’s equivalent. Also include certificate from course and other relevant course information (curriculum, number of hours, etc.). Submit to Lauren Fennell at lwfennell@sccja.sc.gov.

Fill out the Departmental LP Cover Sheet and Approval Form on the Forms tab (fillable; submit to email listed at the top of the form). If you have submitted this lesson plan before, use same lesson plan number.

Fill out the Institutional Provider Application for Course Approval online application found in the Forms tab. Calculate the total hours of training based on your schedule; do not include lunch time in the calculation.

Follow the K9 certification guidelines found at the bottom of the Forms tab. Do NOT submit test sheets with the application. The application must be submitted by the officer’s training officer.