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Public Safety Academy (PSA)

Interested in a Career in Public Safety?

The Department of Criminal Justice's Public Safety Academy provides Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) basic law enforcement certification to students who declare a major in criminal justice and meet all P.O.S.T. mandates and requirements for acceptance into the P.O.S.T. program from the baccalaureate program on UNG's Dahlonega campus.

  • Please fully read the Requirements and Application Process page.
  • We do not offer a traditional 12-week academy. This program takes UNG students three to four years to complete.
  • This program is only offered on the Dahlonega Campus.

Artwork of Challenge Coin

University of North Georgia, Public Safety Academy, Challenge Coin

Be Without Fear in the Face of Your Enemies

What Can I Do with a Career in Public Safety?

Dunwoody Police Officer

Local Agencies

 

Georgia State Patrol car in front of UNG arch on Dahlonega campus.

State Agencies

Policewoman leaning against reflective wall.

Federal Agencies

How Does This Program Prepare Me to Go into Public Safety?

Certification through the Public Safety Academy at UNG ensures you will be "job-ready" at graduation. Our academy also provides extensive training including in-service that exceeds far beyond the basic certification requirements. The following certifications are included:

Basic Certification

  • Basic law enforcement mandate certification (including First Aid/CPR, emergency vehicle operations, and firearms, pepper spray) at the time of graduation with a Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice.

Additional Certifications Included in UNG's Academy

  • Taser certification
  • ASP baton certification
  • Patrol rifle familiarization
  • Standardized field sobriety
  • Radar/Lidar
Requirements and Application Process

"... it gives you more training than just the regular police academy. It gives you more time in the classroom, more time with the firearms, more time with instructors, basically just overall more training that gets you prepared."

Alexis Sutton, '19
Student, career goal to become an FBI homicide detective

Where Could This Program Lead You?

Where Our Students Have Interned

  • Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  • Georgia State Patrol
  • U.S. Marshall Service
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • U.S. Secret Service
  • Enotah District Attorney's Office
  • Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office
  • Roswell Police Department
  • Alpharetta Police Department
  • Gwinnett Police Department
  • Hall County Sheriff’s Office
  • Atlanta Police Department
  • Georgia Department of Supervision
  • Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Where Our Grads Have Found Jobs

  • Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  • Georgia State Patrol
  • U.S. Secret Service
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Victim Witness Assistance Program, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office
  • Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office
  • Lumpkin County District Attorney's Office
  • Hall County Distric Attorney's Office
  • Dunwoody Police Department
  • Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
  • Johns Creek Police Department
  • Roswell Police Department
  • Alpharetta Police Department
  • Roswell Police Department
  • Gwinnett Police Department
  • Georgia Department of Community Supervision
  • Georgia Department of Natural Resources
  • Department of Corrections
  • State Board of Pardons and Paroles
  • UNG Department of Public Safety
  • Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
  • Georgia Probation Management

Where Our Grads Have Gone to Grad School

  • University of North Georgia
  • University of South Carolina
  • University of Georgia
  • Georgia State University
  • Florida State University
  • University of Florida
post-seal-115x115.png

 "The Peace Officers Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) is delighted to have had a hand in establishing this unique and dynamic program at the University of North Georgia to train the best and brightest law enforcement officers in Georgia and beyond. With a college degree, P.O.S.T. certification, and your good work ethic and enthusiasm you will be putting yourself on a fast track with any local, state, or federal law enforcement agency."

Ken Vance, Executive Director
Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council

Public Safety Academy Students in Action

  • Students holding gun on firing range
    Firing Range
  • Student learning defensive tactics
    Defensive Tactics
  • Emergency vehicle driving course
    Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course
  • Student learning how to make decisions via simulation lab.
    Simulation Lab
  • Students firing guns at night
    Night Fire
  • student with speed detection device
    Speed Detection Certification
  • Students practicing for traffic stops
    Misdemeanor Traffic Stops
  • Students practicing with pepper spray
    Pepper Spray Certification

Find out more about the Public Safety Academy at UNG!

In the News

Questions?

Be sure to check out "Requirements and Application Process" for how to enroll in our program.

You can also reach us by phone or email. We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our program!

PSA Contact Info

Dr. Butch Newkirk, Director
butch.newkirk@ung.edu
706-867-2671

Sallie Parker, Coordinator
sallie.parker@ung.edu
706-867-2853

Kevin French, PSA Instructor
kevin.french@ung.edu
706-867-2840

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Please note that some of the images and videos on our site may have been taken before social distancing, face coverings and restricted gatherings were required.

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