The Parks Law Enforcement Academy is a seasonal ranger training program held bi-annually at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington. It consists of 720 hours of certified training. Subjects covered include constitutional law, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, criminal investigation, and more. It is one of three basic law enforcement academies in Washington State. The other two are the Washington State Patrol Academy in Shelton, Washington, and the Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Burien, Washington.
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Employment Opportunities
Successful graduation of the training program enables cadets to work as seasonal law enforcement rangers for several different state and federal agencies. Most cadets choose to work for the National Park Service. Other agencies include the US Bureau of Land Management, the US Bureau of Reclamation, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The academy is also the basic required training for all Washington State Park Rangers.
Acceptance
Training is rigorous and as such, acceptance into the academy is highly selective. Potential cadets must submit a written application, provide three or more letters of recommendation, undergo a criminal history background check, and successfully pass a physical agility test. Most cadets are "pre-service", meaning they must pay for the cost of academy out-of-pocket.
There are nine certified seasonal park law enforcement academies in the United States. They are: