Address:
500 Kennedy Drive (Cramer Building)
Rangely, CO 81648

For further details see:
cncc.edu/degrees/rangely/nps

Interested Students Should Contact:
Kathy Kottenstette
970-675-3337
Kathy.Kottenstette@cncc.edu

Course Schedule:
August 17, 2021 - December 10, 2021
January 11, 2022 - May 4, 2022

CNCC has been holding NPS LE academies since 1990, has a staff made entirely of previous NPS personnel. Classes are limited to 22 students. This is a FLETC-accredited, 17-week academy that provides the student with 650 hours (30 credit hours) of training. Upon completion of the academy, students will receive a FLETA-accredited NPS/FLETC SLETP certification. This certification will allow you to be eligible for a seasonal Type II position with the National Park Service. This academy is for college credit but students are not required to be part of a degree program.

The academy is located in NW CO, within three hours of Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Moab, Canyonlands, Arches, Dinosaur, CO National Monument, and countless BLM and FS lands. CNCC routinely has class trips to these areas, and also rents out outdoor recreation equipment to students at no cost. Along with an on-campus climbing gym that provides free gear and lessons, the recreation center (including weight room and pool) in Rangely is available at no cost to students.

The CNCC tuition conveniently includes housing (single occupancy) and meals (19 per week). Additional certificates included with the academy curriculum include TASER, radar, patrol rifle, and NHTSA DUI/SFST/HGN with wet lab. During each academy is an optional 40-hour wildland firefighting class. This course covers National Wildfire Coordinating Group curriculum (S130, S180 and S190). Upon completion you are eligible to obtain a Red Card. Also, during or following the academy is offered an Emergency Medical Responder (40 hours) course and a NASAR FUNSAR/SARTech II (45 hours) course.

The CNCC Academy is now eligible under FAFSA for all students as of May 2017. It is also eligible under the Colorado College Opportunity Fund and the GI Bill.

Address:
19 W. McConnell Drive
PO Box 15016
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5016

For further details see:
prm.nau.edu/rangers

Interested Students Should Contact:
Michael O'Connor
(928) 523-8242
michael.oconnor@nau.edu

Course Schedule:
No Fall 2023 session
January 3, 2024 - April 26, 2024
August 5, 2024 - November 22, 2024

Northern Arizona University’s Park Ranger Training Program (PRTP) offers the National Park Service Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA, formerly known as the Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program) curriculum plus enhanced education regarding the protection of natural and cultural resources. The program is directed by a career National Park Ranger with approximately 30 years’ experience and a doctorate in educational leadership. The PRTP instructor cadre includes more than 40 instructors with extensive land management and local agency law enforcement experience. NAU had graduated nearly 800 students from the program in its 20 year history.

NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, within a short drive of nine units of the National Park System. This makes available outstanding opportunities to interact with supervisors in these parks to learn more about park operations and land management careers. As a part of coursework in resource protection, guided field trips to four of these units and formal meetings with park leaders are provided.

The class size is small with a maximum of 26 students admitted for each session. The program is approximately 16 weeks, with work full-time during the week and practical exercises scheduled on many weekends. Study is supported with extensive technology-enhanced (on-line) materials.

For those interested in a Bachelor of Science degree, the program constitutes the majority of work required for an emphasis (minor) in Park Protection. NAU also offers a Master of Science in Parks and Recreation Management for those aspiring to hold leadership positions in the NPS or other agencies.

For additional information call the director at 928-523-8242 or visit the program’s web page at www.nau.edu/rangers.

Address:
2405 E. College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-5899

For further details see:
https://www.skagit.edu/academics/areas-of-study/public-service-social-science/criminal-justice/parks-law-enforcement-academy/

Interested Students Should Contact:
Rick Mossman
(360) 416-7829
rick.mossman@skagit.edu

Course Schedule:
Fall: August 23, 2021 - December 21, 2021
Spring: January 3, 2022 - April 26, 2022

Skagit Valley Colleges PRLEA program is a rigorous 720 hours National Park Service approved academy held at the city of Mount Vernon, Washington State, campus. The park Ranger law enforcement academy meets the Land Management—Federal Law Enforcement Training Center curriculum and qualifies a cadet for a seasonal ranger commission with the National Park Service. This program also meets the requirements and is the main recruiting academy for Washington State Parks and numerous local city and county parks. The college also offers a separate (optional) wildland fire class (qualifying you for a red card) and an (optional) Emergency Medical Responder class. These two classes are compatible with the academy. These certifications are many times required for eligibility in seasonal national park jobs.

The program is conducted in a full-time academy setting with a typical week consisting of a minimum of40+ hours. The Director is a retired career Chief Park Ranger having been in involved over 40 years with most aspects of Rangering and National Park Management. The Mount Vernon campus is located 30 minutes from the beaches and parks of the Pacific coast and 30 minutes form the Cascade mountains and North Cascades National Park.

Protecting Americas treasures-its National Parks and natural areas-motivates our leadership and instructors to train you to the best you can be, and above all, successful on your first day on the job as a law enforcement protection park ranger.

Address:
225 Industrial Park Loop
Franklin, NC 28734

For further details see:
southwesterncc.edu/pstc/law-enforcement/national-park-service-nps

Interested Students Should Contact:
Mitch Boudrot
(828) 306-7043
m_boudrot@southwesterncc.edu

Zach Dezarn
(828) 306-7055
z_dezarn@southwesterncc.edu

Course Schedule:
August 1, 2021 - December 12, 2021 (deadline to apply: July 15, 2021)
January 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 (deadline to apply: November 30, 2021)

Academies are limited to 24 recruits.

Since 1978 the Southwestern Community College - Public Safety Training Center (SCC-PSTC) has been dedicated to the delivery and improvement of the National Park Service – Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (NPS-PRLEA) program for prospective seasonal (Type II) commissioned Law Enforcement Park Rangers. Since Class #1 graduated in 1978, Southwestern has graduated more than 2400 students from the law enforcement training program. Located at the Franklin, NC campus, SCC offers a 700+ hour, 16 week program. The program includes High Risk Woodlands Operation training during the 16 week session. An optional add-on 40 hour wildland firefighting course is offered at the end of the PRLEA program.

Address:
Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy
Temple University Ambler Campus
West Hall, Second Floor
580 Meetinghouse Road
Ambler, PA 19002

For further details see:
universitycollege.temple.edu/academics/park-ranger-law-enforcement-academy

Interested Students Should Contact:
Anthony J. Luongo
(215) 204-7930
aluongo@temple.edu

Chris Willard
cwillard@temple.edu

Course Schedule:
August 9, 2021 – December 17, 2021

(Applications will be accepted until approx. one month prior to academy start date, or until the class is full, whichever occurs first.)

The University College at Temple University offers the National Park Service Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA) and a certificate in National Park Service Management. Temple offers the PRLEA at its Ambler Campus, which is located in Montgomery County just 30 minutes north of Philadelphia. The PRLEA is over 700 contact hours of instruction and is academically rigorous. Classes are conducted on a full-time basis, five days per week, eight hours per day, and require approximately nineteen (19) weeks to complete. Enrollment is comprised of up to twenty-six (26) students in each class. All students commute to training each day, although local, off-campus housing options exist. Students are required to successfully complete numerous written examinations and skill performance evaluations in order to graduate. Proper demeanor, grooming, dress, punctuality, and attention to duty are a part of the training regimen. The 187-acre Ambler Campus is host to many law enforcement training resources and facilities including a confined space training simulator, trails and wooded areas including mock campground with a visitor center, a non-lethal training ammunition (NLTA) facility, residential and institutional buildings and spaces for tactical training, and a weight room, gym, and mat room.

The NPS PRLEA curriculum places particular emphasis on visitor and resource protection, federal law and procedure, authority and jurisdiction, natural and cultural resource management, officer safety and survival skills, and physical conditioning of instruction designed to prepare and enable students to obtain employment with the National Park Service as a seasonal Type II law enforcement ranger. In addition, completion of this program may meet the required training standard for other federal, state, and local land management / park service agencies. Upon successful completion of the PRLEA at Temple University, students are awarded a certificate of completion and participate in a graduation and an awards ceremony highlighting distinguished achievement in academics, marksmanship, driving, leadership and physical fitness.

Address:
1900 East Camp St.
Ely, Minnesota 55731

For further details see:
vcc.edu/programs-degrees/law-enforcement-ems/prlea/

Interested Students Should Contact:
Jeff Nelson
(218) 235-2193
j.nelson@vcc.edu

Course Schedule:
The Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA) is offered every fall semester. We do not offer the program at any other time. The program runs 16 weeks starting, usually, the third week of Aug - Mid December.

Vermilion Community College is a two-year community college in Ely, Minnesota, adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Superior National Forest. The college specializes in outdoor environmental education, resource management and protection of natural resources. Vermilion Community College offers a variety of two-year degrees (AA, AS, AAS), diplomas and certificates. Vermilion Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Vermilion offers the NPS seasonal law enforcement training program as a blended program to meet the requirements of the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training. The academy includes several components above and beyond the current NPS SLETP curriculum (MOCC, PPCT, NHTSA SFST, rifle and Taser). The program is offered once a year and the class size is limited to 30 students.