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 ǧÃŬAV's Dahlonega campus.
- Please fully read the Requirements and Application Process page.
- We do not offer a traditional 12-week academy. This program takes ǧÃŬAV students three to four years to complete.
- This program is only offered on the Dahlonega Campus.
Got Questions?
Contact us by phone or email. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our program!
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
Trent McGuffey, PSA Instructor
trent.mcguffey@ung.edu
470-533-6981
Rusty Myers, PSA Instructor
rusty.myers@ung.edu
470-239-3138
How Does This Program Prepare Me to Go into Public Safety?
Certification through the Public Safety Academy at ǧÃŬAV 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 ǧÃŬAV's Academy
- Taser certification
- ASP baton certification
- Patrol rifle familiarization
- Standardized field sobriety
- Radar/Lidar
...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
What Can I Do with a Career in Public Safety?
"The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) congratulates the continued success of the University of North Georgia’s Public Safety Academy. This unique program is the first of its kind in our state. POST is honored to have assisted in its creation through the vision of Dr. Butch Newkirk. It is our shared belief that this program of study has and will continue to equip some of our most talented law enforcement professionals. Through the pursuit of a college degree and a POST law enforcement certification, graduates of this program are highly sought after in the law enforcement profession. The foundation to create through the North Georgia College Program will no doubt prepare its graduates for a successful career in law enforcement, many of whom will become the future leaders of our profession."
Mike Ayers, Executive Director
Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
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Be Without Fear in the Face of Your Enemies
