Basic Peace Office Training

Program Overview

At the College of the Desert Public Safety Academy (COD-PSA) you can complete the POST Certified Basic Peace Officer Training (BPOT) which is required to become a Level III or Level II reserve peace officer in the state of California. The modular courses are completed in descending order: Module III, Module II and Module I.

To be certified as a Level III reserve peace officer, students must complete Module III, which consists of 168 hours of training.

To be certified as a Level II reserve peace officer, students must also complete Module II, which consists of an additional 268 total hours of training.

COD does not offer a Module-I course presently. The Module I course is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2022 (Late Start) at the Palm Desert Campus. The Module I course is required to establish eligibility for hire as a Level I Reserve or Full-Time Peace Officer in California. The closest available Module-I course currently being offered is through the Riverside Sheriff's Department at the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside.

The modules do not have to be completed consecutively in one year. For example, a student could complete Module III, leave the program, and then return the next year to complete Module II. Also, the modules do not need to be completed at the same training facility. Please see Regular Basic Course - Modular Format for POST requirements.

The two Modular Training Courses currently offered are as follows:

1. BPOT-001 (Module III)    14 Weeks            168 Hours           7.0 Units
​2. BPOT-002 (Module II)     14 Weeks            268 Hours          12.0 Units​​ ​


Spring 2024 – BPOT Academy Information Session 


Spring 2024 – BPOT Academy Start Date

January 27, 2024
(Module III and II begin at 8: 00 AM)

Note: Students should make every effort to attend to attend the posted information session date. Those who cannot attend shall contact the Public Safety Academy staff in person or by phone prior to the first day of class at (760) 674-3765 or (760) 568-3083.​