The FBI National Academy has long been a vital element in the continuing improvement of law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation throughout the world. The National Academy experience provides a wide range of leadership and specialized training, as well as an opportunity for professional law enforcement officers to share ideas, techniques, and experiences.
It is with the above concept that the National Academy Program was founded on July 29, 1935, with 23 students in attendance. Since that early beginning, the National Academy Program has graduated 36,759 qualified students to include the graduation of the 214th Session on September 5, 2003. The program has enjoyed a worldwide reputation graduating 2,351 international officers representing 149 countries.
With the opening of the FBI Academy in the summer of 1972, National Academy classes were provided on a quarterly basis consisting of 11 weeks of training for upper- and mid-level law enforcement officers. The curriculum focuses on leadership and management training and consists of courses relating to Leadership Development Unit, Behavioral Science, Law, Communication, Forensic Science and Health/Fitness.
The current class is scheduled to graduate on September 5, 2003 and consists of 240 officers, including 25 from 25 international countries.
Following graduation, each officer has the opportunity to join the FBI National Academy Associates, a dynamic organization of more than 15,000 law enforcement professionals who have played a significant role in developing a higher level of competency, cooperation, and integrity within the law enforcement community.
