Program Description
This Continuing Education Certificate fulfills the educational requirement needed to apply for a Special Police Officer commission. A special police officer must be at least 18 years old and holds a commission granted by the Governor of Maryland. A commission is granted for a specific company, institution, or municipality, and authorizes the officer to maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, state, or federal laws and ordinances, apprehend and arrest criminal suspects, respond to emergencies to provide assistance, maintain public order and security, prepare investigation and incident reports, and direct and control traffic on public highways and roadways in the immediate vicinity of the property described in the commission. Special Police Officers have knowledge of public safety, security, law and government.
Program Objectives
Upon successful completion of this Continuing Education Workforce Certificate, students will be able to:
1. apply the knowledge and skills to function effectively to protect businesses, guests, and assets as appropriate;
2. meet education requirements set by Maryland State Police for an SPO commission;
3. prepare to gain employment as a Special Police Officer; and
4. assume responsibility for continued professional and personal development through continuing education.
Program Credentials
CCBC Credential:
Students will be awarded a Continuing Education Workforce Training Certificate and will have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript).
Students will be prepared to begin employment with a municipal corporation, county, or other governmental body of the State, a college, university, or public school system in the State, or a business that provides security.
External Credential:
Students must apply to the Maryland State Police for a Special Police Officer commission. All original SPO applications require FBI and CJIS fingerprint submissions.
Certifying Organization:
Maryland State Police https://mdsp.maryland.gov
Financial Aid and Payment Options
CCBC currently offers Continuing Education (CE) financial aid to those who qualify. We package public and private funding options to benefit students which include COVID-19 relief funding, the Maryland Sequence Scholarship, CCBC Opportunity Grant funding, Maryland Promise, and Baltimore County College Promise. Financial aid funding is available for select CE courses and programs.
Additional opportunities for financial support include partial payment options through Nelnet Business Solutions and tuition waivers for those who qualify. Resources outside of CCBC may also be available through employer/sponsor paid tuition, the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), and your local office of workforce development.
For more information about funding resources and how to apply for them, please contact the CCBC Continuing Education Information Center at 443-840-4700.
Program Requirements
High School Diploma or GED
Application Process
To apply, go to www.ccbcmd.edu/apply and complete the CCBC Continuing Education Workforce Certificate program application. An email will then be sent with program information and any additional requirements necessary to apply for the program.
Open Entry – No screening or documentation required.
Prior Learning Assessment
This program has no options for obtaining course waiver(s) for prior learning.
Program Course Sequence
|
Course Number
|
Course
Title
|
Course Hours
|
Textbook Information
(approximate cost; subject to change)
|
Costs
T=Tuition/F=Fees
|
|
SSP 288
|
Special Police Officer-Initial Training
|
84
|
|
$849
T: $255 F: $594
|
| Course & Prerequisite Totals |
84 |
|
$849
T: $255 F: $594
|
Additional Information
Skills for Success
Self-Discipline; computer skills; detail-oriented; strong interpersonal skills; strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills; organized; resourceful; social perceptiveness; stress tolerance; strong negotiation skills; integrity.
Career Opportunities
Special Police Officers work in the private and public sector, and in small and large organizations, companies, and local, state, or federal levels. Among others, Special Police Officers may work as a Corrections Officer (CO), Public Safety Officer, Deputy, Deputy Sheriff, Bailiff, Peace Officer, Campus Security Officer, Custom Protection Officer, Customer Service Security Officer, Hotel Security Officer, Loss Prevention Officer, Safety and Security Officer, Security Agent, Security Guard, or Security Officer.
Career Coach
Research your career interests, explore live job postings, take a career assessment, discover which companies in the Baltimore region are hiring, and more. View a brief tutorial video on how to use Career Coach at: https://youtu.be/C7KpznbPYfA . Explore career and training opportunities at: https://ccbcmd.emsicc.com/.
