You may apply if you are:
- Unsworn: You are not yet a police officer but want to enter the field
- Sworn: You are currently employed as a police officer and need Act 120 certification
Municipal Police Academy
Act 120-Certificate Program
Start your path to a career in law enforcement at Bucks County Community College. The Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) Act 120 Municipal Police Academy prepares you to serve communities across Bucks County and Pennsylvania.
If you want a meaningful career and feel called to serve, now is a great time to begin. Law enforcement careers are expected to grow over the next 10 years. Trained police officers are in demand.
This professional certification program prepares you for entry-level law enforcement roles while building strong values and leadership skills. At Bucks, you learn from experienced law enforcement professionals and certified instructors from across the region.
As a cadet, you may:
- Take part in events that honor fallen officers
- Dedicate your class and graduation to an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice
- Build a strong sense of service and commitment
Community service is an important part of your training. You will complete service hours with local organizations and learn that protecting and serving others is at the heart of policing.
Program Details
The Act 120 program is a required 919-hour training program that prepares you for certification as a police officer in Pennsylvania.
During the program, you will:
- Complete 26 exams and scenario-based training
- Study five training modules
- Earn an average score of at least 80% in each module
If you do not meet the 80% requirement, you must repeat the module before continuing.
For more information, email Stephen Guckin, director, or call 215-497-8766.
Who Can Apply?
Earn College Credit
While completing the Police Academy, you can also:
- Earn 24 college credits
- Work toward a Criminal Justice certificate
This puts you on track to complete an associate degree in Criminal Justice at Bucks.
Your Training
Your training includes:
- Introduction to the academy
- Law enforcement in Pennsylvania
- Physical and emotional readiness
- Laws of arrest
- Search and seizure
- Use of force
- Criminal law and investigations
- Defensive tactics
- Vehicle code enforcement
- Interview and interrogation
- Ethics
- Patrol procedures
- Crisis management
- Firearms training (handgun, shotgun, patrol rifle)
- Patrol vehicle operation
- Report writing
- First aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
- Oleoresin capsicum (OC) aerosol training
Admission Requirements
To apply, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development)
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have no disqualifying criminal convictions (misdemeanor 2 or higher)
- Meet a minimum ninth grade reading level (tested)
- Pass:
- Physical exam
- Drug test
- Vision test
- Hearing exam
- Psychological exam (MMPI-2, MMPI-2-RF, or MMPI-3)
- Physical fitness assessment (MPOETC standards)
About the Director
Stephen Guckin
Stephen Guckin is the director of the Municipal Police Academy at Bucks County Community College. He leads academy operations, ensures compliance with Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) regulations, and supports high standards in law enforcement training.
Guckin retired as a lieutenant from the Philadelphia Police Department after more than 26 years of service. His experience includes roles in training, research and planning, investigations, and instruction. He also served with Drexel University’s Department of Public Safety and, most recently, as a campus minister and theology teacher at Archbishop Wood High School.
He holds an associate degree in justice from the Community College of Philadelphia and a bachelor’s degree in human services from Thomas Edison State College. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and completed programs through the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute. Guckin is an ordained deacon in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.