National Park Service (NPS)

Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA)

Passionate about preserving our nation’s landmarks? Enjoy working outdoors and helping people?

Our Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy might be the perfect gateway to help you achieve your dreams of working for the National Park Service!

Enroll Here Today!

SCC is the best place to start your NPS journey!

  • We have long been a trailblazer at expanding the depth of training for future Park Rangers.
  • We are the nation’s longest continuously operating NPS Park Ranger Program.
  • Among the six PRLEA programs nationwide, ours is by far the most affordable: You save between 50 and 75 percent by launching your NPS career at Southwestern.

Previously Titled – Seasonal Law Enforcement Training (SLET)

Since 1978* the Southwestern Community College – Public Safety Training Center (SCC-PSTC) has been dedicated to the delivery and improvement of the National Park Service – Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (NPS-PRLEA) program for prospective seasonal (Type II) commissioned Law Enforcement Park Rangers. Seasonal Law Enforcement Park Rangers may be assigned to one of more than three hundred (300) parks, monuments and other facilities within the contiguous forty-eight states, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam, under the authority and jurisdiction of the National Park Service (NPS).

* Then, the Western North Carolina Criminal Justice & Education Center of the Southwestern Technical Institute, located in Sylva, North Carolina. Training Session #1 consisted of a 200 Hour Basic Training Course.

Prospective NPS-PRLEA Recruit Applicants should familiarize themselves with all content related to the application process of the SCC-PSTC.

NOTE: External links are provided for reference only. SCC and the SCC-PSTC are not responsible for external link accuracy, updates and/or operation.

  • As an institution with an established reputation for providing, and commitment to, “Excellence Through Training,” the Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) does not recruit, nor hire, for the National Park Service. We provide public safety training.
  • Information regarding seasonal employment with the National Park Service may be obtained through the National Park Service Seasonal Operations Center (SROC) at 877.554.4550.
  • Employment opportunities with the National Park Service may be accessed through the following Federal Job Website.
Apel2C20Stephen

Stephen Apel

National Park Service – Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (NPS-PRLEA) Coordinator/Instructor

s_apel@southwesterncc.edu

828.306.7052

800.447.4091, ext. 7052