SANFORD -- Applications are being accepted for Central Carolina Community College's Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) night program. Classes begin Aug. 17.

Cadets who graduate from the eight-month program will be job eligible in May 2016.

"Our graduates have a 98 percent success rate on the state exam and nearly 100 percent success rate on finding employment after graduation," said Dr. Robert Powell, CCCC's Department Chair of Justice Studies. "This is a very quick way to start a career with retirement, insurance, and benefits. All it takes is eight months of commitment."

Students successfully completing the BLET program will be able to:

• Identify the elements of major and common crimes committed in North Carolina.
• Differentiate between misdemeanor crimes and felonies.
• Use critical thinking skills to determine the difference between civil and criminal laws.
• Identify common traffic violations and articulate those violations.
• Understand the constitutional rights of citizens in the United States.

Applicants must be at least 20 years old, no felony convictions ever, no misdemeanor convictions in the last five years, and a fairly clean driving record.

Applicants must complete a criminal background check for every county they have lived in since turning 16 years of age. Applicants must also run a driving record for every state they have lived in since receiving a driver's license. These checks, along with a doctor's physical, are good for one year.

While waiting for the class date to begin, applicants should take time to get themselves in physical shape. By the first day of class, each applicant needs to be able to complete 50 pushups in one minute, 50 sit-ups in one minute, and three-mile run in 24 minutes or less.

Interested persons should visit www.cccc.edu/blet. The webpage will walk applicants through the process of scheduling the reading placement test. Additionally, the webpage has the required application forms. Those forms should be completed and turned in by July 15.

To learn more about the BLET program, visit the website www.cccc.edu/blet, or contact Dr. Powell at rpowell@cccc.edu or call 919-777-7774.