Give Your Students a Direct Path Into
Law Enforcement

Northwest Law Enforcement Academy has been training the next generation of police officers, corrections professionals, and public safety personnel in Manitoba since 2001.
When a student tells you they want a career in law enforcement, you have a program you can point them to with confidence. Northwest Law Enforcement Academy is a registered post-secondary institution in Manitoba, built to take a motivated graduate from high school to job-ready candidate in one accelerated year.
[ Download the Counsellor Guide ]
(Coming Soon)
Why NWLEA Belongs on Your Radar
- Founded in 2001 by former Winnipeg Police Chief Herb Stephen. Twenty-five years training students for law enforcement careers.
- Registered as a post-secondary institution under Manitoba’s Private Vocational Institutions Act.
- 870 hours of hands-on training, delivered by current and former law enforcement professionals with frontline experience.
- About seventy percent of graduates go on to work in law enforcement or a related field.
- Over forty agencies actively hire NWLEA graduates, including Winnipeg Police Service, the RCMP, Manitoba Provincial Corrections, and Federal Corrections.
- Career paths reach well beyond policing: corrections, border services, sheriff services, bylaw enforcement, investigations, and corporate and campus security.
What to Tell Your Students
Who Qualifies
- 17 years of age or older at enrollment
- Grade 12 diploma or the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC)
- A clean criminal record and a vulnerable sector check
- Meets the physical requirements of the program
Most students you are sharing this with haven’t graduated yet, and that’s fine. This is something to plan toward now and act on once they finish high school.
The Program

One accelerated year, roughly equivalent to two and a half years of post-secondary education. Full-time classes run from January to November. Students train in criminal law, investigations, report writing, defensive tactics, firearms safety, crisis intervention, and courtroom preparation, with resume coaching and interview preparation built directly into the curriculum.
Graduates leave with a Law, Protection and Safety Diploma plus additional certifications: Protective Strategies Subject Control, the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, the Canadian Restricted Weapons Safety Course, and Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training.
Paying for It
Total tuition and fees run $16,432.40, payable in two, three, or nine installments over the program. Students commonly qualify for a student loan or Canada Student Grant. NWLEA also offers:
- A Scholarship Award Program for secondary school graduates, recognizing academic and leadership achievement.
- Up to $2,000 off tuition for students with a family member in law enforcement or a military background.
- The Manitoba Advancing Futures Bursary, worth up to $10,000, for students currently or formerly in the care of a Manitoba Child and Family Services agency.
Download the Counsellor Guide
We put together a short guide built specifically for school counsellors: program details, eligibility, costs and financial aid, and career outcomes, all in one document you can keep on file or forward to a student.
[ Send Me the Guide ]
Bring NWLEA to Your School
Our Outreach Coordinator works directly with schools across Manitoba on presentations, career fair visits, and information sessions. If you have students who want to hear directly from the Academy, reach out and we’ll set it up.
We also run a free Open House at the Academy several times a year, where students and parents can tour the facility, meet instructors, and ask questions directly. Our next one is October 28, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Watch nwlea.ca for upcoming dates throughout the year.
Book a Presentation or Career Fair Visit with our Outreach Coordinator: Paul.Gillespie@northwestlaw.ca
Links For More Information
- Program Overview: career outcomes and what graduates go on to do
- Eligibility and Scholarship: who qualifies, how to apply, and the Scholarship Award Program
- Apply Now: the official application form
- Join the Priority Wait List: early notice when the next class opens
- Student Testimonials: Hear from recent graduates
Questions?
Randy LaHaie
Director of Operations, Northwest Law Enforcement Academy
Randy.LaHaie@northwestlaw.ca
204-953-8300
200 – 1821 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0G4
