View source for Starfleet Academy

{{Branch
|image=[[File:AcadLogo.png|275px]]
|name=Starfleet Academy
|branchof=Starfleet
|report=Starfleet Operations
|founded=
|branchhead=
|otherstaff=
|function=The main purpose of this department is for the education and training of individuals for service in Starfleet.
}}

Starfleet academy is an institution, mainly based on Earth, where Starfleet Officer cadets go through training. Not everyone gets into Starfleet Academy. The following criteria are usually used for applications to the Academy, and even if you apply this doesnt guarentee admission to the Acadamy.

You can only apply to Starfleet Academy if

*you are over 18 years of age and;
*you are a Federation member citizen or;
*you are 17 years of age and have a letter of reference written on your behalf by a command level officer or;
*you are a non-Federation citizen who has been sponsored and has a letter of reference written on your behalf by a command level officer. 

Once your application has been viewed and assessed, but before an admission is granted, prospective cadets are required to complete something called a Starfleet Academy Preparatory Program. This six-week course is designed to prepare prospective cadets for the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. Program admission is by testing only and applicants are required to perform satisfactorily on tests examining stress reaction, spatial orientation, and deductive reasoning. This program usually takes around four days.

There are 4 SAP Programs a year on Earth, February, May, August and November. There are 6 SAP Programs a year at the Starfleet Academy Testing Facility on Relva VII. These are in February, March, May, August, September and November.

Depending on the location of the prospective cadet, they may attend Starfleet Academy at one of the other training facilities. These are located at at either

*Starfleet Academy, Beta Aquilae II
*Starfleet Academy, Beta Ursae Minor II
*Starfleet Academy, Psi Upsilon III
*Starfleet Academy, Bajor Campus

Regardless of which academy the cadet attends, they are still required to undergo Flight Training at the Academy Flight Training center in the Sol Sector, which is based around Saturn.

Starfleet Academy takes approximately 4 years to complete. At the end of the 4 years the cadet will, upon achieving a passing grade, be a commissioned officer at the rank of Ensign.

Each year is divided up into 2 semesters. During the 1st semester of the second year the cadet can elect to go to Starfleet Medical. This will add an extra 2 years to the duration at the academy. At the end of the 6 years the medical cadet will, upon achieving a passing grade, be a commissioned officer at the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.

There are also people who want to join Starfleet, but dont want to become an officer. In this case they can train to be an enlisted officer. Enlisted officer cadets are usually trained at the Starfleet Technical Services Academy on Mars.