Public Agency Training Council

What Public Agency Training Council does

Public Agency Training Council (PATC), founded in 1987 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the self-described largest privately owned law enforcement training organization in the United States. The company delivers professional development and certification programs to police, sheriff, state, and federal law enforcement personnel, as well as fire and public-safety professionals, across more than 600 specialized curricula spanning internal affairs, hostage negotiations, criminal and death investigation, fire investigation, leadership, digital forensics, crisis management, and property and evidence management. Course work is available in three delivery modes — in-person seminars, live online webinars (typically 2 hours), and full-length online courses (4–12 hours) — with state-level POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) accreditation that allows attendees to earn certified continuing-education credits in dozens of U.S. states.

Name

Public Agency Training Council

Legal name

Public Agency Training Council

Website

https://patc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Public Agency Training Council (PATC) is a privately held, Indianapolis-based law enforcement and fire training organization, founded in 1987, offering 600+ POST-accredited programs to U.S. public safety agencies via in-person seminars, live webinars, and online courses, plus background investigation and merchandise services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Law Enforcement Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety, Security & Emergency Services (OSHA, Fire, EMS, Security CE) (EDAAALAK)

Keywords

• Law enforcement training
• Police education
• Professional certification
• Background investigation services
• Public safety training

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Programs: PATC generates revenue through registration fees for in-person and online training programs. Courses range from 2-hour webinars to multi-day intensive conferences. Training covers topics including internal affairs, hostage negotiations, criminal investigation, fire investigation, leadership, and digital forensics.
2. Background Investigation Services: Flat-rate pricing at $399 per investigation for comprehensive, defensible background investigations for law enforcement and public safety agencies.
3. Merchandise and Publications: PATC sells challenge coins (ranging $7-$25), patches ($15), and legal guides ($22 regular/$16.50 sale) through their e-commerce store. Also publishes books by instructors such as Dr. Andy Young and David West.
4. Certification Programs: Revenue generated from Internal Affairs Certification (valid 3 years) and Hostage Negotiations Certification (valid 2 years) programs that include testing and special recognition upon completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Public Agency Training Council (PATC) delivers professional continuing education and certification training for police, fire, and public safety agencies across the United States through three delivery channels: on-site seminars at venues nationwide, live online webinars, and full-length on-demand online courses. Core offerings include POST-aligned programs in Internal Affairs investigation, Hostage Negotiations (via the hosted IAHN), criminal and death investigation, leadership, digital forensics, and a flat-rate Background Investigation service for hiring agencies. The company also sells ancillary merchandise such as challenge coins, patches, and legal reference guides.

Product overview

Public Agency Training Council (PATC) is a training organization offering over 600 specialized programs for public safety professionals since 1987. The portfolio includes three primary training delivery modes: In-Person Training seminars at various locations nationwide, Live Online Training via webinars, and Online Training through the TalentLMS platform for full-length courses and webinar replays. Core programs include Internal Affairs Training (with 3-year certification), Hostage Negotiations Training (with 3-phase program and 2-year certification through IAHN), and PATC Background Investigations services. PATC also offers merchandise including Challenge Coins, patches, and the annual Legal Guide, plus conferences in Orlando and Las Vegas. The organization is endorsed by the National Internal Affairs Investigator Association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Internal Affairs Training Program Professional training, education, and certification program for internal affairs investigators and supervisors, endorsed by the National Internal Affairs Investigator Association. Covers administrative investigations, citizen complaints, employee misconduct, and risk management audits for law enforcement personnel.
• Hostage Negotiations Training Program Training program for crisis and hostage negotiators delivered through IAHN, with multi-phase curriculum and written and practical testing requirements to qualify for IAHN-recognized certification.
• PATC Background Investigations Comprehensive, defensible background investigation service for law enforcement and public safety employers conducting pre-employment vetting, priced at a flat rate of $399 per investigation with documented verification processes.
• Online Training Platform Full-length online courses (4-12 hours) and recorded webinars (2 hours) delivered through the TalentLMS platform, complete with course completion certificates. Covers the same curriculum offered live and in-person for self-paced access.
• In-Person Training Seminars Open-enrollment on-site training seminars held at venues nationwide, covering criminal investigation, death and homicide investigation, internal affairs, hostage negotiations, leadership, and related topics. Registration handled through the Arlo platform.
• Live Online Training (Webinars) Real-time webinar-format training sessions on tactical techniques, crisis management strategies, and essential public safety skills, with recordings made available for on-demand viewing through TalentLMS.
• Hostage Negotiations Certification Two-year professional certification requiring completion of Hostage Negotiation Phase I, II, and III training along with written and practical examinations. Recertification available through conference attendance or online renewal exam.
• Internal Affairs Certification Three-year professional certification for internal affairs investigators and supervisors, requiring passage of a writing examination and recertification via a PATC internal affairs training program and re-examination.
• PATC Conferences Multi-day professional conferences combining intensive training sessions with networking opportunities, scheduled annually in Orlando, FL and Las Vegas, NV at major hotels.
• Challenge Coins Collection Collectible challenge coins covering public safety specialties including Leadership, Criminal Investigation, Hostage Negotiations, Internal Affairs, Digital Forensics, Fire Investigation, FTO, Narcotics, Training, Death and Homicide, Drone Operations, and the PATC Logo Shield. Prices range from $7.00 to $25.00.
• PATC 3D Eagle Emblem Patch High-density rubber patch with hook-and-loop backing featuring the raised eagle and three-star "Train to Excellence" shield for public safety professionals. Priced at $15.00.
• 2025 Legal Guide Quick-reference printed legal guide for public safety professionals, updated annually with current case law and legal precedent. Regular price $22.00; sale price $16.50; volume pricing available for orders of 30 or more.
• Instructor Publications Books authored by PATC instructors including Dr. Andy Young's titles such as "Fight or Flight: Negotiating Crisis on the Front Line" and "When Every Word Counts: An Insider's View of Crisis Negotiations," and David West's "Electrical Fire Analysis: Failure Mechanisms That Cause Fires." Sold through the PATC online store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained over 15,000 officers in hostage negotiation

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ERAD GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationERAD Group is a cloud-based technology company providing law enforcement with tools to investigate financial and digital crimes. Their platform enables agencies to analyze credit, debit, prepaid, and gift cards, freeze illicit funds, track digital assets, and produce court-ready reports helping disrupt criminal enterprises and strengthen public safety. PATC partners with ERAD to provide comprehensive training resources for the law enforcement community.
• The Wounded BlueminorOthersThe Wounded Blue is a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting injured and disabled law enforcement officers. Through peer-driven outreach, education, advocacy, and confidential assistance, it works to ensure that those who serve are never forgotten and never alone. PATC partners with The Wounded Blue to strengthen their collective impact and provide greater value to the professionals they serve.
• International Association of Hostage Negotiators (IAHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAHN was founded by Dominick J. Misino and serves to provide training and certified qualifications in the art of hostage negotiation. PATC is home to IAHN, combining over 15,000 officers trained in hostage negotiation with PATC's broader training infrastructure to deliver unparalleled practical training and experience.
• National Internal Affairs Investigator AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATC's professional training, education, and certification program for Internal Affairs is endorsed by the National Internal Affairs Investigator Association. Successful completion of certification requirements designates attendees as certified Internal Affairs Investigator/Supervisor through PATC, with recognition from this prestigious professional association.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lexipol: Lexipol provides policy manuals, training, and consulting for public safety agencies (police, fire, EMS, corrections). It is a broader incumbent in the same compliance-and-training space as PATC, with a larger portfolio and SaaS-driven delivery model.
• Northwestern University Center for Public Safety: NUCPS offers long-running command-level and supervisory training programs for law enforcement, often accredited through a major university. It is a broader academic incumbent in the same professional-development niche as PATC.

Direct peers

• PoliceOne Academy (PoliceOne.com): PoliceOne Academy delivers online law enforcement training courses with state POST accreditation, directly competing with PATC's online training arm in the same customer base of police agencies and officers.
• Calibre Press: Calibre Press has offered street-survival and leadership seminars for law enforcement for decades — a directly comparable seminar-based training provider serving the same sworn-officer audience as PATC.
• Below 100: Below 100 delivers officer-safety and use-of-force training programs to law enforcement agencies nationwide. It is a focused training-content peer competing for similar training budgets and conference slots.
• PowerPhone: PowerPhone provides specialized training for 911 telecommunicators and emergency communications personnel, a comparable professional-development training model serving public safety agencies.

Others

• IADLEST: The International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training coordinates POST standards and accreditation across states. It is an ecosystem partner/standards body rather than a direct training competitor, but it shapes the accreditation landscape PATC operates in.

Emerging players

• Force Science Institute: Force Science Institute specializes in research-backed use-of-force and human-factors training for law enforcement. It overlaps with PATC on high-stakes tactical training topics but is narrower in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/patcupdates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Agency Training Council