Starfleet Academy

• Motto: "Ex Astris, Scientia" ("From the Stars, Knowledge")
• Academy operations and disciplinary procedures led by Superintendent of the Academy (TNG: "The First Duty", "Journey's End")
• Day-to-day cadet management and direction led by Commandant of the Academy (TNG: "Coming of Age"; DS9: "Paradise Lost")
  • Both positions filled by flag ranks only
• Main campus in San Francisco, United States of America, Earth
  • Headquarters at the Presidio, training facilities south of Sausilito (Star Trek)
• Annex campuses established on various Federation worlds
  • Especially common in more distant areas where regular relocation to Earth is infeasible, but even core worlds may have annex campuses depending on available resources
  • Known annex campus locations
    • Relva VII (TNG: "Coming of Age")
    • Tellar (DS9 Novel: Ascendance)
• Academy annual schedule two-semester program
  • Fall semester spans November to March
    • Wesley taking entrance exam in June 2364, "Coming of Age"; judging by below Nog example this would potentially fit entry into Fall semester (if a bit early) were he to have passed
  • Spring semester spans April to August
    • Nog prepping for exam December 2371, "Facets", in Academy by April 2372, "Homefront"
  • Cadets can begin training in either term
  • Graduation and commencement in mid-September (TNG: "The First Duty")
• Standardly a four-year process from acceptance to graduation as Ensign, but this schedule can be delayed or accelerated by circumstance
• No specific age requirement given the varying maturation rates of different species, but especially young entrants with respect to their species require approval by the Academy board
  • See Wesley taking the entrance exam at age 15, "Coming of Age", for example
• Entrance process
  • Starfleet Academy Preparatory Program, six-week course, is offered every year to all qualifying applicants as preparation for entrance exam (DS9: "Facets"; possibly referenced in TNG: "Coming of Age")
  • Entrance exam offered annually at all campuses following the program (TNG: "Coming of Age")
    • If not passed, but the applicant's score is still above a certain threshold, it may be retaken the following year
• Training runs over a minimum of four years, with additional four year training at Starfleet Medical for physicians and surgeons
  • Those in training known alternatively as "cadet" or "midshipman"
• Training focused in specific service branch after first year
  • Command track offers general training in all branches in addition to command-focused training at Starfleet Command School (VOY: "Parallax")
    • Also includes courses in diplomacy in the event of first contact scenarios or other cases where a starship commanding officer will be required to represent the Federation
  • Medical track includes both research and field training
  • Science track focused on a particular field; program equivalent to an accelerated Masters program
• Post-graduation Training
  • Advanced Tactical Training (TNG: "Preemptive Strike"; TOS Novel: Ex Machina)
    • One-year program giving high-level tactical instruction beyond the basic combat requirements needed for security service
      • Program known to be held at main campus, Tellar annex campus (TOS: Ex Machina; DS9 Novel: "Ascendance")
    • Includes field instruction, leading and directing teams, more advanced combat techniques, detailed briefings on foreign powers, starship operations and security
    • Requirement before being allowed assignment as chief of security or chief tactical officer
  • Bridge Officer's Test (TNG: "Thine Own Self")
    • Multi-stage test to demonstrate command suitability
    • No officer outside the command track may take command of a starship outside an emergency situation without having passed this test
    • Likely required to achieve Commander rank for those on starship duty
    • Can be given by any command crew officer
  • Starfleet Medical Academy (DS9: "Rivals")
    • Standardly a four-year program equivalent to civilian medical school, offered to those progressing along the medical branch
    • Can also be entered directly by civilians from pre-med on approval of the Academy board
      • McCoy known to have attended Ole Miss, seems not to have attended Starfleet Academy by "The Ultimate Computer"
    • Entrants are granted the rank of lieutenant, junior grade upon graduation
    • Includes a one-year field residency