Admissions

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES
The College for Officer Training exists solely for the purpose of training men and women for full-time ministry as Salvation Army officers. As such, admission to CFOT is only granted to those who meet the specific qualifications and have completed the application/candidacy process. CFOT does not accept admission applications directly.

Those wishing to become a Salvation Army officer must be a soldier (member) of The Salvation Army for at least one-year and receive support from their corps officers and divisional leadership before receiving acceptance from the Territorial Candidates Council.

Applicants must be of good moral and spiritual character, have three years sobriety,  demonstrate leadership ability and emotional stability,  and be in good physical health. All applicants must complete the pre-training non-credit course.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED. Further, it is recommended that applicants have two years of college, military training, or work experience following high school, prior to entering CFOT.

CFOT requires official transcripts from high school and any colleges attended for screening, advising, and placement purposes. If an entering cadet has completed the equivalent of 15 quarter hours of academic credit at an accredited college, it is not necessary to also submit the high school transcript. Official certified true copies of academic records issued by the institution of study or relevant government body will be accepted, as original notarized copies are not acceptable. In addition, translations must be submitted for all transcripts not officially issued in English. These must be in the same format as the original language documents (line by line and word by word) be typed, and be evaluated by an approved credentials/transcript evaluation service. 

More information on becoming a Salvation Army officer and the application process can be found at www.usawestcandidates.org.

 

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PLACEMENT EXAMS 

English Competency
All Salvation Army officers must effectively communicate with people in their community, Christian groups, Divisional and Territorial command heads, Advisory Boards, and community groups who fund and support the work of The Salvation Army, in the dominant language of the culture.  Good communication skills include both spoken and written English.  This competency is assessed from educational transcripts, Campion Barrow & Associate’s Flanigan Aptitude Classification (Expression) assessment, and pre-training coursework.   If a candidate does not meet the minimum English standard, Campion Barrow will recommend an English development course before entering the training school.  Cadets entering training school with developing skills are assigned a writing tutor upon recommendation of Campion Barrow until proficiency is sufficiently demonstrated.

Mathematics Competency
All Salvation Army officers must demonstrate numerical competency, balance books, write checks, pay bills, confirm billings, and develop budgets.  Often, numerical calculations are embedded in financial documents and reports.  Understanding how mathematical principles are derived and applied is essential.  This competency is assessed with scores from educational transcripts and the Campion Barrow & Associate’s Flanigan Aptitude Classification (Arithmetic) assessment. Campion Barrow will recommend a tutor for personal financial and academic coursework.

 

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READMISSION
A cadet who has left CFOT for any reason must reapply through their Divisional Headquarters to the Territorial Candidates Council. Each case for re-admission will be considered on an individual basis. 

 

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COST OF TRAINING

All costs related to tuition, course materials, official travel, and room and board are supported in total by funds from Territorial Headquarters.

The College does not participate in any of the state or federal financial aid programs. Cadets are required as part of their enrollment budget process to inform the College about financial assistance from other sources applicable to costs at CFOT.

 

Fees and Other Costs 

There will be a $10 charge for the replacement of each lost key and electronic entry card/fob.

 

Student Loan Deferment 
A cadet may receive assistance with paying off preexisting student loans if he or she meets all conditions of the Education Learning Financial Assistance Program.

 

Reviewed/Updated: July 2025