Police Academy Requirements

The future peace officer in search of an education will soon notice that police academy requirements vary by state and even on the federal and state levels. Identifying just the right program depends on the location where the future cadet will work. In so doing, the applicant must also undergo state-specific background checks and meet agency-identified benchmarks.

1. Education. Almost universal among police academy requirements is the need for a high school diploma. A GED may be accepted as well. There are some agencies that prefer applicants with a college degree. It is a good idea to ask ahead of time what the school in question demands.
2. Fitness. Granted, there is the stereotype of the donut-eating cop, but police academy requirements spell out that a couch potato will have little success in applying. A fitness exam culls would-be cadets who do not have the stamina needed to meet the rigors of patrol. Tests evaluate physical vigor, strength and overall endurance.
3. Successful testing. Once accepted to the training course, police academy requirements specify that trainees must be able to pass the written tests administered by the trainers. These exams test a variety of knowledge sets, including criminal procedures, arrest techniques and firearms knowledge. A final exit exam ensures that the newly-minted cadet is well-rounded and able to fulfill his job duties once on the street.

Additional police academy requirements usually center on admissions details. For example, some states will not accept candidates until they are twenty years old. Once again, the candidate must contact his local police academy to get localized application details.