Alaska Police Academy Requirements

Joining a police academy is a milestone on the path to becoming a police officer. Many requirements vary from state to state, however, certain standards, such as being a citizen of the United States, are required across the board. Minnesota police academy requirements consist of, in part, the following:

Academy Training – Alaska’s police academy curriculum includes approximately 920 hours of instructions, including 480 hours required by the Alaska Police Officers Standards and Training Commission.  All training aids and materials are furnished.  Academy training is based on a five day week, eight hour per day schedule and lasts approximately 20 weeks.  Subjects taught include search and seizure, criminal law, patrol procedures, police community relations and first aid, firearms, defensive tactics and physical fitness.  A recruit must successfully complete all training requirements of the State of Alaska and the local police department.

Age Requirement – A State Trooper Recruit must be at least 21 years of age at time of employment. There is no upper age limit. Note: The on-line application asks if you are at least 21 years of age, or will be 21 within six months.

Residency and Citizenship Requirement – Applicants are required to be domiciled in the State of Alaska, presently serving in the military with the intent of being domiciled in the State of Alaska upon completion of military service, or a graduate from an accredited high school/ GED or post-secondary institution in the State of Alaska.

Applicants living outside the State of Alaska claiming residency will be sent a residency affidavit with their background packet in order to verify their eligibility as an Alaska resident.

Applicants must be a United States citizen at the time of initial application.

Educational Requirement – Applicants must possess a high school diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED) time of application.  Correspondence or mail-order high school diplomas are not accepted. If you question the validity of your diploma, you may contact the Alaska Department of Education at (907) 465-2800.

Applicant will be required to take a written/oral examination, psychological test, as well as a polygraph examination.

Automatic Disqualification Factors

Applicants are advised that the Alaska State Police will automatically disqualify any applicant who does not meet the general requirements as detailed above.  In addition, the following information is provided regarding our criteria for automatic disqualification:

• Falsification, omission, or misrepresentation of any information during the completion of the Polygraph Screening Booklet, the Polygraph Examination, the Formal Application for Employment, and any other documents/processes associated with the Cadet Selection Procedures.
• Substance abuse/use within a prescribed time frame and/or that is beyond what is considered experimental by the Alaska State Police.
• Criminal arrests/behavior which would not reflect well on the Alaska State Police.

The core purpose of the Alaska State Police is to seek justice, preserve peace, and improve the quality of life for all.  As such, the Department has established the core values of Honor, Service, Integrity, Respect, Trust, Courage, and Duty, and is seeking applicants who possess these traits and conduct themselves accordingly.  Certain issues within a person’s background have been identified which will result in automatic disqualification, including but not limited to:  criminal conduct (actual arrest and/or admission of behavior whether or not arrested) and substance abuse.

A preliminary determination will be made by the Alaska State Police based upon information supplied; therefore, applicants must be forthright and honest in documenting their conduct.  Be advised that this preliminary determination is not binding as it is made based upon information provided by the applicant only.  Should an applicant continue in the selection process, the conduct will then be discussed and documented with a Alaska State Police Officer.

Applicants are advised that all information provided to the Alaska State Police is to contain no misrepresentation, falsification, omissions, or concealment of material fact and that, upon submission of any official document (on-line or otherwise), applicants swear or affirm that all information provided is true, complete, and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.  Applicants are further advised that all information provided is subject to later investigation.

Physical Readiness Test – Minimum standards to pass the Physical Fitness Test require the ability to:

• Perform a minimum of 25 push-ups to failure

The subject must begin with their hands placed about shoulder-width apart, fingers pointing forward, and their feet about 6-8” apart.  A test administrator will place a 3-inch block under the subject’s sternum.  Starting from the up position (elbows extended), the subject must lower their body to the floor until their chest touches the 3-inch block.  The subject then returns to the up position.  This is one repetition.  Repositioning of the hands or feet is not allowed at any time during this test.  When the subject moves their hands or feet, the test will be determined finished.  Resting is allowed during this exercise in the up position only.  While resting, the subject must remain in up position with their arms fully extended and their back straight.  If the subject fails to keep their back straight, or repositions their hands or feet during a period of rest, the test will be determined finished.  Pushups performed without the back essentially straight are not counted.  The minimum number of acceptable pushups is 25

• Perform a minimum of 27 sit-ups in 1 minute

The subject starts in the down position by lying on their back, knees bent, heels flat on the floor, with their fingers laced and held behind their head.  A partner holds the subject’s feet down firmly.  The subject then performs as many correct sit-ups as possible in one minute.  In the up position, the individual should touch their elbows to their knees, or pass the plane of their knees with their elbows.  The subject then returns to the down position (until their shoulder blades touch the floor.)  Resting is allowed in the up position only.  During this exercise, the subject’s neck should remain in a neutral position, and their elbows must be in parallel to the sides of their body, and their hips must remain on the floor.  The minimum number of acceptable sit-ups is 27.

• Run 1.5 miles in less than or equal to 15 minutes, 12 seconds

This is a timed run over a measured course.  The course may sometimes be on a sidewalk, a cross-country trail, or an oval track.  Minimum acceptable time is 15 minutes, 12 seconds (15:12).

• Retest

Applicants who do not meet the minimum acceptable standards will not be allowed to retest during the same recruitment cycle.  Every applicant will be allowed one opportunity to complete the physical fitness test.

NOTE:  The eligibility requirements are subject to change at any time.

Questions regarding the Cadet Selection Procedures may be directed to the Alaska Department of Public Safety at:

Dan Spencer, Director
PO Box 111200
Juneau, AK 99811
(907) 465-5488
(907) 465-5500 (Fax)
E-mail: danial.spencer@alaska.gov