Arizona Police Academy Requirements

Joining a police academy is a milestone on the path to becoming a police officer. The Arizona police academy requirements are intended to set a high standard potential officers. Below are all the requirements and disqualifying factors. Be aware that there is a lot of competition for police jobs so going above the minimum requirements is advised. Arizona police academy requirements consist of, in part, the following:

Academy Training – The basic training program is a 640-hour (16-week) curriculum. The training experience is designed to challenge the students mentally, physically, and academically. Each law enforcement agency participating has a training coordinator to assist recruits with training questions. To help prospective recruit candidates prepare to meet the demands of the training, specific information about the program and our training standards follow.

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 residents of Arizona as well as citizens of the United States of America.

Educational Requirement – Applicants must possess a high school diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED) time of application.  It is not a requirement that the diploma or GED be obtained within Arkansas.  Also required are thirty (30) semester hours from an accredited college or university with a “C” average or better. Correspondence or mail-order high school diplomas are not accepted.

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 Arizona 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 Arizona State Police.
• Criminal      arrests/behavior which would not reflect well on the Arizona State Police.

The core purpose of the Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona State Police Officer.

Applicants are advised that all information provided to the Arizona 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

Law enforcement officers that maintain a high degree of physical conditioning are less prone to be affected by the stressful conditions of the job, sustain fewer injuries, and utilize less leave time related to illness. Arizona’s police academy physical conditioning program combines strength training and aerobic exercise to help students develop good exercise habits and to improve their fitness level throughout the academy. It is strongly recommended that recruits begin a fitness regimen before beginning academy training.

Recruits are required to participate in physical conditioning training and testing as determined by the Police Officer Physical Aptitude Test (POPAT).

Police Officer Physical Aptitude Test

Each graduate is required to complete all five of the activities in the POPAT test and achieve a minimum specified score. Failure to achieve this minimum standard will result in dismissal from the academy.

The POPAT course consists of five components:

• A timed 500-yard run
• A timed 99-yard obstacle course
• A 165-pound dummy drag
• A 6-foot chain link fence climb
• A 6-foot wall climb

• Each applicant is required to also pass a basic physical. An uncorrected visual acuity of 20/100 or better in each eye. Must possess normal color discrimination, depth perception and peripheral vision (at least 75 degrees on each eye). Must be free on any hearing defect.