California Police Academy Requirements

Joining a police academy is a milestone on the path to becoming a police officer. The California 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. California police academy requirements consist of, in part, the following:

Prerequisites

Each Basic Police Academy applicant must:

• pass the POST Reading/Writing Test
• pass the Physical Agility WSTB Test and
• complete the Academy Application process including medical clearance, proof of medical insurance, DMV history, DOJ Firearms Clearance.

Minimum Standards for Employment

The minimum selection standards for peace officers in California are set forth in Government Code Sections 1029 and 1031. Every California peace officer must:

• be free of any felony convictions;
• be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship (CHP officers must be US citizens at time of appointment);
• be at least 18 years of age;
• be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record;
• be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation;
• be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development test or have attained a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited institution; and
• be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.