Delaware Police Academy Requirements

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

Age – Applicants must reach their 21st birthday prior to completion of the Academy training, and must not be older than 39 on the first day of the Academy.

Residency and Citizenship – Applicant must be a United States citizen. There is no residency requirement at time of application. However, Delaware residency is required by the completion of the academy training, prior to field training. Troopers are subject to assignment in any part of the state.

Education – Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, and must have attained a minimum of 60 semester credits, or 90 quarter credits, from an accredited college or university OR must have 30 college credits along with two years of active duty military service.

An applicant with 30 college credits and any of the below-listed experience will be eligible for an accelerated Academy curriculum:

• two years (post-training) as a full-time, Delaware-certified police officer.
• or two years of full-time (post-training) experience as a state trooper from another state, having completed a paramilitary live-in state training academy.

(To compete for the rank of Sergeant, 60 college credits are required. A Bachelor’s Degree is required to compete for the ranks of Lieutenant and above.)

Driver’s License – Applicants must have a current valid driver’s license and at least one year of driving experience. An applicant with a prior driving suspension or revocation must have one year of reinstatement in order to be eligible to apply. Any alcohol-related driving arrests and overall driving history will be subject to review.

Automatic Disqualification Factors

Criminal Record and Activity – Any felony conviction is an automatic disqualification. Any criminal activity that would be considered a felony under Delaware law or the law of the state in which the activity occurred is a disqualification. Arrests resulting in conviction must be pardoned prior to submitting an application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for an expungement on any past arrests not resulting in conviction. All arrests will be subject to evaluation.

Drug Usage – Use of any illegal drug two years prior to application, or any prior use of a hallucinogenic drug, will be an automatic disqualification. All other drug use, including illegally using prescribed drugs, is subject to review.

Physical Readiness

• Weight – Weight must be in compliance with the Delaware State Police weight chart or maximum allowed body fat percentage.(See Weight Standards under the Important Documents link at the bottom of the page.)
• Hearing – Normal hearing.
• Vision – Visual acuity can be no worse than 20/40 in each eye, uncorrected, and must be corrected to 20/20 with glasses or gas permeable contacts; or no worse than 20/200 in each eye uncorrected and must be corrected to 20/20 with soft contacts lenses only. Normal color vision and normal depth perception are required.

*(Following an offer of employment, the selected applicants will be examined by the Division’s heath providers for compliance with the above requirements, and will be given a complete medical examination to determine if the applicant is able to perform essential job functions.)

How To Apply

ApplicationsIn order to be eligible to compete in the selection process, applicants must submit a completed application, available on your states police website.

A COMPLETED PHYSICIAN’S AUTHORIZATION FORM IS NEEDED PRIOR TO TAKING THE PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST, WHICH IS ORDINARILY SCHEDULED THE SAME DAY AS THE WRITTEN TEST

Selection Process

The selection process for the position of Trooper includes the following:

• Written Examination
• Physical Fitness Test
• Oral Board Interview
• Polygraph Examination
• Background Investigation

The Written Examination consists of the following three multiple-choice instruments:

• Written Test: Measures cognitive abilities in the areas of memorization, visualization, reasoning, spatial orientation, written expression, written comprehension, problem sensitivity and information ordering.
• Work Styles Inventory: Measures motivational, value-related and attitudinal characteristics.
• Life Experience Survey: Measures past history and experience.

The Physical Fitness Test evaluates applicants on the following:

• Aerobic Capacity: 1.5 Mile Run
• Strength: Push-ups (as many as possible in one minute)
• Endurance: Sit-ups (as many as possible in one minute)

The Oral Board Interview measures the ability to communicate information or ideas to other people in the areas of comprehension and reasoning, oral expression, interpersonal interactions, decision-making and initiating action.

The Polygraph Interview focuses on the areas of criminal activity, drug usage, employment history, financial decision-making and driving history.

The Background Investigation includes another in-depth interview with the candidate, as well as multiple interviews with the candidate’s family, friends, neighbors, supervisors, co-workers, acquaintances, etc. The investigator will also verify the candidate’s education, employment, military, financial, criminal and traffic history.

A conditional offer of employment to selected applicants will be contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive medical examination, eye examination, psychological examination, and a final physical fitness assessment.