Maine Police Academy Requirements

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

Prerequisites to Joining the Police Academy –

Background Investigation: The background investigator will gather information about the candidate, including military service, education, motor vehicle record, criminal history record, financial record, work history, and reference

Polygraph Examination: This will be conducted by one of our Certified Polygraph Examiners.

Screening Committee Review: The screening committee will examine the results of the background investigation as well as the polygraph examination to determine if the candidate is eligible to continue. This determination will be reached by weighing all information received.

Colonel’s Interview: Once the screening committee determines that the candidate should continue in the process, the candidate is then scheduled for an interview with the Chief of the Maine State Police.

Medical Evaluation: Any candidate that is selected by the Colonel to continue in the process is then scheduled for a medical examination to determine if the candidate is medically fit for the complex duties of a Maine State Trooper.

Psychological Examination: Each candidate at this point will be scheduled for a psychological examination to determine if he/she is mentally fit to handle the intense and demanding aspects of being a Maine State Trooper.

Approximately one month prior to the start date of the school, the Maine Criminal Justice Academy will require that every candidate who is attending the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program attend an orientation and successfully pass the Physical Fitness Test.

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 must be a resident of Maine and possess a valid Maine driver’s license upon appointment as a State Police Cadet.  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. Additionally, 2 or more years of responsible work experience or attendance at an institution of higher learning following high school graduation are required.

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

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

Applicants are advised that all information provided to the Maine 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 :

The following standards are the basic entrance standards (40th percentile) needed to apply and the Maine State Police Academy standards (50th percentile) needed to graduate from the BLETP, and to enter the Recruit Training Troop. A copy of your basic entry-level results are required with your application.

40% BLETP Entrance Standards

50% Maine State Police Standards

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