Minnesota Police Academy Requirements

Author: | Posted in State Requirements No comments

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:

Age Requirement

Minnesota police academy age requirements state that applicants must be between the ages of 21-45 years old. Applicants may complete an application and proceed in the hiring process at 20 years of age if they will be 21 by the starting date of the next academy class.

Residency and Citizenship Requirement

Applicants must be a resident of Minnesota and possess a valid Minnesota 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

Michigan Police Academy requirements for education state that the 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.

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 Minnesota State Police will automatically disqualify any applicant who does not meet the general requirements as detailed below.  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 Minnesota State Police.
  • Criminal arrests/behavior which would not reflect well on the Minnesota State Police.

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

Applicants are advised that all information provided to the Minnesota 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

Repetition Maximum Bench Press Procedures:

  1. Lie with your shoulders and buttocks on the bench and your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Starting weight for men is about 2/3 of body weight. Starting weight for women is the bar (45 lbs.).
  3. Spotter/test administrator will assist with loading the weights, increasing poundage, and ensuring safety.
  4. Grip the bar slightly more than shoulder width apart and align with upper chest. Do not arch your back during the lift. To execute the bench press lift the bar off the rack and lower the bar to the upper chest without actually touching the chest, then press to a full extension as you return it to the starting position. Exhale while lifting the weight and inhale while lowering the weight.
  5. The first few attempts will be a warm-up as you build up to your maximum.
  6. Try to reach your maximum by the fourth or fifth lift.
  7. The score is the highest weight lifted in one repetition.

Push Up Procedures:

  1. The hands are placed slightly wider than shoulder width apart, with fingers pointing forward.
  2. Starting from the up position (elbows extended), the subject must keep the back straight at all times and lower the body to the floor until the upper arms are parallel to the floor, then push up again.
  3. Resting should be done only in the up position. Both hands must remain in contact with the floor at all times.
  4. The total number of correct push ups completed with no time limit.

Vertical Jump:

  1. Subject stands with both hands raised up in the air and reaches up as high as possible to mark his/her standard reach.
  2. Subject jumps as high as possible and marks the spot by pushing the markers on the vertical jump machine.
  3. Score is the difference between the standard reach and top of the jump mark, to the nearest ½ inch.
  4. The best of three trials is the score.

Sit Up Procedures:

  1. The subject starts by lying on their back, knees bent, heels flat on the floor, with both hands cupping their ears. Avoid pulling on the head with the hands. The buttocks must remain on the floor with no thrusting of the hips.
  2. A partner holds the feet down firmly.
  3. In the up position, the individual should touch elbows to knees and then return to a full lying position until the shoulder blades touch the floor. The subject then performs as many correct sit ups as possible.
  4. Resting is allowed in the up position with hands cupping ears.
  5. No time limit. Score is total number of correct sit ups.

1.5 Mile: (Testing is done on an indoor track)

  1. Participants should not eat a heavy meal or smoke for at least 2-3 hours prior to the test. Participants should warm up and stretch thoroughly prior to the test.
  2. If possible, each subject should have experienced some practice in pacing prior to the test. Often subjects will attempt to run too fast early in the run and become fatigued prematurely.
  3. The test administrator will inform the participants where the start and finish line is located nd how many laps they must complete for the run
  4. The participant runs 1.5 miles as fast as possible. During the 1.5 mile run a test administrator will read off lap times and the number of laps completed.
  5. Upon test completion, a mandatory cool down period is enforced. The participants should walk slowly for about 5 minutes immediately after the run to prevent venous pooling (i.e., pooling of the blood in the lower extremities which reduces the return of blood to the heart and may cause cardiac arrhythmias).

300 Meter Run Test: (Testing is done on an indoor track)

  1. Participants should actively warm up for one minute before sprinting.
  2. The 300-meter run measures your anaerobic power and the goal is to run the distance as quickly as possible.
  3. The test administrator will inform the participants where the start and finish line is and how many laps they must complete for the run.
  4. Participant should walk for 3-5 minutes immediately following test to cool down. This is an important safety consideration.


Fitness Standards

Component

Entry-Level
(CSO)

Academy Standard

Bench Press

or

Push-ups

102 lbs;
or 60% of
body weight

150 lbs;
or 82% of
body weight

25

28

Vertical Jump

13

16

Sit-ups

30

35

300 Meter Run
(seconds)

82

69

1.5 Mile Run
(min.:sec.)

15:44

14:43

 

 

NOTE:

The eligibility requirements are subject to change at any time.