Montana Police Academy Requirements

Joining a police academy is a milestone on the path to becoming a police officer. The Montana police academy requirements are intended to set a high standard for 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. Montana police academy requirements consist of, in part, the following:

MT Police Academy Age Requirement

Montana police academy age requirements state that applicants must be at least 18 years of age at time application is filed.

MT Police Academy Residency and Citizenship Requirement

Applicants must be a resident of Montana and possess a valid Montana driver’s license upon appointment as a State Police Cadet.

Applicants must be a United States citizen at the time of initial application.

MT Police Academy Educational Requirement

Montana 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.

All military veterans must have an HONORABLE DISCHARGE documented by a DD-214.

MT Police Academy Automatic Disqualification Factors

Applicants are advised that the Montana 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 Montana State Police.
• Criminal arrests/behavior which would not reflect well on the Montana State Police.

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

Applicants are advised that all information provided to the Montana 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.

MT Police Academy Physical Agility Test

Open to PDF Below to read the Montana Physical Abilities Test (MPAT) Summary:

https://doj.mt.gov/wp-content/uploads/MPATsummary.pdf

* NOTE:

The eligibility requirements are subject to change at any time.