New Jersey Police Academy Requirements

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

Education

A candidate must have: (1) a bachelor’s degree; OR (2) possess a minimum of 90 credits and will complete their degree by a specified date prior to the written examination. The deadline for completing a bachelor’s degree under option 2 and remaining eligible will be announced at the time of initial application. (3) OR a candidate must have an associate’s degree or 60 college credits, PLUS at least 24 months of satisfactory employment or military experience; OR (4) 30 college credits, PLUS at least 24 months of active duty military service with an honorable discharge. All college degrees/credits must be from an accredited college or university.

Age

Applicants must be at least 21 years old and must not reach their 35th birthday prior to the graduation date of their State Police class.

Citizenship

Only citizens of the United States are eligible for appointment to the New Jersey State Police Academy.

Driver’s License

Applicants must have obtained a valid automobile driver’s license at the time that background investigations begin.

Background Investigation

Employment as a New Jersey State Trooper is unique in that it involves the exercise of police powers and the public trust.

Therefore, a comprehensive background investigation is conducted to ensure applicants possess:

• integrity
• sound moral character
• responsibility
• reliability
• dependability
• ethical judgment

Prior to completing the application ask yourself if your personal experience demonstrates these fundamental characteristics. If you cannot confidently answer yes, please consider not continuing further.

Besides verifying your responses to the automatic disqualifying questions found in the application, the background investigation will include, but is not limited to, a comprehensive evaluation of the following areas:

• review of personal data and citizenship information, including your birth certificate, voter registration, citizenship or naturalization papers, and whether you have any tattoos or other body art (see question 13 of the Frequently Asked Questions);
• interviews of your spouse, partner, dependents, relatives, associates and friends;
• review of your current and past residences, temporary or permanent, and interviews with landlords, roommates, and neighbors;
• review of your high school and college grades, achievements, extracurricular activities and programs, history of absenteeism and/or tardiness, and disciplinary history;
• review of your military service, if any, including branch of service, service records, and discharge;
• review of your employment/work history, including interviews of your current and former employers, discipline, and unemployment records;
• review of your financial status, including assets, debts, reported income, liens, civil judgment and liabilities;
• review of your fraternal, societal and workplace affiliations like clubs you belong to, social networking sites, fraternities, and any organizations that you belong to like charitable organizations or places you volunteer;
• review of your criminal history including arrests, convictions, or pretrial intervention for state, county, or local crimes or other offenses; and
• review of your motor vehicle history, including accidents, driving records, summonses, surcharges, license revocations, failures to appear in court, warrants, vehicle ownership information, and insurance information.

Applicants who demonstrate derogatory conduct that conflicts with the expectations of the state trooper position will be disqualified. 

You are expected to provide complete and truthful answers to the questions on this application and other documents throughout the selection process. All responses and documents submitted will be subject to verification.

An applicant who intentionally provides false information, and/or practices, or attempts to practice, any deception or fraud in this application, or in any examination, interview, application, or any other part of the selection process for appointment with the New Jersey State Police will be disqualified from the selection process at any time.

Applicants disqualified from the background investigation phase of the selection process are restricted from reapplying to the New Jersey State Police for one year.

Automatic Disqualifications

1. 1. If you were ever convicted of an indictable offense or are presently under an indictable conviction expungement.
2. A conviction of any offense involving domestic violence.
3. A conviction of any offense involving a “controlled dangerous substance.”
4. A conviction of any offense involving public office, position or employment (i.e., school board, township committee, etc.).
5. If you were adjudicated to have committed an act of juvenile delinquency. “Juvenile delinquency” here means the commission of an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute an indictable offense.
6. If you were adjudicated by a court or found by an employer to have violated any person’s civil rights in this State or any other State.
7. If you are currently on probation or have ever been on probation at any time within the last 12 months in this State or any other State for an indictable offense or felony.
8. If you participated in a program of supervisory treatment or pretrial intervention for an indictable offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12 or an out-of state equivalent.
9. If you have been convicted of driving while intoxicated two times or once within five years in this State or any other State.
10. If your driving privilege is currently revoked or suspended in New Jersey or in any other State. This does not include an administrative medical suspension.
11. If you were dishonorably discharged from any branch of military service or law enforcement agency.
12. If you have ever renounced your United States citizenship.
13. If you are currently subject to a final domestic violence restraining order.
14. If you were ever terminated or asked to resign from a public office, position, or government employment for misconduct involving such public office, position, or employment.
15. If you have used marijuana or hashish within the past three years.
16. If you, within the past ten years, have possessed or used any other illegal drug or drugs, including anabolic steroids, other than those prescribed or provided by a physician or purchased over the counter.
17. If you have sold, or provided an illegal drug to another person in your life.
18. If you have manufactured an illegal drug at any time in your life.
19. If your driving privileges have been revoked or suspended in any state within the past two years or if your driving privileges have been revoked or suspended more than three times. This does not include an administrative medical suspension.
20. If you had a warrant issued for your arrest, including a bench warrant for failure to appear in court, for a motor vehicle offense OR any criminal charge in any state three or more times.
21. If you pled guilty or been found guilty of any motor vehicle moving violation five or more times within the past two years.

Medical/Psychological Examination

If an offer of appointment as a recruit to the NJSP Academy is tendered to an applicant, it will be conditional upon successful completion of a medical examination and a psychological evaluation. A medical examination will be given during which the ability to perform the essential functions of the position will be evaluated by the Division Physician. Visual acuity must be correctable to 20/30 in both eyes, preferably with soft contact lenses. Each potential recruit will be required to authorize access to all health records. The potential recruit will also be required to provide urine samples for drug testing analysis. If the Division Physician should determine that an applicant is unable to perform the essential functions of the position, the conditional offer of appointment will be withdrawn. A psychological evaluation is also conducted. Applicants who successfully complete this phase may be offered an appointment to the New Jersey State Police Academy.

Physical Qualification Test

The Physical Qualification Test (PQT) Battery will consist of the following timed tests: 75 Yard Pursuit Run, Push Ups, Sit Ups, and 1.5 Mile Run. Applicants unable to pass the PQT will be disqualified from the current selection process.

PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING IN THE TRAINING CONTAINED IN THIS COMMUNICATION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN TO ENSURE IT IS SAFE FOR YOU TO ENGAGE IN THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING REGIMENT.

Selection Process

The selection process is a competitive one consisting of an initial application screening, physical qualification test, written examination, qualifications screening, and background investigation. Upon receipt of a conditional offer of employment, a medical examination and a psychological evaluation will be conducted. Applicants are also required to complete a two-day (consecutive/overnight) instructional weekend program. Appointment to the New Jersey State Police Academy is contingent upon a number of factors, including the availability of funded positions and approval by the Superintendent of State Police.

THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER