Virginia Police Academy Requirements

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

Age Requirement

Virginia police academy age requirements state that applicants must be a minimum 21 years of age. Applicants may complete an application and proceed in the hiring process at 20.5 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 Virginia and possess a valid Virginia 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

Virginia 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.

Automatic Disqualification Factors

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

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

Applicants are advised that all information provided to the Virginia 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 Abilities Test

Work Performance Testing:

The Work Performance Test will be administered to all applicants by the Virginia State Police Recruitment Staff. The test will consist of a 150–yard course that will measure stamina and cardiovascular fitness in the completion of various job related physical skills. The applicant must successfully complete ten (10) obstacles in succession with a pass/fail time limit of 1 minute and 36 seconds. Participants must complete all events in the specified sequence or they fail the course. Participants who fail the course as a result of not completing an event may retake it one time.

APPLICANTS WILL WEAR THE FOLLOWING WHEN RUNNING THE WORK PERFORMANCE TEST:

• Suitable athletic shirt
• Suitable athletic pants
• Sport shoes are recommended (sneakers or coaching shoes)

OBSTACLE COURSE:
The obstacle course must be completed by the participant in the exact sequence listed below:

1. Participant will be given a physical description of a suspect, and will start from a seated position when told to “GO”.
2. Run/Sprint 25 yards.
3. Jump a distance of 3 feet in length.

• This area will be marked off. If participant touches either the first or second mark, task is not completed.

1. Run/Sprint 25 yards.
2. Climb over a five (5) foot high fence.

• If participant is unable to go over the fence, task is not completed.

1. Run/Sprint 10 yards.
2. Crawl under an obstacle 24″ high and 10 feet long.

• Participant must crawl through structure without touching the top of the structure.  If unable to crawl the complete distance or raises the bottom of the obstacle, task is not completed.

1. Run/Sprint 25 yards.
2. Climb up and down a standard 8″ step for 12 repetitions.

• Climb up and down a step using the movement of up/up, down/down (first foot up, second foot up, first foot down, second foot down).
• The step must be 12 complete repetitions.
• A complete repetition is counted when both feet have returned to the floor.
• If participant does not have both feet on the step for counting or is unable to finish 12 complete repetitions, task is not completed.

1. Run/Sprint 15 yards.
2. Crawl through window opening 36″ w x 30″ h x 3’ above the ground.

• If participant is unable to pass through opening, task is not completed.
• NO diving through the opening.
• Participant must not touch the top of the window frame.

1. Run/Sprint 10 yards. Identify the suspect.

• Based upon previous description provided, the participant must identify the proper suspect by yelling out the correct number of the suspect figure.
• If participant incorrectly identifies suspect, task is not completed.

1. Run/Sprint 15 yards.
2. Move a 150-pound dummy 5 yards.

• The participant must move a 150 pound dummy beyond a designated line five yards away.
• When moving the dummy, participant must protect its head and neck and lift it under the arms.
• If participant is unable to move the body completely past the designated line, task is not completed.

1. Run/Sprint 20 yards.
2. Trigger pull exercise.

• The participant must pick up a safe, ready to fire double action firearm from a table using the dominant hand to pull the trigger once while holding the muzzle inside a stationary border six (6″) inches in diameter at shoulder level, then withdraw weapon from stationary border and transition to non-dominant hand, replace in border and pull trigger one more time.

If participant is unable to pull the trigger or touches the ring with the firearm, task is not completed.

CRITERIA FOR COMPLETING THE COURSE

1. Participants must complete ALL events in the specified sequence or they fail the course.
2. Participants must correctly identify the suspect.
3. Upon completion, participants will be told their time and informed if they successfully completed all tasks.

APPLICANTS WHO ARE UNSUCCESSFUL IN COMPLETING THE WORK PERFORMANCE TEST, OR WHO WISH TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING PROCEDURES, WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND A TRAINING SESSION.  THE TRAINING SESSION WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER ALL TESTING IS COMPLETE.
* NOTE:

The eligibility requirements are subject to change at any time.