North Carolina Police Academy Requirements

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

Age Requirement

North Carolina police academy age requirements state that applicants must be at least 2O.5 years old. Applicants may complete an application and proceed in the hiring process at 20 years of age if they will be 20.5 by the starting date of the next academy class.

Residency and Citizenship Requirement

Applicants must be a resident of North Carolina and possess a valid North Carolina driver’s license upon appointment as a State Police Cadet. Must possess a valid driver’s license and have been licensed to drive for a minimum of one year, with no loss of license within the past year and an acceptable driving record. Applicants must be a United States citizen at the time of initial application.

Educational Requirement

North Carolina Police Academy requirements for education state that the applicants must possess a high school diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED) time of application. Original high school diploma or original GED with minimum total score of 225, and a minimum of 35 points for each section, required at 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina State Police.
• Criminal arrests/behavior which would not reflect well on the North Carolina State Police.

The core purpose of the North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina State Police Officer.

Applicants are advised that all information provided to the North Carolina 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

NORTH CAROLINA’S POLICE OFFICER PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST

(POPAT)

1. Applicant is seat-belted in the driver’s seat of vehicle with hands on steering wheel.  He is given

two (2) street names.

2. On instructor’s command “Go” the timed event begins.

3. Applicant removes seatbelt and exits the vehicle.

4. Applicant runs 100 yards and returns 100 yards to the front passenger’s side door of vehicle.

5. Applicant opens the vehicle door, removes seat-belted passenger from vehicle and drags subject

50 feet to staircase placing the subject on ground. (Body drag must be done walking backwards

wheel grasping subject under both arms.)

6. Applicant will then scale and circle staircase 3 times, touching every step traveling up and down.

7. Applicant runs from staircase (25 feet) to and 50 pound weighted door.

8. Applicant pushes through the door using the entire side of body.

9. Once through the door, applicant will drop to the ground and perform 20 military style push-ups

and sit-ups.

10. Applicant runs back to the staircase to scale and circle the staircase 3 times, touching every step

traveling up and down.

11. Applicant runs from staircase (25 feet) to a culvert and crawl through the culvert.

12. Once out of the culvert, applicant will drop to the ground and perform 20 military style push-ups

and sit-ups.

13. Applicant will then run 100 yards and return 100 yards to the passenger’s side of vehicle where

a subject is standing next to the vehicle.

14. Applicant will grasp and drag subject 50 feet to staircase, placing subject on ground.

15. Applicant must recite the two (2) street names provided at the beginning of the test precisely in

the order they were given.

16. Time is stopped.

*The test is to be completed in 7:20 or less to pass.

* NOTE:

The eligibility requirements are subject to change at any time.