West Virginia Police Academy Requirements

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

Academy Training – Acceptance to the WV Police academy means that you become a cadet. Cadets immediately begin an 18 month probationary period upon reporting to the Academy for enlistment. The resident training period for a cadet is approximately 28 weeks. Training may also be conducted at any other State Police facility as the need arises.

Age Requirements –Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no more than 39 years of age prior to enlistment. Applicants may test at the age of 20 with the understanding that they will be 21 prior to the enlisted date.

Residency and Citizenship Requirements – Applicants must have a valid driver’s license for two years prior to applying for the academy.

Education Requirements – Applicants shall possess a high school diploma or GED. College credits are not required.

Automatic Disqualification Factors – Applicants are advised that the West Virginia State Police will automatically disqualify any applicant who does not meet the general requirements as detailed above.  In addition, the following information is provided regarding our criteria for automatic disqualification:

  • Felony Convictions – Applicants shall not have been convicted of any federal felony or of any offense which if committed in Wisconsin could be punished as a felony unless the applicant has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon.
  • Selective Service – All male applicants between the ages of 18 through 25 must be registered with the Selective Service or they are not eligible to be hired. This requirement is mandated in Wis. Stats. 230.143.
  • Drug Test – Applicants must pass a pre-employment drug test.

Other Qualifications

  • Good Character _ Applicants shall be in good character as determined from a written report containing the results of an applicant fingerprint search and a background investigation conducted by the employer.

Written Test – Applicants must pass a 14 minute written test. In order to take the State Trooper Exam the applicant must first pass the physical ability test (see below). The written test gauges reading, writing and mathematical skills and includes a section on personal and life history.

Physical Ability Test

PUSH-UPS – Designed to measure upper body muscular endurance and absolute strength.   Applicants must be able to complete 27 properly executed push-ups within one minute.

The hands are placed about shoulder width apart. The administrator places a fist on the floor below the applicant’s chest. Starting from the up position (elbows fully extended), the applicant must keep the back straight at all times and lower the body to the floor until the chest touches the administrator’s fist. Applicant then returns to the up position.

SIT-UPS – Designed to measure abdominal muscular endurance.  Applicants must be able to complete 29 properly executed situps within one minute.

The applicant starts in the up position, knees bent, heels flat on the floor, hands folded across the chest touching the shoulders.  A partner holds the feet down firmly. In the up position, the applicant should pass the elbows over the knees then return until the shoulder blades touch the floor. Any resting must be done in the up position

1.5 MILE RUN – Designed to measure cardiovascular capacity.   Applicants must be able to complete the 1.5 mile run within 14 minutes, 52 seconds.

Equipment: A stopwatch or clock with a sweep second hand; an indoor or outdoor track or another suitable running area measured to 1.5 miles; testing forms to record data.  The applicant should refrain from smoking or eating for two hours preceding the test.  Allow adequate time prior to the test for stretching and warm-up exercises.

During the administration of the test, the applicants can be informed of their lap times. If several applicants run at once, their individual times at the finish can be called out and recorded later. An important consideration at the end of the run is the “cool down” period. The applicants should be cautioned about sitting or standing around immediately after the run to prevent venous pooling. They should be instructed to walk an additional five minutes or so in order to enhance venous return and aid in recovery.