Eligibility Requirements

To apply for a Peace Officer position, applicants must currently be a Certified Peace Officer or currently be enrolled in a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Accredited Police Academy.

To be hired as a police cadet, applicants must have 3 years active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces with an Honorable Discharge or must possess 60 regionally accredited college hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0.

College hours must be regionally accredited by any of the following:

  • Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE)
  • Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Additional Requirements

Applicants applying for the Peace Officer and Public Service Officer (PSO) must also meet the following:

  1. Basic Requirements
  2. Background & History
  3. Character
  4. Convictions / Criminal History
  5. Experience
  6. Health
  7. Process Compliance, Interviews & Withdrawals
  8. Guidelines for Rejection

Education

Must have a high school diploma or GED certificate, and must be able to read and write English. Applicants’ academic records must reflect the ability to maintain the high standards demanded in the Training Academy, Orientation and Field Training Program.

Age

At the time of appointment must be at least 21 years of age for the Peace Officer position and at least 18 years of age for the Public Service Officer position.

United States Citizenship

At the time of appointment must be a citizen of the United States.

Written Exam

Must pass all phases of the written test with a minimum score of 70%.

The applicants are tested on the following dimensions:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Grammar
  • Spelling
  • Math
  • Fact versus Inference

Study Guide

Applicants may obtain a study guide from the Bannon and Associates website. Applicants suspected of cheating will be dismissed.

Driver’s License

At the time of appointment must possess a valid Texas driver license.