How to Become a Police Officer in Arizona

Who can apply

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must be at least 21. You may start an academy if you will turn 21 before graduating.
• You need a high school diploma, GED, recognized homeschool diploma, qualifying Arizona private school credential, or a degree from an accredited college.
• You must pass a full background investigation, a polygraph exam (unless prohibited by law) and a medical exam taken within one year before appointment.
• Any felony conviction (or offense that would be a felony in Arizona) disqualifies you, as does a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.
• No illegal marijuana possession or use in the past six months, and no illegal use of dangerous drugs or narcotics in the past seven years (with further limits on total lifetime use and use after age 21). Steroids and non-prescribed Adderall are disqualifying within three years.
• Your driving record for the past three years must not show a pattern of disregard for traffic laws.
• You must sign the AZPOST law enforcement code of ethics.

Step by step

1. Get appointed by an Arizona law enforcement agency, or enroll in an academy as an open enrollee if the academy allows it. Agencies set their own hiring tests.
2. Complete the background investigation, polygraph and medical exam. Most background steps must be done before the academy starts.
3. Pass the academy's English reading and writing test given at the start of the session.
4. Complete the Board-approved full-authority peace officer basic training course at an AZPOST-approved academy.
5. Pass every section of the AZPOST Comprehensive Exam (CE) with at least 70% and pass the scored scenarios.
6. Complete the firearms qualification courses before carrying a firearm on duty.
7. AZPOST certifies you as a peace officer.

Training and exam

Training: You must complete the Board-approved full-authority peace officer basic training course at an AZPOST-approved academy. AZPOST says the curriculum is 678.5 hours, taught at 17 academies across the state, and mixes classroom, proficiency skills and scenario-based training. Topics include law, patrol, traffic, crime scene work, community relations, report writing, first aid, less-lethal tools, firearms, physical conditioning, high-risk stops, arrest and control tactics, and vehicle and pursuit operations. Academy exams require 70% or better, with one retake after remedial training. You cannot graduate with any missed class that has not been made up.

Exam: AZPOST's Comprehensive Exam (CE) is given in sections during the academy, with the last section in the final two weeks. You must score at least 70% on each section, scored separately. If you fail a section, you may retake it within seven days while you remain appointed or enrolled. Under the rule amended effective September 5, 2025, if you fail that retake you may retake the failed block once more within 60 days of the original test date, if you are still appointed or enrolled (your agency does not have to keep you appointed during those 60 days). Otherwise you must repeat the whole basic training course. You must also pass a series of pass/fail scenarios; failing a remedial scenario means repeating the course.

What it costs in Arizona

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Each certified peace officer must complete 12 hours of training every year, starting January 1 after certification. Officers authorized to carry a firearm must also pass a Board-prescribed firearms qualification course and a target identification and judgment course every year.

Good to know in Arizona

Officers from other states and federal officers: An agency can apply for a waiver of the basic course if you worked as a peace officer in another state, graduated from a POST academy and worked at least one year as an officer, or graduated from a federal law enforcement academy and worked at least one year. You must meet Arizona's minimum qualifications, pass the Comprehensive Exam, and show proficiency in physical conditioning, vehicle and pursuit operations, and firearms.

Lapsed certification: If your Arizona certified status has lapsed, your agency can apply for a training waiver, but you must pass all sections of the Comprehensive Exam.

Drug use exceptions: An agency head can petition the Board to accept an applicant whose past drug use would otherwise disqualify them. Over-the-counter CBD products allowed by law are not disqualifying.

Other disqualifiers: You are disqualified if you ever illegally sold, produced, cultivated or transported for sale marijuana, a dangerous drug or a narcotic. You are also disqualified if certification was denied, revoked or suspended, or you surrendered it to avoid discipline, in Arizona or any other state for conduct that would violate Arizona's certification rules.

Sources

• AZPOST - Basic Training
• Ariz. Admin. Code R13-4-105 - Minimum Qualifications (Cornell LII, amended eff. 9/5/2025)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R13-4-110 - Basic Training Requirements (Cornell LII)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R13-4-111 - Certification Retention Requirements (Cornell LII)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R13-4-116 - Academy Requirements (Cornell LII)