How to Become a Police Officer in California

Who can apply

• You must be at least 21 on or before your date of appointment (Government Code 1031.4). Custodial deputies appointed under Penal Code 830.1(c) need only be 18.
• You must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
• You need a U.S. high school diploma, a passing GED or other state-approved equivalency test, or a two-year, four-year or advanced degree from an accredited or approved school.
• You cannot have any disqualifying conduct under Government Code 1029, including felony convictions (even if later set aside or expunged, unless found factually innocent) or a prior POST certification that was revoked or surrendered.
• You must pass a fingerprint-based criminal history check and a background investigation showing good moral character.
• You must pass a medical evaluation by a licensed physician and a psychological evaluation, and be free of any condition, including bias against protected groups, that could affect your work as an officer.
• Agencies in the POST program must also give you an oral interview and a POST-approved reading and writing test such as the PELLETB.

Step by step

1. Choose a route: get hired by an agency that sponsors you through the academy, or enroll yourself in a POST-certified academy and pay your own way.
2. Pass the academy's criminal history clearance. A felony conviction means you cannot enroll.
3. Complete the Regular Basic Course (at least 680 hours in the Standard Format, or 750 hours in the Modular Format) and pass all written, skills, scenario, report writing and physical ability tests.
4. Apply to a law enforcement agency. Pass its PELLETB or other reading and writing test, oral interview, background investigation, medical exam and psychological evaluation. Agencies may add standards such as a physical ability test or vision rules.
5. Get appointed. You must hold a POST Proof of Eligibility (POE) while you work as a peace officer.
6. Complete your agency's field training program and at least 12 months of probation.
7. Apply for the POST Basic Certificate once you meet its requirements, while employed by a POST-participating agency.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: City police officers, sheriff's deputies and most other peace officers must complete the POST Regular Basic Course. The Standard Format is at least 680 hours (full-time Intensive or part-time Extended). The Modular Format is at least 750 hours in three modules that match the three reserve officer levels. The course covers 43 Learning Domains. POST says most of its 41 certified academies exceed the minimum by 200 or more hours, some over 1,000 hours. If you are not hired into a position that requires the course within three years of finishing, or have a three-year break in service, you must pass the 161-hour POST Requalification Course.

Exam: California has no separate state licensing exam after the academy. Testing happens inside the Regular Basic Course: comprehensive written tests, exercise and scenario tests, report writing tests and the Work Sample Test Battery (physical ability test) at the end. You must pass all tests to graduate. Before hiring, POST-program agencies must also give a reading and writing test, usually the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB), which POST provides to agencies free.

What it costs in California

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

How long it takes

You need at least 12 months of probation after appointment before the Basic Certificate.

What other sites get wrong about California

Keeping your certification

Renewal: POST does not describe a renewal application for the certificate, but it can be suspended or revoked for serious misconduct. Every peace officer (except Level III reserves) must complete at least 24 hours of POST-qualifying Continuing Professional Training (CPT) in every two-year cycle. Officers below middle management who are assigned to patrol, traffic or investigations and routinely make arrests must include Perishable Skills Program training in each 24-month period: tactical firearms, driver training, and arrest and control (4 hours each), strategic communications (2 hours) and use of force (4 hours).

Good to know in California

Proof of Eligibility vs. Basic Certificate: Every peace officer needs a valid Proof of Eligibility (POE) or Basic Certificate. The POE is valid only while you are employed by a law enforcement agency. It ends when you receive the Basic Certificate, or when you leave the job without one.

Officers from other states: California has no reciprocity and no challenge exam. Out-of-state officers can use the Basic Course Waiver: since January 1, 2026 you need a basic course of at least 400 hours, at least 680 total training hours, at least two years of continuous experience with one agency, and no more than a six-year break. Deputies with corrections-only experience, federal police officers in Police Series 0083 and military police do not qualify. Most applicants must pass the 161-hour Requalification Course in California. The waiver is valid for three years, and each agency decides whether to accept it.

Decertification: Since SB 2, POST can suspend or revoke an officer's certification for serious misconduct, such as dishonesty, excessive force, sexual assault, bias, or failing to intercede in clearly excessive force. An officer listed in the National Decertification Index from another state is disqualified.

Requalification is a one-time option: If you finished the Basic Course (or Basic Course Waiver) on or after July 1, 1999 but never worked in a position that required it, you can requalify with the Requalification Course only once, within six years of finishing. After six years, you must complete the full Basic Course again.

Sources

• POST - How Do I Become a Peace Officer?
• POST - Peace Officer Candidate Selection Standards
• POST - Regular Basic Course
• POST - Peace Officer Basic Training
• POST - Basic Course Waiver Process
• POST - Required Updated or Refresher Training (CPT and Perishable Skills)
• POST - Quick Reference: Peace Officer Certification
• POST Bulletin 2021-47 - Changes to Peace Officer Hiring (AB 89, SB 2)
• POST - POST Requalification Course