How to Become a Police Officer in Kentucky

Who can apply

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must be 21 when certified. You can be hired at 20 to attend basic training if you will turn 21 by the end of the course.
• You need a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency Diploma, and a valid driver's license.
• You cannot have any felony conviction, certain sex-offense misdemeanors, or an expunged offense from that list. You must not be barred by federal or state law from having a firearm.
• If you served in the military, you cannot have a dishonorable, bad conduct, or other-than-honorable discharge.
• You cannot have had a peace officer certification permanently revoked in another state.
• You must pass a fingerprint background check, a background investigation, an agency interview, a medical exam, a drug screen, a psychological suitability screening, a polygraph exam, and a physical agility test.

Step by step

1. Get hired by a Kentucky law enforcement agency. DOCJT does not accept self-registration.
2. Complete the Peace Officer Professional Standards (POPS) screening: background, interview, medical, drug screen, psychological screening, polygraph, and the KLEC physical ability test (at least 9 points on each of five events and at least 50 points in total).
3. Your agency sends DOCJT the medical and applicant confirmation forms at least seven days before class.
4. Complete DOCJT Law Enforcement Basic Training: 800+ hours over about 20 weeks at DOCJT in Richmond or the Western Kentucky training facility in Madisonville. DOCJT announced a hybrid format in 2023 in which part of the hours (90.5 of 806) are done online before the in-person academy.
5. Pass the graduation physical ability test within 10 days of graduation.
6. Finish basic training within one year of hire (a 180-day extension is possible for circumstances beyond your control). KLEC then certifies you.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Kentucky peace officers must complete a KLEC-certified basic training course. DOCJT's Law Enforcement Basic Training academy is 800+ hours over about 20 weeks (DOCJT's 2023 hybrid format listed 806 hours, with 90.5 done online before arriving). It covers patrol procedures, physical training, vehicle operations, defensive tactics, criminal law, traffic and DUI, firearms, investigations and crisis response. Meals, housing and classroom materials are provided for sworn officers.

Exam: Kentucky requires a physical ability test twice. To start (precertification), you must score at least 50 points across five events (bench press, sit-ups, 300-meter run, push-ups and 1.5-mile run) and at least 9 points in every event. You may take the full test up to four times in one year, counted from your first attempt. Within 10 days of academy graduation you must meet fixed standards: bench press 73 percent of body weight, 19 sit-ups in one minute, 300 meters in under 65 seconds, 25 push-ups, and 1.5 miles in 16:15. You must also pass all academy training areas to graduate.

What it costs in Kentucky

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

Basic training must be finished within one year of hire. The DOCJT academy is about 20 weeks.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Certified peace officers must complete 40 hours of KLEC-certified in-service training every year. A 180-day extension is possible for circumstances beyond your control. Missing it means losing law enforcement powers until the training is made up.

Good to know in Kentucky

One-year deadline: If you do not finish basic training within one year of hire (plus any extension), you lose your law enforcement powers and cannot serve as a peace officer for one year.

Officers from other states: An out-of-state academy graduate can be certified if their academy met Kentucky's hours (after adding required DOCJT courses) and they worked full time for at least one year in that state. Graduates of shorter academies (at least 300 hours) need 3 or more years of full-time service. Within one year of hire they must take DOCJT's 24-hour penal code and 16-hour constitutional procedure legal updates, FEMA ICS 100/200/IS 700, and a 40-hour course such as Basic Officer Skills.

Fitness test waiver for veterans of other states: You can skip the physical agility test if you have been a certified officer in another state for at least 10 continuous years, are in good standing, left service less than 3 months ago (or still serve), and passed a physical agility test for that job.

Military police: Graduates of a military law enforcement academy may be certified if their training matched Kentucky's, or with credit based on years of military police service.

Sources

• KRS 15.382 - Minimum qualifications for certification
• KRS 15.384 - Cost of council administered tests
• KRS 15.404 - Basic training and in-service training for peace officers
• KRS 15.408 - Minimum age to attend basic training
• 503 KAR 1:140 - Peace officer certification (physical ability test, out-of-state credit)
• DOCJT - Law Enforcement Basic Training
• DOCJT - Hybrid Basic Training Academy announcement
• DOCJT - Class 572 graduates basic training (Aug 2026)