How to Become a Police Officer in Montana

Who can apply

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must be fingerprinted for a search of local, state and national criminal records.
• You cannot have been convicted of a crime for which you could have been sent to a federal or state penitentiary, or a crime involving unlawful sexual conduct.
• You must have good moral character, shown by a thorough background check.
• You need a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• You must be free of mental or physical conditions that could affect your performance, as shown by required evaluations.
• You must pass an oral interview/exam given by the hiring agency.
• You need (or must be eligible for) a valid Montana driver's license.
• No police certification you hold in another state can be revoked or currently suspended.

Step by step

1. Get hired (appointed) by a Montana law enforcement agency, which completes the fingerprint check, background check, evaluations and oral interview.
2. Complete the Peace Officer basic course at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA), or at an approved academy run by an accredited Montana college or university, within 1 year of your appointment.
3. Finish a probationary period of at least 1 year with your agency.
4. POST issues your peace officer basic certificate.

Training and exam

Training: Montana law requires peace officers to complete the Council-approved peace officer basic course within 1 year of their first appointment, either at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) or at a law enforcement academy run by an accredited Montana college or university whose curriculum is approved by a Montana law enforcement agency and the POST Council. Officers with approved out-of-state, federal, tribal or military training may instead complete a shorter basic equivalency course within 1 year; if they fail it, they must complete the full basic course. The POST Council may extend the 1-year deadline by up to 180 days if the agency applies in writing.

Exam: Montana law requires an oral examination given by the hiring agency. The state rules reviewed do not set a separate state certification exam.

Other costs to budget for

• Academy costs are not set in the POST rules reviewed.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Every two calendar years you must complete 20 hours of documented agency in-service, roll call, field training or POST-approved continuing education. This must include a professional ethics curriculum (the POST code of ethics, the current POST integrity report, and agency ethics policies). Your agency keeps the records.

Good to know in Montana

Officers trained in another state: If you finished a federal, state, local or military basic course that the POST Council approves as equivalent, you must pass the shorter Montana basic equivalency course within 1 year of your Montana appointment. If you fail it, you must take the full basic course. If you have had a break in service of more than 5 years, you must complete the full basic course within 1 year.

Montana-trained officers who worked elsewhere: If you completed Montana's basic course and then worked as an officer outside Montana for up to 3 years, you do not need the basic or equivalency course before returning. If you worked outside Montana for more than 3 years, you must finish the basic equivalency course within 1 year of your Montana appointment.

Breaks in service: A break of less than 3 years needs no new course. A break of 3 to 5 years requires the equivalency course within 1 year. After a break of more than 5 years, you must complete the basic course again within 1 year.

Code of ethics: Every officer appointed in Montana must follow the POST code of ethics. Violations can lead to denial, suspension or revocation of POST certificates.

Sources

• MCA 7-32-303 - Peace officer employment, education, and certification standards
• Montana POST - Administrative Rules of Montana (Title 23, Chapter 13)
• Mont. Admin. r. 23.13.801 - Minimum standards for public safety officers (Cornell LII)
• Montana Law Enforcement Academy - Basic Program