How to Become a Police Officer in New Jersey

Checked against New Jersey Police Training Commission (PTC), Office of the Attorney General · Verified 2026-10-16

Exam: Not required
Training: Required
Term: 3 years
State fee: The PTC may set fees for initial licenses of applicants who were not full-time sworn officers when the law took effect. Renewals for full-time officers are free by law.
Standards set by: New Jersey Police Training Commission (PTC), Office of the Attorney General

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Who can apply

You must be at least 18 years old.
You must be a U.S. citizen if the position requires it.
You need a high school diploma or GED.
You must be fingerprinted and pass a background investigation showing good moral character, plus a drug screen, a medical exam and a psychological exam.
You need a valid driver's license and cannot have a dishonorable military discharge.
You cannot have a conviction for any crime (in New Jersey or elsewhere), domestic violence, or an offense that bars carrying a firearm. Dishonesty-related disorderly persons offenses, or two or more DWI or reckless driving offenses, also disqualify you unless the PTC grants a waiver (convictions 5 or more years old, proof of rehabilitation and three character letters).
You cannot be subject to a domestic violence restraining order or extreme risk protective order, or be listed on the National Decertification Index.
You must give the PTC and your agency a list of all your social media accounts. Posts showing bias or hatred toward protected groups can disqualify you.

Step by step

Get a probationary or temporary appointment from a law enforcement agency, or enroll on your own in a PTC-approved police training course as an alternate route candidate.
Complete the PTC-approved basic training course at an approved academy. A probationary appointment can last no more than one year (with at most a six-month extension tied to an academy schedule).
After you graduate, the PTC issues a one-year probationary law enforcement license, which lets you perform full police duties.
Finish your probationary period.
Apply through your agency for a full PTC law enforcement license, which lasts three years.

Training and exam

Training: No one may get a permanent appointment as a law enforcement officer without completing a police training course at a PTC-approved school. Officers appointed on a probationary or temporary basis cannot perform the duties of a permanent officer until they complete the basic course. The PTC can exempt someone who completed a substantially equivalent federal, state or other course. People not yet hired may enroll in an approved academy on their own (alternate route) if they meet the general qualifications and are accepted by the school; they may be charged tuition, and a hiring agency may reimburse them. Alternate route graduates are not PTC-certified until they are appointed as full-time officers within 3 years of finishing the academy and complete agency training and firearms qualification; those who do not finish this within 3 years must retake the entire basic course.

Exam: To graduate you must meet all required basic physical and educational training courses set by the PTC. The licensing law does not set a separate state licensing exam.

No state certification exam here, but most agencies give a written entrance exam. Practice for it free →

What it costs in New Jersey

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

Alternate route academy tuition (self-sponsored candidates)(optional)$

Estimated total in New Jersey$0

Cost details from the state

Alternate route (self-paid) academy tuition, capped at what the school charges agencies for training an employee.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Licenses expire three years after they are issued. You reapply through your agency before expiration (the Attorney General says 90 days before; PTC renewal packets have asked for earlier filing). You and your chief must certify that you have good moral character, completed all required training and continuing education under Attorney General guidelines, and have no disqualifying convictions. If the PTC has not acted on a timely renewal, your license stays valid until it does.

Good to know in New Jersey

License required since 2024: Under the Police Licensure Act (P.L. 2022, c. 65), every New Jersey police officer has needed an active PTC license since January 1, 2024. Agencies must fire, suspend or refuse to hire anyone whose license is denied, suspended or revoked.

Returning after a break: If you already completed the New Jersey Basic Course for Police Officers and your break in police service is three years or less, you only need agency training and firearms requalification (your employer may still require more). A break of more than three years means retaking the full basic course.

Alternate route deadline: Alternate route graduates are not PTC-certified until they are appointed as regular full-time officers. If that appointment and agency training are not finished within three years of completing the academy portion, you must retake the entire basic course.

Training elsewhere: The PTC may exempt you from the New Jersey basic course if you completed a substantially equivalent course run by a federal, state or other agency. Only a police chief or agency head can request a training waiver; the PTC does not accept requests from individual officers.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with New Jersey Police Training Commission (PTC), Office of the Attorney General before you apply.