How to Become a Police Officer in Oregon

Who can apply

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Be a U.S. citizen (or a nonimmigrant admitted under a Compact of Free Association) within 18 months of being hired as a police officer.
• Have a high school diploma, a GED, or a four-year college degree.
• Meet DPSST moral fitness standards (OAR 259-008-0290 and 0300).
• Pass a medical exam by a licensed physician against state standards: for example, vision at least 20/30 corrected in each eye and no worse than 20/100 uncorrected, binocular 20/20 corrected, color vision and hearing standards, and resting blood pressure no higher than 160/100.
• Pass a pre-employment psychological screening by a licensed mental health professional (required for police officers hired on or after January 1, 2020).
• Be fingerprinted within 90 days of hire, and pass the agency's background investigation.

Step by step

1. Get hired by an Oregon law enforcement agency. The agency reports your hire to DPSST within 10 days and completes your background check, fingerprints, medical exam and psychological screening.
2. Take a law enforcement proficiency test or validated written test arranged by your agency (not required if you have a four-year degree).
3. Start the DPSST Basic Police Course at the Oregon Public Safety Academy within 90 days of hire.
4. Complete the 16-week, 640-hour academy, including the Oregon Physical Abilities Test (ORPAT).
5. Complete the Basic Police Field Training Manual at your agency, sign the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, and keep current First Aid and adult/child CPR cards.
6. Apply for Basic Police certification (form F7) within 18 months of your hire date.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Oregon has one centralized academy for all police officers: the DPSST Basic Police Academy, 16 weeks (640 hours) of in-person academic and skills training, followed by an agency field training manual. Officers must begin the course within 90 days of hire and finish it and the field training within 18 months. Students may miss no more than 10% of the course without approval.

Exam: Students must pass a series of written quizzes and exams plus skill assessments in defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations and firearms. Basic Police students must pass the Oregon Physical Abilities Test (ORPAT) within DPSST's certification time standard (the obstacle course and push-pull stations in 5 minutes 30 seconds); you get three tries during the academy, and if you fail all three you must return with a future class. DPSST does not use a separate state licensing exam.

What it costs in Oregon

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

Start the academy within 90 days of hire; the academy is 16 weeks; certification is due within 18 months of hire.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: To keep certification, complete at least 84 hours of agency-approved training every three-year maintenance cycle. This must include 8 hours of firearms or use-of-force training each year, 1 hour of ethics each year, 3 hours of mental health/crisis intervention and 2 hours of airway and circulatory anatomy per cycle. You must also keep current First Aid and adult/child CPR certifications.

Good to know in Oregon

18-month deadline: Police officers must be certified within 18 months of hire. Agencies can request a one-year extension (form F12). An officer who misses the deadline cannot work in the certified role.

Out-of-state officers: Out-of-state laterals still need a background check, fingerprints, a medical exam and basic training, but DPSST may waive the Basic Police Course case by case (form F39, OAR 259-008-0025) if you were employed by an agency in another state and your prior basic training meets or exceeds Oregon's standards. The employing agency requests the waiver in writing. Approved officers take the Career Officer Development Course and complete the field training manual.

Returning to the job: Certification lapses after 90 days out of the discipline. Away one to five years: complete 8 hours of firearms or use-of-force training within 30 days of returning. Away more than 2.5 years but less than five: also complete the Career Officer Development Course and field training manual. Away more than five years: repeat the full basic course.

Report arrests: Officers must notify DPSST in writing within five business days of any arrest or criminal citation for an offense punishable as a crime.

Full-time officers only: Basic Police certification can only be held by full-time police officers (working over 80 hours a month for 3 consecutive months). Officers working less are reserves: they are not certified, but must be reported to DPSST and pass a full background check.

Sources

• DPSST - Basic Certification
• DPSST - Hiring
• DPSST - 2022 Basic Police Academy Curriculum Overview
• OAR 259-008-0010 - Minimum Standards for Employment as a Law Enforcement Officer (Cornell LII)
• OAR 259-008-0025 - Minimum Standards for Training (Cornell LII)
• OAR 259-008-0060 - Public Safety Officer Certification (Cornell LII)
• OAR 259-008-0065 - Law Enforcement Officers, Maintenance of Certification (Cornell LII)
• DPSST - Oregon Physical Abilities Test (ORPAT)