How to Become a Police Officer in Washington

Who can apply

• You must be hired (with a conditional offer) by a recognized Washington law enforcement agency. All BLEA attendees must be agency-sponsored.
• Peace officers must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
• You must pass a background investigation completed within the prior six months. It includes criminal history, national decertification index, prior law enforcement employer and disciplinary records, prosecutor impeachment-list inquiries, extremist-affiliation inquiry and a social media review.
• You must pass a psychological exam by a Washington-licensed psychiatrist or psychologist and a polygraph or similar assessment.
• The commission must deny certification for undisclosed convictions of a felony, gross misdemeanor domestic violence, a sexually motivated offense, or a chapter 9A.44 RCW sex offense, and for anyone prohibited from possessing weapons.
• You must pass the Physical Ability Test (PAT) before entering the academy.

Step by step

1. Get a conditional job offer from a Washington law enforcement agency.
2. Complete the state-required background investigation, including psychological exam and polygraph. The agency attests to WSCJTC before making a final offer.
3. Pass the Physical Ability Test, usually given by your agency about two weeks before class. Results are valid for 45 days.
4. Your agency registers you for the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) in the WSCJTC Acadis portal. You must start the academy within six months of hire.
5. Complete the 720-hour BLEA and receive WSCJTC certification.

Training and exam

Training: All general authority peace officers must start the WSCJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) within six months of hire and complete it. BLEA is 720 hours, including 200 hours of LETCSA courses on accountability, transparency and community-centered policing. Topics include traffic and EVOC, patrol tactics, cultural awareness, firearms, defensive tactics, and crisis intervention and wellness. Classes are typically 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Exam: There is no separate state licensing exam; you must successfully complete the BLEA. The required pre-academy Physical Ability Test for BLEA is at least 20 push-ups in 90 seconds, 25 sit-ups in 90 seconds and 35 squat thrusts in 3 minutes, passed in that order.

Other costs to budget for

• WSCJTC charges sponsoring agencies a 25 percent cost share per academy attendee for Fiscal Year 2027 (effective July 1, 2026).

How long it takes

You must begin the BLEA within six months of your hire date. Sheriffs and police chiefs must be certified within nine months of taking office.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Every certified officer must complete at least 24 hours of in-service training each year, starting January 1 of the year after certification. The 24 hours must include WSCJTC's annual online crisis intervention course. Officers must also complete 40 hours of violence de-escalation and mental health (LETCSA) training every three years; incumbent officers must finish their first cycle by January 1, 2028. LETCSA hours can count toward the annual 24.

Good to know in Washington

Officers from other states: Officers certified through a basic training program in another state may qualify for the Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy instead of the full BLEA. Your agency chief or sheriff requests it, and the commission gives final approval. You must attend within six months of hire. Officers whose certification is revoked, suspended or under review anywhere are not eligible.

Break in service: Officers whose certification lapsed because of a break of more than 24 but less than 60 months may use the equivalency process.

Certification can be revoked: WSCJTC must revoke certification for certain conduct, such as unlawful use of force causing death or serious injury, failing to intervene in or report excessive force, or dishonesty in police work.

Sources

• WSCJTC - Basic Law Enforcement Academy
• WSCJTC - Physical Ability Test (PAT)
• WSCJTC - FY2027 Basic Training Academy Cost-Share Notice
• RCW 43.101.095 - Certification and background investigation
• RCW 43.101.105 - Denial, suspension, or revocation of certification
• WAC 139-05-200 - Requirement of basic law enforcement training
• WAC 139-05-210 - Process for equivalency
• WAC 139-05-300 - Requirement for in-service training
• WAC 139-11 (LETCSA training)