Law Enforcement Eligibility Checker
Answer a few questions to see whether you meet your state's minimum standards for police officers, and which police, state trooper and federal law enforcement jobs you meet the basic requirements for. It takes about a minute.
Requirements last checked: October 20, 2026
Honorable service only.
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Your Results
Agency Requirements at a Glance
Basic requirements only. Every agency also runs a background check, medical and psychological exams, and fitness and written tests. A felony or domestic violence conviction can disqualify you from most law enforcement jobs.
| Agency | Age | Citizenship | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYPD | 17 to test, 20½ to be appointed; under 35 when the application period opens (military time can reduce your age, up to 7 years) | U.S. citizen by appointment | HS diploma/GED plus 24 college credits (2.0 GPA) or 2 years of military service, by appointment |
| LAPD | 20 to apply, 21 by academy graduation; no maximum | Authorized to work in the U.S. | HS diploma, GED, CHSPE or a college degree |
| LA County Sheriff | 19½ to apply, 20 at appointment | Citizen, or permanent resident awaiting a citizenship decision | HS diploma, GED or proficiency test |
| Dallas PD | 19½ to 44 (must not turn 45 before the exam) | U.S. citizen | Age 19½–20: 60 college hours; 21–44: 45 college hours or HS + 3 years of work (2.0 GPA); waived with 3 years of active military |
| CHP | 20 to 35 (measured on the final filing date) | Authorized to work in the U.S. by appointment | HS diploma or GED |
| NYS Trooper | 20 to 43; appointed at 21 and before your 44th birthday (+1 year per military year, up to 7) | U.S. citizen | HS diploma plus 30 college credits, military Initial Entry Training, or the MPTC police basic course |
| Pennsylvania SP | 20 to apply, 21 at appointment; under 40 on the appointment date | U.S. citizen when you apply | HS diploma or GED |
| Texas DPS | 20 to apply, 21 by graduation; no maximum | U.S. citizen (some veteran permanent residents qualify) | 60 college hours, or 24 months of active military or peace officer experience |
| NJ LEE (municipal police) | 18 by the closing date; under 35 on the closing date (qualifying military or prior law enforcement time may reduce your age) | See the LEE announcement | See the LEE announcement |
| Florida officers | 19 (18 for corrections) | U.S. citizen | HS diploma or equivalent |
| Chicago PD | 20 to take the exam, 21 at appointment; appointed before your 40th birthday | Citizen, permanent resident or authorized to work; 5 years of continuous U.S. residence | 60 college hours, or 30 hours + 1 year of military; waived with 2 years of military, 2 years as a peace officer, or 3 years of qualifying work |
| San Diego PD | 20 at the written test, 21 by academy graduation; no maximum | Citizen, or permanent resident who has applied for citizenship | U.S. HS diploma, CHSPE, GED or a college degree |
| Port Authority Police (NY/NJ) | 21 to under 35 at the academy start (veterans can subtract up to 6 years) | U.S. citizen by the academy start | 60 college credits, 2 years of active military, or 2 years in law enforcement, corrections, licensed security or TSA |
| Phoenix PD | 20½ to apply, 21 before academy completion | U.S. citizen | HS diploma, homeschool diploma or GED |
| Tucson PD | 21 by academy graduation; no maximum | U.S. citizen | HS diploma, GED or equivalent |
| Austin PD | 20½ by academy start; no maximum | U.S. citizen | HS/GED plus 12 college hours, 2 years of military, or 24 months of full-time work |
| Fort Worth PD | 21 by academy entrance | U.S. citizen | HS diploma or GED |
| El Paso PD | 21 by four months into the academy; no maximum | U.S. citizen, or honorably discharged permanent resident with 2+ years of military service | HS/GED plus 6 months of public-contact work, or 2 years of active military |
| Philadelphia PD | 20 at appointment | U.S. citizen by appointment | HS diploma or equivalent |
| Columbus (OH) PD | 20 to apply, 21 when sworn in | U.S. citizen | HS diploma or GED |
| Cleveland PD | 21 on the first academy day; under 55 at appointment | U.S. citizen | HS diploma or GED |
| Cincinnati PD | 21 by appointment; no maximum | U.S. citizen, or in the process of becoming one | HS diploma or GED |
| Baltimore PD | 20 years, 9 months at academy start | U.S. citizen, or permanent-resident veteran with a pending citizenship application | HS diploma or GED |
| Seattle PD | 20½ at the written exam; no maximum | U.S. citizen, permanent resident or DACA recipient | HS diploma or GED |
| St. Louis PD | 20½ to apply; no maximum | U.S. citizen | HS diploma or equivalency |
| Honolulu PD | 20 to apply, 21 by academy graduation; no maximum | U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident | HS diploma, GED or equivalent |
| DC Metropolitan PD | 20½ to apply, 21 at appointment | U.S. citizen or permanent resident | 45 college credits, 2 years of military, or 3 years as a police officer |
| Washington State Patrol | 19½ to apply; no maximum | U.S. citizen or permanent resident | HS diploma or GED |
| Michigan State Police | 21 by recruit school graduation | U.S. citizen | HS diploma or GED |
| Massachusetts State Police | 19 to test, 21 by appointment; under 35 by the exam deadline | U.S. citizen by academy appointment | HS diploma or equivalency |
| FBI Special Agent | 23 to 36 at appointment (some veterans may get an age waiver) | U.S. citizen | Bachelor's degree, plus 2 years of work (1 with a master's) or 1 year of sworn law enforcement |
| DEA Special Agent | 21 to 36 when you apply (veterans' preference exception) | U.S. citizen | 1 year of specialized experience, graduate education, or a bachelor's with Superior Academic Achievement |
| Secret Service Uniformed Division | 20 to apply, 21 at appointment; referred before your 40th birthday | U.S. citizen | HS diploma or GED |
| Secret Service Special Agent | 21 to apply; conditional offer before 37 (40 with veterans' preference) | U.S. citizen | Bachelor's with superior academic achievement, a year of graduate study, or 1 year of specialized experience |
| HSI / ICE Special Agent | 21 to apply; referred for selection before your 37th birthday (veterans' preference exception) | U.S. citizen | 1 year of specialized investigative experience, or qualifying education per the announcement |
| DEA Diversion Investigator | No maximum age listed | U.S. citizen | Bachelor's with a 3.0+ GPA (or other superior achievement), a year of graduate study, or 1 year of specialized experience |
| ATF Special Agent | 21 to 39 (selected before your 40th birthday; veterans' preference exception) | U.S. citizen | Bachelor's degree, 3 years of experience, or a combination |
| CBP Officer | Referred before your 40th birthday (veterans' preference exception) | U.S. citizen; lived in the U.S. 3 of the last 5 years | Bachelor's degree, 3 years of general experience, or a combination |
| Border Patrol Agent | Referred before your 40th birthday (veterans' preference exception) | U.S. citizen; lived in the U.S. 3 of the last 5 years | Bachelor's degree, 1 year of general experience, or a combination |
| TSA Officer | 18 or older | U.S. citizen or national | HS diploma, GED or equivalent |
| FBI Police Officer | 21 or older | U.S. citizen | Bachelor's degree or 1 year of specialized experience |
State Minimum Standards at a Glance
The minimums set by each state's police standards board (POST or equivalent). City departments, sheriff's offices and state police can, and often do, require more. Most states also bar anyone with a felony or domestic violence conviction.
| State | Minimum age | Citizenship | Education | Most-used written test |
|---|
Agency-set The state doesn't publish one statewide minimum we could verify, so the figures are what hiring agencies there typically require.
Found your agency? Check when it's testing, then start preparing for the written exam.
This checker covers basic published requirements only and isn't a guarantee of eligibility. Agencies have additional standards (background, medical, vision, fitness and more) and can change their requirements at any time. Always confirm with the agency or a recruiter before you apply. SgtGodoy.com is not affiliated with any agency listed.
