How to become a police officer in texas

Table of Contents

Three things in your background that
will eliminate you from the hiring process

Felony Convictions

This one is a no brainer as having a felony conviction will prevent you from becoming a police officer. A felony conviction functions as a modern-day scarlet letter, nearly impossible to overcome when pursuing a law enforcement career

Dishonorable discharge

Discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States for unsuitability, unfitness or other instances of misconduct will be an automatic disqualifier and will prevent you from becoming a police officer in the united states.

Dishonesty

Any intentional dishonesty, omission, or minimization in any part of the hiring process will result in removal from the process. Having a past that you're not necessarily proud of won't automatically disqualify you, but lying about it will.

WATCH: Pros and Cons Of Being A Police Officer

Texas Police Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications

Disqualification factors to be aware of:

Disqualifiers

Police Training Academy Courses

Police Academy Curriculum

Specialized Units in Texas

Air Support
Alarm Administration
Animal Cruelty Unit
Sex Crimes Unit
Aviation Unit
Economic Crimes & ID Theft
Gang Unit
Traffic Unit
Auto Theft Unit
Burglary Unit
Child Abuse
Court Services Unit
DWI Enforcement Team
Family Violence Protection
Financial Crime
Firearms Review Unit
Forensic Science Bureau.
Fugitive Unit
Gang Suppression
Highway Response Team
Homicide – Cold Case
Human Trafficking and Vice Unit
Internal Affairs
K-9 Unit
Lake Patrol
Missing Persons
Motors
Mounted Patrol
Narcotics
Nuisance Abatement
Office of Community Liaison
Park Police
Robbery
Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team
Traffic Fatalities
Vehicular Homicide
Vice Unit
Victim Services
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
Wrecker Enforcement

Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018)
The Average Annual Salary for a TX Cop is $61,870

The percentile wage estimate below is the value of a wage below which a
certain percent of workers fall. Data collected from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018)

Percentile Wage:
10th
$ 1
Salary
Percentile Wage:
25th
$ 1
Salary
Percentile Wage:
50th
$ 1
Salary
Percentile Wage:
75th
$ 1
Salary
Percentile Wage:
90th
$ 1
Salary

Find Best Police Jobs in Texas

Click below to search for police jobs near me in TX. Browse jobs by city/county or zip code

How to become a police officer for Texas

***IMPORTANT***The Information below may have change. Therefore, please visit the TX law enforcement agency you are interested in applying to.

To become a police officer in Texas for even the smallest jurisdiction candidates must hold a Peace Officer License or be eligible for a license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCLEOSE), a state agency.

To be eligible for that license, candidates must meet minimum requirements, complete a full-time Basic Peace Officer Certification course and then pass the basic peace officer licensing exam that is given at TCLEOSE headquarters in Austin, as well as other authorized testing centers elsewhere in the state. The actual licensing takes place only after a police agency sends a completed license application to the commission.

There are dozens of commission-licensed law enforcement academies throughout the state that candidates may attend to complete the Basic Peace Officer Certification course. A complete list of these can be found on the TCLEOSE web side at http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us. In order to enroll in one of these academies, candidates must meet minimum requirements for training. Academies have the right to establish additional requirements of standards.

Minimum Requirements for Law Enforcement Training in Texas

To be eligible for law enforcement training in Texas, candidates must:

  1. Be a U.S. Citizen, never convicted of any family violence offense and not prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or carrying a firearm;
  2. Not currently be charged with a criminal offense which, if convicted, would bar being licensed, never have been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for a Class B misdemeanor or above within the last 10 years from the date of the court order, and never have been convicted of a Class B misdemeanor or above within the last 10 years;
  3. Have a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate or an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States with at least 24 months of active duty service;
  4. Be physically fit to perform all the duties of a peace officer, declared in writing by a medical professional, show no evidence of drug use or dependency after a physical examination, blood test or other medical test; and declared in writing by a medical professional to be in satisfactory psychological or emotional health.

Requirements to be Licensed as a Peace Officer in Texas

 To be licensed as a Peace Officer in Texas, a candidate must be at 21 year old or 18 with an Associate Degree from an accredited college or university, or honorably discharged from the U.S. military with at least 24 months of service. No individual who has been discharged from the military under less than honorable conditions may be licensed. Other requirements include but are not limited to:

  1. Never having a commission license denied or under suspension or voluntarily suspended;
  2. Meeting minimum education training requirements and passing the licensing examination;
  3. Passing a criminal background check to verify the candidate is has not been convicted of a Class B misdemeanor or above and
  4. Passing physical and drug testing as attested to by a medical professional in writing.

The complete list of requirements and details can be found on the TCLEO web site.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR TX TROOPER

All applicants must meet the basic requirements outlined below for entrance into training for the position of Trooper in any of the following four (4) field Services: Highway Patrol; License and Weight; Vehicle Inspection; and Driver License Division.

Age: Applicant must be at least 20 years of age on the date of probationary appointment to the position of Trooper-Trainee. There is no maximum age limit.

Physical: Before employment, each applicant will be examined by a physician.

Vision: Visual Acuity – Maximum uncorrected visual acuity of 20/200 and correctable or corrected as follows:

20/30 thru 20/40 – correctable to 20/30 in each eye and binocularly.
In excess of 20/40 thru 20/100 – must be corrected to 20/30 in each eye and binocularly by means of regular eyeglasses or contact lenses.
In excess of 20/100 thru 20/200 – must be corrected to 20/30 in each eye and binocularly by contact lenses and a statement from an ophthalmologist that no ocular disease exists.

Field of Vision – Horizontal 60-85 degrees temporally from a central fixation point.
Muscular Imbalance – Zero vertical deviation. Horizontal – 5 prism diopters exophoria at 20 feet, 10 prism diopters esophoria at 20 feet, 10 prism diopters exophoria at 20 feet.
Other Visual Factors – Applicants will be rejected for color dificiencies as determined by Department of Public Safety testing, chronic inflammation of the eye or adnexa, or permanent abnormalities of either eye (including cataracts, corneal opacities, paralysis of ocular muscles, etc.). Loss of either eye will reject.

Education: Applicants must have a minimum of 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university. Required semester hours may be substituted for by prior law enforcement experience at the following ratios:

Semester
Hours Law Enforcement
Officer Experience
0-15 plus 24 Months or more
16-30 plus 18 Months or more
31-45 plus 12 Months or more
46-59 plus 6 Months or more
Twenty-four (24) months military experience may be substituted for the entire 60 semester hours.

Military experience is defined as having received an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States after at least two (2) years of active service.

Law Enforcement Officer experience is defined as time spent as a full-time paid employee performing police duties in a position which requires a license as a Texas Peace Officer or its equivalent in another State.

All military or law enforcement experience substituted for college semester hours must be verifiable.

Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States.

Texas Driver License: Applicants must possess a valid Texas driver license.

Examination: Each applicant must obtain a satisfactory grade on physical examinations, oral examination interview, and other portions of the screening process.

Character: Applicants must be of good moral character and habits. A final conviction for any DWI, DUID, Misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or felony will automatically disqualify applicant. A probation for DWI, DUID or felony will be considered a final conviction. Applicants will be investigated as to the truth of the statements made in their applications or during oral interviews, their character, habits, previous employment, and other matters necessary to establish the qualities of the individual.

Traffic Record:

  • Applicants must not have been convicted of four (4) or more hazardous traffic violations within twelve (12) months preceding date of application.
  • Applicants must not have been convicted of seven (7) or more hazardous traffic violations within twenty-four (24) months preceding date of application.
  • Applicants should not have been convicted as a habitual violator within the last five (5) years preceding date of application.
  • Applicants should not have been convicted of FSRA.
  • Applicants should not have been convicted of DWLS within the last five (5) years.
  • Applicants must not currently be on probation for any traffic offense.

TRAINING – ASSIGNMENTS – COMPENSATION – BENEFITS

Training: Basic training for Trooper-Trainees will be conducted at the Law Enforcement Academy in Austin and all students will be required to live at the Academy. Weekend leaves will be permitted provided the student has been performing satisfactorily. Students are not encouraged to move their families to Austin during this training period. The basic training is twenty-six (26) weeks in length.

A fee will be charged for room and board during the training period at the Academy.

By State statute, all Trooper-Trainees will be required to submit to and pass a drug screening test prior to graduating from the DPS Academy.

All Trooper-Trainees successfully completing the DPS Academy will be required to pass a written licensing test administered by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

Assignments: Applicants must be willing to accept assignment anywhere in the State of Texas and in any uniformed Service of the Department. When practical, consideration is given to the students’ preference of Service and station.

Hazardous Duty Pay: Commissioned law enforcement personnel of the Department will be paid hazardous duty pay at the rate of $7.00 per month for each year of service in law enforcement up to and including thirty (30) years of service.

Traveling Expenses: After the assignment of a home station, expenses which are incurred away from your home station will be reimbursed as provided by state law.

Uniforms and Equipment: Headgear, shirts, trousers, jackets, guns, badges, belts, and other items are furnished. Motor vehicle furnished as required by assignment.

Vacation: Two weeks annually as provided by law.

Holidays: About twelve (12) days granted each year; others occasionally granted.

Sick Leave: Sick leave with full pay for regular employees of the State may be allowed at the rate of one (1) day per month of employment, and an unlimited amount of sick leave may be accrued.

Insurance: Life, hospital and surgical benefits are provided for all employees at no cost to the employee. Health care insurance for dependents and additional life benefits are available as optional coverage at employee’s expense. Department of Public Safety Mutual Association life insurance benefits are available at low rates.

Retirement: State Employees Retirement System provides for the retirement of law enforcement officers after twenty (20) years of service. Social Security benefits are provided aside from the regular retirement plan.

Salary: See attached salary schedule. Deductions from monthly salary will be made for Internal Revenue Withholding Tax (according to number of dependents claimed), Social Security, and for Employees Retirement System of Texas (6%).

Graduates from the Academy receive a salary increase and are placed on twelve (12) months probation at the time they are commissioned as a Probationary Trooper I.

After completion of six (6) months of satisfactory probationary service, the Probationary Trooper I will receive a salary increase. A Probationary Trooper I who successfully completes twelve (12) months probation will be advanced to the position of Trooper I and receive a salary increase.

Promotion: A Trooper I who has completed a minimum of four (4) years as a commissioned Trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety and meets other qualifications is eligible for consideration for promotion to the position of Trooper II. After a total of eight years experience Trooper II’s are eligible to promote to the position of Trooper III. After a total of twelve (12) years experience Trooper III’s are eligible to promote to the position of Trooper IV. After sixteen (16) years of experience Trooper IV’s are eligible to promote to Senior Trooper. Officers who have attained Trooper II status or above are eligible to compete for the position of Sergeant. See attached schedule for Trooper II, Trooper III, Trooper IV, and Senior Trooper salaries.

List of Law Enforcement Agencies in Texas

Anderson County Sheriff Department
Andrews County Sheriff Department
Angelina County Sheriff Department
Aransas County Sheriff Department
Archer County Sheriff Department
Armstrong County Sheriff Department
Atascosa County Sheriff Department
Austin County Sheriff Department
Bailey County Sheriff Department
Bandera County Sheriff Department
Bastrop County Sheriff Department
Baylor County Sheriff Department
Bee County Sheriff Department
Bell County Sheriff Department
Bexar County Sheriff Department
Blanco County Sheriff Department
Borden County Sheriff Department
Bosque County Sheriff Department
Bowie County Sheriff Department
Brazoria County Sheriff Department
Brazos County Sheriff Department
Brewster County Sheriff Department
Briscoe County Sheriff Department
Brooks County Sheriff Department
Brown County Sheriff Department
Burleson County Sheriff Department
Burnet County Sheriff Department
Caldwell County Sheriff Department
Calhoun County Sheriff Department
Callahan County Sheriff Department
Cameron County Sheriff Department
Camp County Sheriff Department
Carson County Sheriff Department
Cass County Sheriff Department
Castro County Sheriff Department
Chambers County Sheriff Department
Cherokee County Sheriff Department
Childress County Sheriff Department
Clay County Sheriff Department
Cochran County Sheriff Department
Coke County Sheriff Department
Coleman County Sheriff Department
Collin County Sheriff Department
Collin County Constable’s Office
Collingsworth County Sheriff Department
Colorado County Sheriff Department
Comal County Sheriff Department
Comanche County Sheriff Department
Concho County Sheriff Department
Cooke County Sheriff Department
Coryell County Sheriff Department
Cottle County Sheriff Department
Crane County Sheriff Department
Crockett County Sheriff Department
Crosby County Sheriff Department
Culberson County Sheriff Department
Dallam County Sheriff Department
Dallas County Sheriff Department
Dallas County Constable’s Office
Dawson County Sheriff Department
De Witt County Sheriff Department
Deaf Smith County Sheriff Department
Delta County Sheriff Department
Denton County Sheriff Department
Dickens County Sheriff Department
Dimmit County Sheriff Department
Donley County Sheriff Department
Duval County Sheriff Department
Eastland County Sheriff Department
Ector County Sheriff Department
Edwards County Sheriff Department
El Paso County Sheriff Department
Ellis County Sheriff Department
Erath County Sheriff Department
Falls County Sheriff Department
Fannin County Sheriff Department
Fayette County Sheriff Department
Fisher County Sheriff Department
Floyd County Sheriff Department
Foard County Sheriff Department
Fort Bend County Sheriff Department
Franklin County Sheriff Department
Freestone County Sheriff Department
Frio County Sheriff Department
Gaines County Sheriff Department
Galveston County Sheriff Department
Garza County Sheriff Department
Gillespie County Sheriff Department
Glasscock County Sheriff Department
Goliad County Sheriff Department
Gonzales County Sheriff Department
Gray County Sheriff Department
Grayson County Sheriff Department
Gregg County Sheriff Department
Grimes County Sheriff Department
Guadalupe County Sheriff Department
Hale County Sheriff Department
Hall County Sheriff Department
Hamilton County Sheriff Department
Hansford County Sheriff Department
Hardeman County Sheriff Department
Hardin County Sheriff Department
Harris County Sheriff Department
Harrison County Sheriff Department
Hartley County Sheriff Department
Haskell County Sheriff Department
Hays County Sheriff Department
Hemphill County Sheriff Department
Henderson County Sheriff Department
Hidalgo County Sheriff Department
Hill County Sheriff Department
Hockley County Sheriff Department
Hood County Sheriff Department
Hopkins County Sheriff Department
Houston County Sheriff Department
Howard County Sheriff Department
Hudspeth County Sheriff Department
Hunt County Sheriff Department
Hutchinson County Sheriff Department
Irion County Sheriff Department
Jack County Sheriff Department
Jackson County Sheriff Department
Jasper County Sheriff Department
Jeff Davis County Sheriff Department
Jefferson County Sheriff Department
Jim Hogg County Sheriff Department
Jim Wells County Sheriff Department
Johnson County Sheriff Department
Jones County Sheriff Department
Karnes County Sheriff Department
Kaufman County Sheriff Department
Kendall County Sheriff Department
Kenedy County Sheriff Department
Kent County Sheriff Department
Kerr County Sheriff Department
Kimble County Sheriff Department
King County Sheriff Department
Kinney County Sheriff Department
Kleberg County Sheriff Department
Knox County Sheriff Department
La Salle County Sheriff Department
Lamar County Sheriff Department
Lamb County Sheriff Department
Lampasas County Sheriff Department
Lavaca County Sheriff Department
Lee County Sheriff Department
Leon County Sheriff Department
Liberty County Sheriff Department
Limestone County Sheriff Department
Lipscomb County Sheriff Department
Live Oak County Sheriff Department
Llano County Sheriff Department
Loving County Sheriff’s Department
Lubbock County Sheriff Department
Lubbock Constables
Lynn County Sheriff Department
Madison County Sheriff Department
Marion County Sheriff Department
Martin County Sheriff Department
Mason County Sheriff Department
Matagorda County Sheriff’s Department
Matagorda Constables Office
Maverick County Sheriff Department
McCulloch County Sheriff Department
McLennan County Sheriff Department
McMullen County Sheriff Department
Medina County Sheriff Department
Menard County Sheriff Department
Midland County Sheriff Department
Milam County Sheriff Department
Mills County Sheriff Department
Mitchell County Sheriff Department
Montague County Sheriff Department
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department
Moore County Sheriff Department
Morris County Sheriff Department
Motley County Sheriff Department
Nacogdoches County Sheriff Department
Navarro County Sheriff Department
Newton County Sheriff Department
Nolan County Sheriff Department
Nueces County Sheriff Department
Ochiltree County Sheriff Department
Oldham County Sheriff Department
Orange County Sheriff Department
Palo Pinto County Sheriff Department
Panola County Sheriff Department
Parker County Sheriff Department
Parmer County Sheriff Department
Pecos County Sheriff Department
Polk County Sheriff Department
Potter County Sheriff Department
Presidio County Sheriff Department
Rains County Sheriff Department
Randall County Sheriff Department
Reagan County Sheriff Department
Real County Sheriff Department
Red River County Sheriff Department
Reeves County Sheriff Department
Refugio County Sheriff Department
Roberts County Sheriff Department
Robertson County Sheriff Department
Rockwall County Sheriff Department
Runnels County Sheriff Department
Rusk County Sheriff Department
Sabine County Sheriff Department
San Augustine County Sheriff Department
San Jacinto County Sheriff Department
San Patricio County Sheriff Department
San Saba County Sheriff Department
Schleicher County Sheriff Department
Scurry County Sheriff Department
Shackelford County Sheriff Department
Shelby County Sheriff Department
Sherman County Sheriff Department
Smith County Sheriff Department
Somervell County Sheriff Department
Starr County Sheriff Department
Stephens County Sheriff Department
Sterling County Sheriff Department
Stonewall County Sheriff Department
Sutton County Sheriff Department
Swisher County Sheriff Department
Tarrant County Sheriff Department
Taylor County Sheriff Department
Terrell County Sheriff Department
Terry County Sheriff Department
Throckmorton County Sheriff Department
Titus County Sheriff Department
Tom Green County Sheriff Department
Travis County Sheriff’s Department
Trinity County Sheriff Department
Tyler County Sheriff Department
Upshur County Sheriff Department
Upton County Sheriff Department
Uvalde County Sheriff Department
Val Verde County Sheriff Department
Van Zandt County Sheriff Department
Victoria County Sheriff Department
Walker County Sheriff Department
Waller County Sheriff Department
Ward County Sheriff Department
Washington County Sheriff Department
Webb County Sheriff Department
Wharton County Sheriff Department
Wheeler County Sheriff Department
Wichita County Sheriff Department
Wilbarger County Sheriff Department
Willacy County Sheriff Department
Williamson County Sheriff Department
Wilson County Sheriff Department
Winkler County Sheriff Department
Wise County Sheriff Department
Wood County Sheriff Department
Yoakum County Sheriff Department
Young County Sheriff Department
Zapata County Sheriff Department
Zavala County Sheriff Department
Abernathy PD
Abilene PD
Addison PD
Alamo PD
Alamo Heights PD
Albany PD
Alice PD
Allen PD
Alpine PD
Alto PD
Alton PD
Alvarado PD
Alvin PD
Amarillo PD
Andrews PD
Angleton PD
Anson PD
Anthony PD
Aransas Pass PD
Arcola PD
Arlington PD
Athens PD
Atlanta PD
Aubrey PD
Austin PD
Azle PD
Balch Springs PD
Balcones Heights PD
Ballinger PD
Bandera PD
Bangs PD
Bardwell PD
Bartlett PD
Bastrop PD
Bay City PD
Bayou Vista PD
Baytown PD
Beaumont PD
Bedford PD
Bellaire PD
Bellmead PD
Bellville PD
Belton PD
Benbrook PD
Bertram PD
Beverly Hills PD
Big Sandy PD
Big Spring PD
Bishop PD
Bluemound PD
Boerne PD
Bonham PD
Borger PD
Bovina PD
Bowie PD
Brady PD
Brazoria PD
Breckenridge PD
Bremond PD
Brenham PD
Briaroaks PD
Bridge City PD
Bridgeport PD
Brookshire PD
Brownfield PD
Brownsboro PD
Brownsville PD
Brownwood PD
Bryan PD
Buffalo PD
Bulverde PD
Burkburnett PD
Burleson PD
Burnet PD
Cactus PD
Caddo Mills PD
Caldwell PD
Calvert PD
Cameron PD
Camp Wood PD
Caney City PD
Canton PD
Canyon PD
Carrollton PD
Carthage PD
Castle Hills PD
Castroville PD
Cedar Hill PD
Cedar Park PD
Celeste PD
Celina PD
Center PD
Chandler PD
Childress PD
Chillicothe PD
Cibolo PD
Cisco PD
Clarksville PD
Cleburne PD
Cleveland PD
Clifton PD
Clint PD
Clute PD
Clyde PD
Cockrell Hill PD
Coleman PD
College Station PD
Colleyville PD
Colorado City PD
Columbus PD
Comanche PD
Combine PD
Commerce PD
Como PD
Conroe PD
Converse PD
Coppell PD
Copperas Cove PD
Corinth PD
Corpus Christi PD
Corrigan PD
Corsicana PD
Crandall PD
Crane PD
Crockett PD
Crosbyton PD
Cross Plains PD
Crowley PD
Crystal City PD
Cuero PD
Dallas PD
El Paso PD
Eustace PD
Fort Worth PD
Frisco PD
Grapevine PD
Gun Barrel City PD
Hedwig Village PD
Helotes PD
Hondo PD
Houston PD
Huntsville PD
Irving PD
Jasper PD
Jefferson PD
Jersey Village PD
Johnson City PD
Kaufman PD
Kemah PD
La Porte PD
Lewisville PD
Live Oak PD
Log Cabin PD
Longview PD
Lubbock PD
Lufkin PD
Mabank PD
Manvel PD
McKinney PD
Mesquite PD
Memorial Villages PD
Nassau Bay PD
New Braunfels PD
North Richland Hills PD
Ovilla PD
Palestine PD
Pampa PD
Paris City PD
Pasadena PD
Plano PD
Portland PD
Richardson PD
Richland Hills PD
Saginaw PD
San Angelo PD
San Antonio PD
San Marcos PD
Santa Fe PD
Schertz PD
Seagoville PD
Selma PD
Seven Points PD
Shamrock PD
Spring Valley PD
Sugar Land PD
Terrell PD
Tyler PD
Universal City PD
Webster PD
Wills Point PD
Wylie PD

Speaking Events Best Fit:

  • LEO Academy Graduations
  • Any Public Safety Events
  • Men’s Groups
  • Church Conferences
  • Military Veteran Events
  • At Risk Youth Programs
  • Business Growth Events
  • Recruitment Conferences
  • AI Implementation Strategy
  • Online Marketing Events

About Me

Speaking Events Best Fit:

  • LEO Academy Graduations
  • Any Public Safety Events
  • Men’s Groups
  • Church Conferences
  • Military Veteran Events
  • At Risk Youth Programs
  • Business Growth Events
  • Recruitment Conferences
  • AI Implementation Strategy
  • Online Marketing Events

With an unparalleled charisma and a captivating stage presence, EL Forestal, the founder and creator of  Hero Helper AI,  has the ability to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact. Drawing upon his immigrant upbringing, law enforcement background and expertise in AI automation, strategic recruiting growth & business development, EL Forestal delivers powerful messages that resonate with both personal and professional aspirations. 

During his keynote address, EL Forestal will delve into the depths of motivation, sharing valuable insights and practical strategies to unlock hidden potential and drive success. He will inspire attendees to break through barriers, overcome challenges, and reach new heights in their lives.

EL’s unique perspective and experience make him the perfect keynote speaker for your event. With over 20 years of experience in law enforcement, EL has seen it all. He has a deep understanding of the challenges law enforcement professionals face daily and knows how to motivate and inspire them to overcome those obstacles.

Whether you are a law enforcement professional seeking to excel in talent acquisition or a leader looking to inspire your team, EL Forestal’s keynote speech is a must-attend event. Prepare to be energized, motivated, and empowered as EL Forestal imparts his wisdom and passion to ignite the fire within.

Tell Us About Your Needs and We'll Be In Touch!