Virginia Police Academy Requirements & VA Study Guides

OTB Editorial Team
August 20, 2017

Becoming a police officer in the state of Virginia may be slightly tougher than other careers, but if you make it through the selection process as well as graduate the academy, you should count your blessings because not too many trainees make it through the entire process from start to finish. Even when recruits are admitted into the academy, some fail for various reasons like being out shape, failing the curriculum course exams, or simply giving up too soon.

The police academy (especially in the state of Virginia) was never designed to be easy. In fact, if you are out of shape, overweight, or lack self motivation you won’t succeed in the academy. The physical and mental challenges you’ll face at the VA POST training academy can tear you down substantially.

That’s why it is so important recruits come into the academy already in good physical shape. The academy is not time to work yourself into shape, rather you should already be in shape the minute you arrive. If you are not, I suggest following a police specific workout program to help you survive the various conditioning test you’ll encounter.

It’s a good idea to also invest in a police academy study guide weeks before your class begins. With this resource, you will find reviews of common courses that many recruits fail such as firearms, EVOC, defensive tactics, first aid, criminal law, traffic enforcement, domestic violence, and more. A police academy review guide will help you familiarize yourself with some of the course exams that many candidates struggle with upon arrival. Some of the people you see on day one won’t be there on the final graduation day, as many of them will fail the curriculum exams.

Below are the requirements needed to enroll in any VA police academy as well as qualifications to be a police officer in the state of Virginia.

must be at least 21 years of age on date of hire
must be a high school graduate or have a GED (college and/or related experience PREFERRED)
must be a United States citizen on day of testing
must be of good character and reputation as established by a background investigation to include but not limited to: a polygraph examination, educational achievements, prior work experience, character and reputation, credit history and police record
must be in possession of a valid driver’s license and a good driving record
must be willing to relocate anywhere in the state based on Department needs (no restrictions on assignment to former home county or city)
must be willing to travel to Virginia at own expense to complete testing and screening process
must possess at least 20/20 binocular vision, corrected or uncorrected, and if uncorrected visual acuity is 20/100 or better binocular and 20/200 or better in worse eye.
meet minimum requirements for color vision test with or without corrected lens(es)
must be capable of hearing normal frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 hertz at a pure tone level of 25 decibels or less and no greater than a 45 decibels at 4000 and 6000 hertz when checked by the Audiometer Test
weight must be in proportion to height
must be willing to work rotating shifts and weekends
must successfully pass all pre-employment testing

If you want information on the self sponsorship program, course curriculum, tuition cost and/or more information on a particular academy simply call them directly. Below I’ve listed contact info for all the state approved academies in Virginia for your convenience.

CARDINAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY
917 Central Ave
Salem, Virginia 24153
Phone: 703-375-3095
Fax: 703-375-4100

CENTRAL SHENANDOAH CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING CENTER
211 W 12th St
Waynesboro, Virginia 22980
Phone: 703-943-0532
Fax: 703-943-8827

CENTRAL VIRGINIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY
PO Box 287
Lynchburg, Virginia 24505
Phone: 804-847-1860
Fax: 804-847-1478

CHESAPEAKE PUBLIC SAFETY ACADEMY
1080 Sentry Dr
Chesapeake, Virginia 23323
Phone: 804-487-0003
Fax: 804-485-8452

CHESAPEAKE SHERIFFS OFFICE TRAINING ACADEMY
401 Albemarle Dr
Chesapeake, Virginia 23328
Phone: 804-547-6159

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICE DEPT ACADEMY
6610 Public Safety Way
Chesterfield, Virginia 23832
Phone: 804-751-4490
Fax: 804-796-5738

CRATER CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY
11301 Johnson Rd Richard Bland
Petersburg, Virginia 23805
Phone: 804-862-6234
Fax: 804-862-6207

CRIMINAL JUSTICE HIGHWAY SAFETY DIVISION
1204 Kanawha Blvd E
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Phone: 304-558-8814
Fax: 304-558-0391

FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY ACADEMY
14601 Lee Road
Chantilly, Virginia 20151
Phone: 703-449-7200
Fax: 703-449-7373

HAMPTON ROADS REGIONAL ACADEMY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
1300 Thomas St
Hampton, Virginia 23669
Phone: 804-722-2847
Fax: 804-722-9558

HENRICO COUNTY POLICE TRAINING
201 E Nine Mile Rd
Highland Springs, Virginia 23075
Phone: 804-328-4091
Fax: 804-328-4080

HENRICO COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE TRAINING ACADEMY
4301 E Parham Rd
Richmond, Virginia 23273
Phone: 804-672-4593
Fax: 804-672-5290

INTERNATIONAL ASSOC OF CHIEFS OF POLICE
515 N Washington
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Phone: 800-843-4227
Fax: 703-836-4543

NEW RIVER CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING ACADEMY
PO Box 161
New River, Virginia 24141
Phone: 703-639-9096
Fax: 703-639-9718

NORFOLK POLICE DEPT ACADEMY
7665 Sewells Point Road
Norfolk, Virginia 23513
Phone: 804-441-1778
Fax: 804-441-1851

NORTHERN VIRGINIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY
45299 Research Place
Ashburn, Virginia 22011
Phone: 703-729-4299
Fax: 703-729-4634

PORTSMOUTH POLICE DEPT ACADEMY
1701 High St
Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
Phone: 804-393-8088
Fax: 804-393-8073

PORTSMOUTH SHERIFF’S TRAINING ACADEMY
701 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-3888 USA
Phone: (757) 393-5440
Fax: (757) 393-5085

PRINCE WILLIAM-MANASSAS ACADEMY
9230 Lee Ave
Masassas, Virginia 22110
Phone: 703-792-7666
Fax: 703-792-7576

RAPPAHANNOCK REGIONAL CJ ACADEMY
3630 Lee Hill Dr
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22408
Phone: 703-371-2875
Fax: 703-371-4404

RICHMOND CITY SHERIFFS DEPT ACADEMY
1701 Fairfield Way
Richmond, Virginia 23223
Phone: 804-780-8588
Fax: 804-780-8668

RICHMOND POLICE DEPT ACADEMY
1202 West Graham Road
Richmond, Virginia 23220
Phone: 804-780-6117
Fax: 804-780-6194

ROANOKE POLICE DEPT ACADEMY
309-3rd St Sw
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Phone: 703-981-2286
Fax: 703-981-1691

SOUTHWEST LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY
PO Box Svcc Us Rt 19
Richlands, Virginia 34641
Phone: 703-964-7568
Fax: 703-964-7593

VCU POLICE ACADEMY
940 West Grace St
Richmond, Virginia 23284
Phone: 804-828-6232
Fax: 804-828-7294

VIRGINIA BEACH POLICE DEPT ACADEMY
2509 Princess Anne Rd
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
Phone: 804-427-4893
Fax: 804-426-5633

VIRGINIA BEACH SHERIFFS TRAINING ACADEMY
2501 James Madison Blvd
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
Phone: 804-430-0255

VIRGINIA CAPITAL POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL
9th St Office Bldg
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: 804-786-2567
Fax: 804-371-8698

VIRGINIA DEPT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES
805 E Broad St 10th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: 804-786-4000
Fax: 804-371-8981

VIRGINIA REGULATORY ACADEMY
805 E Broad St
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: 804-786-6348
Fax: 804-371-8981

VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ACADEMY
7700 Midlothian Park
Richmond, Virginia 23261
Phone: 804-674-2248