Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to become a police officer in Delaware
- Certification
- POST (COPT) police officer certification
- Minimum age
- 21 for full-time officers; 18 for seasonal officers (1 Del. Admin. Code 801 §3.3).
- Education
- High school diploma from a state-accredited high school; an equivalency diploma issued by an accredited high school is acceptable (801 §3.6).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen (801 §3.2).
- Driver's license
- Valid driver's license (801 §3.7).
- Disqualifiers
- Any felony, or a misdemeanor that bars possessing a weapon (801 §3.9). Bad-conduct or dishonorable military discharge (801 §3.11). Failed pre-employment drug screen (801 §3.4.6). Failed psychological screen (801 §3.5). Any other crime, or decertification elsewhere (National Decertification Index check), may be grounds for rejection (801 §3.9). Physical exam and vision/hearing standards apply (801 §3.4).
- Basic academy
- Police Basic Training Course (Basic Mandatory Curriculum): 584 hours at a POST-approved academy. These are run by State Police, New Castle County, Wilmington, Newark, Dover and DRBA police (801 §5.1, §15.1). Seasonal officers take a shorter course (801 §9).
- State exam
- Standardized competency examination: open book, 100 questions, 3 attempts (801 §23). A written job-related entry exam is also required (801 §3.10).
- Fitness standard
- Recommended Cooper Institute battery: vertical jump, 1-minute sit-ups, 300 m run, push-ups/bench press, 1.5-mile run. Applicants should reach the 20th percentile on at least 3 of the 5 events. Each academy sets and enforces its own PT standard (801 §3.13, §5.1.1.3).
- Time to certify
- Basic training must be completed before a person is given or accepts appointment as a police officer (11 Del. C. §8405(a); 801 §5.1.1.1). The Commission may grant hardship modifications (801 §6).
- Officers from other states
- Reciprocity is a waiver of equivalent training. The officer must show training equivalent to Delaware's plus Delaware-specific training set by the Administrator, and must pass the POST exam. The full academy is required if the officer has not worked full-time in law enforcement in the past 5 years, or needs more than 40% of Delaware's minimum hours (801 §5.2; 11 Del. C. §8404 reciprocity authority).
- Continuing training
- 16 hours of in-service training a year, plus CPR/AED/First Responder recertification (801 §5.3). Annual firearms requalification is also required, as are 1 hour every 3 years on child abuse and domestic violence (801 §22.2) and 2 hours every 4 years on sexual assault for patrol and sex-crimes officers (11 Del. C. §8404).
Sheriffs, regular deputy sheriffs and constables are expressly excluded from POST certification under 11 Del. C. §8401(6)(b); Delaware sheriffs do not perform general law enforcement. Delaware State Police troopers are covered. DSP sets stricter agency rules, such as maximum age 39 at academy start (agency standard, not POST). The statute now names the body the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (84 Del. Laws c. 149). Regulation 801 text still says 'Council on Police Training'.
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Delaware, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Delaware, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | DE |
|---|---|
| Workers | 1,800 |
| 10th percentile | $62,470 |
| Median | $92,970 |
| 90th percentile | $130,870 |
| National median, government employers | $76,300 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pension in Delaware
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County & Municipal Police/Firefighters Pension Plan Current provisions (SPD 8/5/2026) | — | any age with 20 years of credited service | 7% | Varies |
The statewide plan a new hire usually joins. Some cities and counties run their own plans; check with the employer. Each plan's formula, vesting, cost-of-living adjustment and retiree health are on the Delaware pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Delaware
41 police departments in Delaware.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Delaware
Delaware POST Peace Officer Certification ExamDelaware exam · free on Open Exam Prep- IPMA-HR / PSHRA Entry-Level Police Officer Test (PO-EL)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory (NCJOSI-3)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- National Police Officer Selection Test (POST)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NTN FrontLine National - Law Enforcement ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Police Officer page.
Police Officer in other states
More government jobs in Delaware
Delaware government jobs · Delaware public pension plans · police officer standards in Delaware · exam practice in Delaware