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 Missouri
- Certifying body
- Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Program, Department of Public Safety
- Certification
- Missouri peace officer license, classified by commission type: Class A, A-HP (Highway Patrol), A-CC (Conservation), B, C, D, R (reserve) and S (11 CSR 75-13.010)
- Minimum age
- 21 to be licensed (11 CSR 75-13.020(1)(A)). The MPOLE can be taken at 20 by a non-commissioned employee of a law enforcement agency (11 CSR 75-13.050(2)(B)).
- Education
- Valid high school diploma or equivalent (11 CSR 75-13.020(1)(C)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen (11 CSR 75-13.020(1)(B)). No residency requirement (13.020(2)).
- Disqualifiers
- The Director may deny a license (or entry to basic training) for any cause to discipline under RSMo 590.080. That includes committing any criminal offense, whether or not charged or convicted, acts of moral turpitude or reckless disregard for public safety, misrepresentation, a positive controlled-substance test, or a license revoked or surrendered elsewhere (RSMo 590.080, 590.100).
- Basic academy
- Minimum basic training hours by license class (11 CSR 75-14.030): Class A 600, A-HP 1,000, A-CC 1,000, B 480, S 480, R 297, C 120.
- State exam
- Missouri Peace Officer License Exam (MPOLE), not required for Class R or D (11 CSR 75-13.020(8), 13.050).
- Time to certify
- A license is required before holding a commission (RSMo 590.020). Applicants must apply within 5 years of basic training graduation, or else qualify on the Veteran Peace Officer Point Scale (11 CSR 75-13.020(4)).
- Officers from other states
- Recognition of federal, military and out-of-state basic training. The Director decides comparability and which license class applies, then the applicant passes the MPOLE (11 CSR 75-13.070, 13.020(3)(B)). Training more than 5 years old goes through the Veteran Peace Officer Point Scale (13.060). The Director may enter reciprocity agreements.
- Continuing training
- 24 hours of Continuing Law Enforcement Education (CLEE) per calendar year, with at least 2 hours each of legal studies, technical studies, interpersonal perspectives (may include implicit bias and racial profiling) and firearms skill (11 CSR 75-15.010).
Missouri sets no statewide fitness test or driver's-license requirement; agencies and academies set these. The Class B license (480 hours) is not valid in first-class charter counties, St. Louis City, the Highway Patrol or the Conservation Commission. Highway Patrol troopers need Class A-HP (1,000 hours) and conservation agents need Class A-CC. Rule citations are to the Secretary of State's current CSR compilation (12/31/20 issue for ch. 13/14).
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Missouri, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Missouri, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | MO |
|---|---|
| Workers | 13,570 |
| 10th percentile | $43,210 |
| Median | $59,460 |
| 90th percentile | $90,770 |
| 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 Missouri
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) Employer-elected benefit program | — | employer-elected normal retirement age, or Rule of 80 if the employer adopts it | Set by the employer | 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 Missouri pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Missouri
439 police departments in Missouri.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Missouri
Missouri POST Peace Officer Certification ExamMissouri 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 Missouri
Missouri government jobs · Missouri public pension plans · police officer standards in Missouri · exam practice in Missouri