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 Montana
- Certification
- Peace Officer Basic Certificate (POST basic certificate, peace officer discipline)
- Minimum age
- At least 18 years of age (MCA 7-32-303(2)(b); ARM 23.13.801(2)(c)). Individual agencies may set higher ages.
- Education
- High school graduate or high school equivalency diploma (MCA 7-32-303(2)(f); ARM 23.13.801(2)(g)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen required for peace officers (MCA 7-32-303(2)(a); ARM 23.13.801(2)(a)).
- Driver's license
- Must possess or be eligible for a valid Montana driver's license (MCA 7-32-303(2)(j)); ARM 23.13.801(2)(j) requires a valid license if driving is part of the duties.
- Disqualifiers
- No conviction of a crime for which the person could have been imprisoned in a federal or state penitentiary, or of a crime involving unlawful sexual conduct; good moral character via background check; no revoked/suspended certification in any state. POST may deny certification for dishonesty, substance abuse, convictions under Title 45 ch. 5-10 or DUI (Title 61 ch. 8 pt. 10), excessive force, or sexual misconduct (ARM 23.13.702).
- Basic academy
- Law Enforcement Officer Basic (LEOB) course: 12-week in-person course (plus online component) at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) in Helena, or a POST-approved college academy; MLEA lists its basic courses at up to 504 hours and POST records call the LEO basic curriculum 504 hours. Officers must be hired by a Montana agency before attending.
- State exam
- None required
- Fitness standard
- Montana Physical Abilities Test (MPAT): must pass before acceptance into LEOB (entry test within 90 days of the course start), with possible midterm and final tests (ARM 23.17.614). MLEA's prep guide lists a 6:30 time standard.
- Time to certify
- Basic course must be completed within 1 year of appointment, and POST may extend this by up to 180 days. The basic certificate is issued after the officer also completes a 1-year probationary period (MCA 7-32-303(6),(9),(10); ARM 23.13.206).
- Officers from other states
- If POST finds an out-of-state, federal, or military basic course (or training plus experience) commensurate, the officer completes the Legal Equivalency Basic Course (LEQ) at MLEA within 1 year of appointment; failing it means taking the full basic course. A break in service of more than 5 years requires the full basic course. MLEA says reciprocity applicants need an out-of-state basic course, at least 1 year of service, and a completed probation with the prior employer (MCA 7-32-303(8); ARM 23.13.206(2)(b)).
- Continuing training
- 20 hours of documented in-service/continuing education every two calendar years, including a professional-ethics curriculum (ARM 23.13.801(2)(l)), plus annual firearms qualification (ARM 23.13.805).
MCA 7-32-303(1)(b) defines peace officers as deputy sheriffs, undersheriffs, police officers, highway patrol officers, fish and game wardens, park rangers, campus security officers, and airport police officers, so all of them follow the same statewide minimums. There's no separate state licensing exam; MLEA requires a 75% overall course score (ARM 23.17.611).
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Montana, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Montana, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | MT |
|---|---|
| Workers | 2,160 |
| 10th percentile | $55,330 |
| Median | $70,050 |
| 90th percentile | $84,150 |
| 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 Montana
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System (MPORS) MPORS - hired on or after July 1, 2013 (GABA members) | 2.5% | 20 years of membership service at any age | 9% | 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 Montana pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Montana
45 police departments in Montana.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Montana
Montana POST Peace Officer Certification ExamMontana 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
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Montana government jobs · Montana public pension plans · police officer standards in Montana · exam practice in Montana