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 Nevada
- Certification
- POST Basic Certificate (Category I peace officer)
- Minimum age
- At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment (NAC 289.110(1)(c)).
- Education
- High school graduate, or passed the GED or another high school equivalency assessment approved by Nevada or another state (NAC 289.110(1)(d)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen (NAC 289.110(1)(b)).
- Disqualifiers
- Disqualified for any felony (even if expunged or sealed), domestic-violence battery or misdemeanor domestic violence, listing on the National Decertification Index, or decertification in any state (NRS 289.555). Also barred: offenses involving moral turpitude or controlled substances (except marijuana offenses no longer unlawful), a documented history of physical violence, or resigning or being fired for dishonesty (NAC 289.110(4)-(5)). Background checks must include a psychological evaluation, drug screen, implicit-bias evaluation, and, for Category I/II, a polygraph.
- Basic academy
- The Category I basic course must include at least 480 hours (NAC 289.140). The Nevada POST Academy's Category I course runs about 18 weeks, twice a year; POST-certified agency academies may also deliver it (NAC 289.300).
- State exam
- Nevada POST State Certification Examination (comprehensive exam; minimum score 70%)
- Fitness standard
- State physical fitness (Physical Readiness) examination, passed during the basic course. Category I standards: 14-inch vertical jump, 30 sit-ups in 1 minute, 23 push-ups, 300 m in 1:08 or less, 1.5 miles in 16:57 or less, and an agility run in 19.5 s or less (NAC 289.200(4), 289.205). Academies may also require a lower entry fitness test (NAC 289.300(1)(b)).
- Time to certify
- Must be certified within 1 year after starting employment as a peace officer; the Commission may extend this by up to 6 months for good cause. Uncertified officers lose peace officer powers after the deadline (NRS 289.550).
- Officers from other states
- Reciprocity under NAC 289.200(2) requires: certification in another state (or an approved FLETC program) with training POST finds equivalent, no revocation or suspension, and no more than 60 months since that employment. The officer must also complete a POST-approved course of at least 80 hours (online, 90-day limit), pass the state certification exam at 70%, and pass any agency fitness test (state test within 16 weeks of hire).
- Continuing training
- At least 12 hours of continuing education each year on racial profiling, mental health/crisis intervention, officer well-being, implicit bias, de-escalation, human trafficking, and firearms (NAC 289.230(1); NRS 289.510(2)(a)(3)). Officers also need firearms proficiency at least 'biannually', yearly less-lethal and arrest-and-control proficiency, a yearly use-of-force policy review, and a yearly behavioral wellness visit (NAC 289.345).
Nevada has four training categories. Category I covers patrol, investigations, traffic, and crash work (city police, sheriff's deputies, NHP troopers). Category II (specialized) and Category III (corrections/detention) have their own training and fitness standards (NAC 289.150-.160, 289.205). POST rules set no driver's-license requirement; the background check only reviews DMV records (NAC 289.110(2)(c)), and agencies may require a license. A certificate goes inactive after separation; reactivation after 5-10 years requires a recertification course (NAC 289.200(8)).
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Nevada, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Nevada, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | NV |
|---|---|
| Workers | 5,720 |
| 10th percentile | $62,250 |
| Median | $78,140 |
| 90th percentile | $102,810 |
| 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 Nevada
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Employees' Retirement System of Nevada - Police/Fire Members (membership on or after July 1, 2015) Police/Fire members enrolled on or after July 1, 2015 | 2.5% | age 65 with 5 years of service | 30% | Not stated |
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 Nevada pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Nevada
14 police departments in Nevada.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Nevada
Nevada POST Peace Officer Certification ExamNevada 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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Nevada government jobs · Nevada public pension plans · police officer standards in Nevada · exam practice in Nevada