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 Tennessee
- Certifying body
- Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), Department of Commerce and Insurance
- Certification
- POST Certification / Certificate of Compliance (full-time law enforcement officer)
- Minimum age
- At least 18 (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1110-02-.03(2)(a)); agencies may set higher ages.
- Education
- High school graduate or equivalent; no waivers for the education minimum (1110-02-.03(2)(c)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen, or a permanent legal resident who is an honorably discharged U.S. veteran (1110-02-.03(2)(b); T.C.A. 38-8-105(d)).
- Disqualifiers
- Any felony conviction or plea (including nolo contendere), or any federal, state, or local violation involving force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor, or controlled substances. Also: any military discharge other than honorable, prior decertification, or prior voluntary surrender of certification. A Commission waiver (ch. 1110-09) is needed for any unmet requirement (1110-02-.03(2)(d)-(m)).
- Basic academy
- Basic Law Enforcement Course, minimum 488 hours (1110-03-.01(1)(a)), at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) or another Commission-approved academy.
- State exam
- None required
- Time to certify
- Must enroll in the Basic Law Enforcement Course within 6 months of initial employment, paired with a field training officer until then (1110-02-.03(3)).
- Officers from other states
- Out-of-state officers are evaluated administratively and need at least 10 points for equivalency, scored on basic-training length versus the current curriculum, years of full-time service, and education (1110-02-.03(5)(c)). Qualifiers then complete the 3-week POST Transition School at TLETA, or an approved agency lateral course, within 6 months of employment (1110-02-.03(5)(e), (6)(b)). No equivalency is allowed past the maximum break in service, and those short of 10 points must attend a basic academy.
- Continuing training
- 40 hours of Commission-approved in-service training each calendar year (1110-04-.01).
POST's officer definition covers employees of municipalities and political subdivisions (police, sheriff's deputies) plus state agencies required to meet minimum standards. Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers train at the THP's own academy. The rules set no state licensing exam or state fitness test; academies (TLETA) set their own. A physical exam and psychological evaluation are each required within 6 months before the academy. The rules were revised in Sept. 2026.
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Tennessee, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Tennessee, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | TN |
|---|---|
| Workers | 15,630 |
| 10th percentile | $43,520 |
| Median | $59,280 |
| 90th percentile | $79,480 |
| 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 Tennessee
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCRS Political Subdivision Plans (Legacy, Hybrid with or without Cost Controls, Alternate Defined Benefit) Plan adopted by the employer | — | Legacy Plan: age 60 with 5 years, or 30 years of service [per-employer choice] | Not published | 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 Tennessee pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Tennessee
249 police departments in Tennessee.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Tennessee
Tennessee POST Peace Officer Certification ExamTennessee 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 Tennessee
Tennessee government jobs · Tennessee public pension plans · police officer standards in Tennessee · exam practice in Tennessee