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 Texas
- Certifying body
- Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)
- Certification
- Peace Officer License (TCOLE)
- Minimum age
- 21, or 18 with an associate's degree/60 semester hours of college credit, or an honorable discharge after at least 2 years of active U.S. military service (37 TAC 217.1(b)(1)).
- Education
- High school diploma or GED; for academy enrollment only, an honorable discharge after 24 months of active duty may substitute (37 TAC 217.1(b)(2)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen, or a legal permanent resident who is an honorably discharged veteran with 2+ years of service and has applied for citizenship (37 TAC 217.1(b)(17)).
- Driver's license
- Must not be prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle (37 TAC 217.1(b)(8)); a specific license class is not set by rule.
- Disqualifiers
- Any conviction or community supervision above Class B misdemeanor ever, or Class B within 10 years; any family-violence conviction or community supervision; pending charges; dishonorable discharge; prior TCOLE license revoked or denied; firearm-prohibited (37 TAC 217.1(b)(4)-(15)).
- Basic academy
- Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) #1000736, 736 hours, effective January 2024, delivered by TCOLE-licensed academies (police, sheriff, DPS, college). A licensed academic alternative program plus an associate's degree is also accepted (37 TAC 217.1(e)).
- State exam
- TCOLE Peace Officer Licensing Examination (3 attempts within 180 days of course completion; 37 TAC 219.1).
- Time to certify
- Peace officers must hold the license before appointment; licensing exam attempts expire 180 days after BPOC completion (37 TAC 219.1).
- Officers from other states
- Reciprocity under 37 TAC 219.2: out-of-state officers need a state POST-approved basic academy plus 2 continuous years of full-time paid sworn service, no license action, and eligibility for rehire. They must also complete the TCOLE Supplemental Peace Officer Course (#1018) and other required courses, then pass the state licensing exam. Eligibility is set via the TCOLE Out-of-State Officers Eligibility Form.
- Continuing training
- 40 hours of continuing education each 24-month training unit, including the legislative update and 16 hours of ALERRT active-shooter training, plus specific courses each 48-month cycle (Occ. Code 1701.351-.352; 37 TAC 218.3).
TCOLE licenses all Texas peace officers: municipal police, deputies, DPS troopers, and constables. DPS runs its own TCOLE-licensed academy with longer, agency-specific training. TCOLE sets no state physical fitness test, so academies and agencies set their own. A physician's exam and a psychological exam (within 180 days before appointment) are required by 37 TAC 217.1(b)(11)-(12).
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Texas, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Texas, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | TX |
|---|---|
| Workers | 63,100 |
| 10th percentile | $51,240 |
| Median | $75,900 |
| 90th percentile | $98,350 |
| 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 Texas
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas County & District Retirement System (employer-adopted plan) No tiers; each county's or district's adopted plan provisions | — | Age 60 with the employer's vesting requirement of 5, 8 or 10 years [per-employer choice] | Set by the employer | Varies |
| Texas Municipal Retirement System (city-adopted plan) No tiers; each city's adopted plan provisions | — | Age 60 with 5 years of service (or 10 years in cities with 10-year vesting) [per-employer choice] | 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 Texas pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Texas
780 police departments in Texas.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Texas
Texas Basic Peace Officer Licensing ExaminationPractice for a named 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 Texas
Texas government jobs · Texas public pension plans · police officer standards in Texas · exam practice in Texas