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 Virginia
- Certifying body
- Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), under the Criminal Justice Services Board
- Certification
- Law-Enforcement Officer Certification, issued after the compulsory minimum training standards, field training, and the state exam (6VAC20-20-21(C))
- Minimum age
- At least 18 (Va. Code 15.2-1705(A)(vi)); agencies may set higher ages.
- Education
- High school education or a Board of Education-approved high school equivalency exam (Va. Code 15.2-1705(A)(iii)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen (Va. Code 15.2-1705(A)(i)).
- Driver's license
- Valid driver's license, if the duties of office require operating a motor vehicle (Va. Code 15.2-1705(A)(iv)).
- Disqualifiers
- Any felony conviction or no-contest plea, or out-of-state equivalent. For officers starting on or after July 1, 2013, also any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude (e.g., petit larceny), any misdemeanor sex offense, or domestic assault. An unexplained positive pre-employment drug screen also disqualifies. DCJS may waive for good cause on agency request (Va. Code 15.2-1705(A), (D)).
- Basic academy
- Law-enforcement basic training at a DCJS-certified criminal justice training academy (regional, agency, or VSP): at least 480 hours across 8 categories, plus at least 100 hours of field training (6VAC20-20-21(B)). Many academies run longer.
- State exam
- DCJS Law Enforcement Certification Exam, taken after the compulsory minimum training standards are documented (6VAC20-20-70(C)).
- Time to certify
- Within 12 months of hire or appointment. Limited extensions are possible for medical, injury, military, or administrative-leave reasons, but not for failing standards (6VAC20-20-40).
- Officers from other states
- The hiring agency submits DCJS Form W-2 (Application for Exemption from Virginia Compulsory Minimum Training Standards) for officers from other states or federal service. Officers in good standing may get a partial training waiver based on experience and must still pass the state certification exam. Former Virginia-certified officers out for less than 24 months can be reinstated if current on in-service training within 120 days.
- Continuing training
- 40 hours of in-service training every 2 calendar years (2 hours cultural diversity, 4 hours legal, 34 hours career development/elective), plus annual firearms qualification at 70% or higher (6VAC20-30-30, -40, -80).
Va. Code 15.2-1705 applies to local police, deputy sheriffs, jail officers, and all law-enforcement officers defined in 9.1-101, including Virginia State Police troopers. VSP and large departments run their own DCJS-certified academies with longer curricula. DCJS sets no statewide fitness test; academies and agencies set their own. Psychological exams are optional at agency discretion (15.2-1705(C)).
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Virginia, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Virginia, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | VA |
|---|---|
| Workers | 19,970 |
| 10th percentile | $50,000 |
| Median | $65,870 |
| 90th percentile | $96,820 |
| 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 Virginia
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VRS Plan 2 - Political Subdivision Employees with Enhanced Hazardous Duty Coverage Plan 2 (enhanced hazardous duty) | 1.7% | Age 60 with at least 5 years of service credit | 5% | 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 Virginia pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Virginia
154 police departments in Virginia.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Virginia
Virginia DCJS Peace Officer Certification ExamVirginia 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 Virginia
Virginia government jobs · Virginia public pension plans · police officer standards in Virginia · exam practice in Virginia