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 Washington
- Certification
- Peace Officer Certification (CJTC), issued after the Basic Law Enforcement Academy diploma or the equivalency academy
- Minimum age
- RCW 43.101 and WAC 139 set no numeric minimum age. Civil service law requires only an 'age suitable for the position' (RCW 41.12.070), so hiring agencies set the age (commonly 21).
- Education
- RCW 43.101 and WAC 139-05/-07 set no education minimum; hiring agencies set it (typically a high school diploma or GED).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or DACA recipient, verified in the background investigation (RCW 43.101.095(2)(b)(v); RCW 41.12.070 and 41.14.100; WAC 139-07-020(1)(h)).
- Disqualifiers
- Certification must be denied for a felony, a gross misdemeanor DV offense, a sexually motivated offense, or a ch. 9A.44 RCW sex offense, or for being barred from possessing weapons. Also mandatory: separation for unlawful deadly or serious force, failure to intervene in or report excessive force, or dishonesty (RCW 43.101.105(2)). Discretionary grounds are in 43.101.105(3). A background check is mandatory, with a psychological exam, polygraph, social-media review, extremist-affiliation inquiry, and Brady-list check (RCW 43.101.095(2)).
- Basic academy
- Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA), 720 hours including 200 hours of LETCSA courses, run centrally by WSCJTC in Burien (and approved regional sites). The commission has sole authority to provide basic training (RCW 43.101.200(3)).
- State exam
- None required
- Fitness standard
- WSCJTC Physical Ability Test (PAT), a prerequisite for BLEA admission: 20 push-ups in 90 s, 25 sit-ups in 90 s, and 35 squat thrusts in 3 min. Results are valid for 45 days (WAC 139-05-230; CJTC PAT page).
- Time to certify
- General-authority officers must start BLEA within the first 6 months of employment, and completion is a condition of continued employment (RCW 43.101.200(1); WAC 139-05-200(2)(a)). Limited-authority officers hired on or after 7/1/2023 have 12 months.
- Officers from other states
- Equivalency process (WAC 139-05-210): officers certified through a basic program in another state, or lapsed under 60 months, attend the Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy (BLEEA), about 2 weeks in Burien, within 6 months of hire. They need a full background check, documented training syllabus, firearms qualification, and comparable EVO training. Revoked, suspended, or under-review officers are ineligible, and recruits who fall short must take extra training or the full BLEA.
- Continuing training
- At least 24 hours of in-service training annually, including the commission's annual online crisis-intervention course (WAC 139-05-300; RCW 43.101.427).
CJTC certifies city police, deputies, and limited-authority officers. Washington State Patrol troopers train at the WSP Academy in Shelton rather than BLEA. There is no separate state licensing exam beyond the BLEA tests. Age, education and driver's license are set by hiring agencies rather than state law.
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Washington, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | WA |
|---|---|
| Workers | 9,160 |
| 10th percentile | $79,120 |
| Median | $102,080 |
| 90th percentile | $132,200 |
| 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 Washington
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF) Plan 2 LEOFF Plan 2 (tiered multiplier) | 2% | Age 53 with at least 5 years of service credit | 8.53% | 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 Washington pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Washington
191 police departments in Washington.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Washington
Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Certification ExamWashington 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 Washington
Washington government jobs · Washington public pension plans · police officer standards in Washington · exam practice in Washington