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 West Virginia
- Certification
- West Virginia Law Enforcement Officer Certification (LEPS)
- Minimum age
- At least 18 at application under municipal police civil service (W. Va. Code 8-14-12(c)) and deputy sheriff civil service (7-14-8(c)), which bar any other age limit. 149 CSR 2 sets no separate age.
- Education
- 149 CSR 2 and W. Va. Code 30-29 set no education minimum for officers. Agencies and civil service commissions set it (typically a high school diploma or GED).
- Citizenship
- Civil service applicants must state U.S. citizenship (W. Va. Code 8-14-12(a)(2), 7-14-8(a)(2)). LEPS rules set no separate citizenship requirement.
- Disqualifiers
- LEPS may deny certification or academy admission for falsification, illegal drug use or addiction, or admission or conviction of a felony or any crime of dishonesty, unlawful sexual conduct, violence, or DUI (including pretrial diversion). Other grounds: certification action by another state's POST, inability to lawfully carry a firearm, unpaid court-ordered child support, or conduct unbecoming (149 CSR 2-16.1).
- Basic academy
- Entry-level law enforcement training of at least 850 hours (149 CSR 2-7.1), delivered live-in at the West Virginia State Police Academy in Dunbar. WV is a single-academy state per the LEPS FAQ, with programs for basic/county/city officers and the trooper cadet program.
- State exam
- Approved entry-level law-enforcement examination (W. Va. Code 30-29-5(b)); the academy passing grade is 75% (149 CSR 2-6.2).
- Fitness standard
- Physical ability test for academy entry: 1-minute sit-ups, 1-minute push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run, each at the 40th percentile of the Cooper Institute single-standard norms. Two attempts are allowed, and 2 failures bring a 2-year wait (149 CSR 2-8.5).
- Time to certify
- Apply to the academy within 90 days of hire or face termination, and complete the academy within 18 consecutive months of employment, with one 6-month extension possible (W. Va. Code 30-29-5(b); 149 CSR 2-8.2).
- Officers from other states
- Equivalent Certification (149 CSR 2-14): the officer needs a POST-approved basic academy (or equivalent federal training, not military police) and certification in that state with no revocation or suspension. They apply to the academy within 90 days of employment and complete required WV courses within 12 months: firearms, EVOC, defensive tactics, laws of arrest, WV motor vehicle law, criminal law, domestic crimes, and search and seizure.
- Continuing training
- 16 hours of annual in-service training, excluding firearms, plus semi-annual firearms qualification (one in low light). Supervisors add 8 hours of supervisory training every 24 months (149 CSR 2-10, 2-11).
LEPS certification covers city, county, State Police, college, and other officers, all trained at the WVSP Academy. Troopers attend a separate, longer WVSP cadet program at the same academy. An amendment to 149 CSR 2 was in progress (modified file filed 8/18/2026). Education and driver's license are not set statewide for officers. The citizenship requirement comes from the civil-service application statutes, not a LEPS standard.
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in West Virginia, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in West Virginia, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | WV |
|---|---|
| Workers | 2,900 |
| 10th percentile | $41,950 |
| Median | $56,960 |
| 90th percentile | $69,980 |
| 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 West Virginia
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System (MPFRS) MPFRS | 2.75% | Age 50 with 20 years of contributory service | 8.5% | 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 West Virginia pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in West Virginia
150 police departments in West Virginia.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for West Virginia
West Virginia LEPS Peace Officer Certification ExamWest Virginia 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 West Virginia
West Virginia government jobs · West Virginia public pension plans · police officer standards in West Virginia · exam practice in West Virginia