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Becoming a Police Officer

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1. Do I need a degree?

A person hired as a peace officer at the state, county or municipal level must hold a peace officer license in order to work in a law enforcement capacity. In order to be licensed by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST), prospective peace officers must meet specific education and selection requirements.

To become eligible for a Minnesota Peace Officer license, students must earn a two- or four-year degree from one of fifteen POST-certified peace officer education programs. Call (651) 643-3060 for list of schools.

2. What if I already have a degree from another state or institution?

Individuals who already have a two- or four-year degree from a non-POST certified or out-of-state educational institution are not required to complete another degree program. These individuals are eligible to complete a certificate program of study which generally requires completion of only the law enforcement education courses. After successfully completing the degree program, or the certificate program, students must pass the Minnesota Peace Officer Licensing Examination.

3. Is there anything that might disqualify me from becoming a police officer in Minnesota?

No student may be admitted to a professional peace officer education program who:

• Poses a serious threat to the health or safety of themselves or others
  
• Has been convicted of a felony level offense
  
• Has been convicted under Minnesota Statutes sections609.221 to 609.224 (Assault) or 609.52 (Theft)
  
• Has been convicted of a crime for which the penalty was enhanced under Minnesota Statutes, section 626.5531 (bias motivated)
  
• Has been convicted of a crime listed under Minnesota Statutes, section 214.10, subdivision 2a (crimes against vulnerable adults and theft)
  
• Has been convicted of misconduct by an officer under Minnesota Statutes, section 609.43
  
• Has been convicted of any of the crimes in this item in another State or Federal jurisdiction, or under a local ordinance, that would be a conviction if committed in Minnesota

4. After I complete all of the necessary requirements listed above, what’s next?

The first step is to fill out an application with the Office Of Human Resources for the position of Saint Paul Police Officer. After this, you will take an oral examination and receive a ranking score. If your score is high enough, you will be placed on an eligibility list for the Saint Paul Police Department.

5. Do I have to live in Saint Paul if I am hired?

Currently, there is no requirement to live in the City.

6. How long is the Saint Paul Police Academy?

Candidates chosen to attend the Saint Paul Police Academy will have to successfully complete a 12-week course of instruction. Individuals will then be assigned to an FTO (Field Training Officer) for further evaluation. The probationary period for new officers is one year.