Education

• Police officer candidates in the state of New York must complete high school or their GEDs by the time they are offered employment and move forward to obtain police academy training. Candidates must also complete at least 60 hours of college credit from an accredited college or university. Those who have completed a Certified Police Officer Training Course or have two years of military experience can waive up to 30 hours of the required education.
  
  

General Requirements

• Aspiring New York police officers must be at least 20 years old when they apply for positions and at least 21 by the time they have completed training and received their appointments. Officer applicants must be no older than 30 at the time of application, but up to six years can be added to this limitation if the applicant has military experience. The applicant must also have a reputation for having a good character and must be a U.S. citizen when he applies.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Aspiring police officers in New York must have a neat appearance with no visible tattoos. They must also meet basic height and weight standards, along with passing a physical fitness test. The physical fitness test consists of a sit-up and push-up test, along with a 1.5-mile run. Requirements for each test are determined by age and sex.
  
  

Selection Process

• The New York State Police selection process begins with a written examination. Applicants who pass the exam then take the physical fitness test. A conditional offer of employment is then extended to eligible candidates. Following this and prior to police academy training, candidates must pass a psychological evaluation, medical evaluation and a polygraph examination.