Step 1.
Make sure you meet the requirements:
- Graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate.
- Must have a valid drivers license.
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- People aged 19-21 may be certified and hired, but can only work in correctional facilities.
- Must be able to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen; or A lawful permanent resident of the United States who has been in the United States legally for the five years immediately before the day on which the application is made; and has legal authorization to work in the United States.
View full list of legal qualifications here.
Step 2.
Apply for positions! Find available job postings here.
Make sure you look into each department’s requirements, as some positions have specific requirements that need to be completed prior to application
Step 3.
Apply for the Police Academy
The Utah police Officer Standards and Training Academy (POST) is the basic training academy for all law enforcement agencies in Utah.
If you have not already been hired by a law enforcement agency, you can sponsor yourself at one of the Satellite Academies. This training is paid for at the expense of the student and often takes longer to complete.
Graduating from a satellite academy will give a student all the training necessary except Emergency Vehicle Operations (EVO). Once a satellite graduate has an offer of employment from a law enforcement agency, POST will send them through an EVO course, fully certifying them as officers.
Step 4.
Attend Police Academy
POST conducts approximately eight basic training sessions per year. These sessions are only open to applicants who have been hired by a Utah law enforcement agency. Classes are generally held four days a week, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Additionally, there are several night practical exercises that extend the classes until approximately 11:00 p.m.
View the training schedule here.
To graduate from the academy, you must pass: 1) the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Exit Physical Fitness Requirements, 2) the written certification examination, 3) a day and night time firearms qualification, and 4) a final defensive tactics practical test.