Requirements for Becoming a Police Officer in Florida

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The state of Florida has a strict certification process for all prospective law enforcement officers. The requirements include training, testing, and qualifications such as age and background. To become a Florida police officer, candidates must meet these minimum requirements.

1 Age

Prospective officers must be at least 19 years old.

2 Citizenship

Florida police officers must be U.S. citizens

The prospective officer must be a citizen of the United States.

3 Education

All officers must have a high school diploma.

All prospective police officers must have a high school diploma or GED. To be a correctional probation officer, a bachelor's degree is required.

4 Criminal Background

A prospective Florida police officer must have no felony convictions involving perjury or false statements after July 1, 1981.

5 Armed Forces Involvement

A dishonorable discharge is not allowed for a Florida police officer.

No Florida police officer can have a dishonorable discharge from any branch of the U.S. armed forces.

6 Fingerprints

Prospective officers must be fingerprinted.

All officers and prospective officers must go through their employing agency for documentation and processing of fingerprints.

Prospective officers must pass a physical exam.

Prospective officers must pass a health and physical exam from a licensed medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

7 Moral Character

Applicants must pass a stringent background investigation examining their moral character. This investigation must follow procedures outlined by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

8 Basic Abilities Test

After the above minimum qualifications have been met, the prospective officer must pass the Basic Abilities Test (BAT). The prospective officer will then be eligible for the basic recruit training program. This test is administered at most training facilities and is valid for four years.

9 Basic Recruit or Cross Over Training

All prospective officers must complete the Florida Basic Recruit Training Program or Cross Over Training Program at a commission-certified training school.

10 State Officer Certification Examination

Florida police officers must pass the State Officer Certification Examination after completing the training program. Prospective officers have three chances to pass the SOCE.

11 Becoming Employed

Those who pass the training program and the SOCE have four years upon completion to become employed as a police officer in the state of Florida. The officer's employing agency will apply for the prospect's certificate of compliance.

A writer since 1995, Brooke Turner has been published in the "Duluth News Tribune" and "Ashland Daily Press," as well as various advertising publications. She is a freelance copywriter and the owner and operator of Blue Quill Writing Services in Ottertail, Minn. Turner also maintains two blogs: The Blog of Brooke and Blue Quill Writing.

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