Minimum Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

Must be a current U.S. citizen per TCLEOSE rules and requirements.
In order to apply you must have all of the following:
- Age must fall between 20.5 and not yet 45 years of age. Applicants cannot turn 46 before the start of the academy.
- High School Diploma, High School Transcripts, or G.E.D. Certificate
You must have at a minimum at least one of the 3 following requirements at time of application:
- 30 credit hours at a regionally or nationally accredited college/university with a 2.0 or higher grade point average (GPA is calculated from all transcripts) OR
- 24 months prior or current U.S. military service duty (Active,Reserve or National Guard) with an honorable discharge (general discharges under honorable conditions will be reviewed on a case by case basis) OR
- 24 months prior or current full time service as a U.S. police officer (active service police officers that have less than 24 months of service may apply if they currently have 12 continuous months of police service and they will have a total of 24 months of police service 1 month prior to the start of the academy estimated to start in the fall of 2012)
Please note that only applicants from regionally accredited colleges are eligible for the educational pay incentive. Some nationally accredited colleges may not be accepted, so please email the Recruiting Unit to check on eligibility.
Valid and current driver's license

Medical Disqualifiers

The following medical conditions will disqualify an applicant. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis, after careful consideration of each applicant’s particular medical situation.

Any chronic degenerative or demyelinating neurological disease (such as amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis [Lou Gehrig’s disease], or multiple sclerosis, etc.).
Any disease that treatment requires constant, multiple daily testing and medication adjustments (if applicant is diabetic they will need a clearance letter to be signed by their personal physician after they have passed the initial testing phases. It will not be needed with the initial application and can be requested at Recruiting from your assigned background investigator).
Any complex seizure disorder.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Significantly abnormal stress EKG suggesting coronary artery disease.
Evidence of complex or multiple psychotropic drug therapy.
Anosmia - Applicants must possess a sense of smell in order to function as a police cadet or officer.
Uncorrected visual acuity must be at least 20/100 (both eyes) for those who wear glasses or hard contact lenses. Wearers of soft contact lenses are exempt from uncorrected visual acuity.
Corrected visual acuity should be at least 20/20 (both eyes) and 20/40 (each eye).
The horizontal visual field should be at least 120 degrees in each eye.
Color vision and night vision must be normal and a deficiency in either will be a disqualifier.
For applicants who have completed refractive surgery to correct vision, the operating physician must complete a "Corrected Vision Surgical Form". This form may be obtained by contacting the Recruiting Unit. It will not be needed until later in the hiring process and prior to your final medical evaluation. This form can be requested from your assigned background investigator.
Hearing Loss: At least 25 DB in each ear at the following frequencies: 500, 1K, 2K and 3K. An applicant failing this requirement will be referred for further testing and possible use of a hearing aid.

Applicant Disqualifiers

Disqualifiers include but are not limited to the following:

Having a conviction for, being under indictment for, or currently charged with any felony offense.
Having a conviction for or currently charged with any misdemeanor offense involving moral turpitude.
Having been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years.
Having a conviction for driving under the influence (DWI or DUI) within ten (10) years preceding the date of application or during the hiring process.
Having been or currently on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years. This includes deferred adjudication for Class B misdemeanor or above charges.
Is not currently under indictment for any criminal offense.
Is not prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle.
Having a conviction or history of Family Violence.
Has not been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions including: specifically; (A) under other than honorable conditions;(B) bad conduct; (C) dishonorable; or (D) any other characterization of service indicating bad character.
Having had a law enforcement commission license denied by final order,revoked or having voluntarily surrendered your license to avoid suspension.
Discharged from any commission or recruit position within a law enforcement agency for disciplinary reasons, resigning to avoid suspension or discharge or having resigned during a disciplinary investigation without final judgment being rendered.
Discharged from any city, county, state, federal or private corrections institution for disciplinary reasons to avoid suspension or discharge, or having resigned during a disciplinary investigation without a final judgment being rendered.
History of sustained Internal Affairs complaints or behavior that indicates poor conduct.
Unacceptable driving record or currently classified as a habitual violator. History or pattern of unsafe driving including at fault collisions.
Drivers license suspension for any reason that indicates poor driving behavior or responsibility to comply with state laws- Up to 5 years from the time of suspension to application. This does not include suspensions resulting from MIP violations.
Unstable credit history; this includes (A) a consistent history of issuance of bad checks; (B) history of delinquent payments; (C) not meeting financial obligations. Credit history will be reviewed on a case by case basis to determine continuing eligibility in the hiring process.
If you are prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Failure to meet application process deadlines.
Must pass a Polygraph, Medical, Psychological screening and Drug Test screening.
Making false statements, being deceptive by statement or omission in the hiring and selection process will be a permanent disqualifier.
Failure to keep appointment(s) or provide documentation related to the hiring process. At least 24 hour prior notice for rescheduling of appointments is required to avoid disqualification unless otherwise specified.
Any use of marijuana within the last 3 years from time of application. Others factors, such as age at time of use and frequency will be reviewed for eligibility.
Selling of marijuana. Disqualified for a set number of years to be determined by Recruiting Unit.
Selling any controlled substance or dangerous drugs is a permanent disqualifier.
Using a controlled substance or dangerous drug illegally within a designated time period from date of application. Disqualification is not an automatic permanent disqualifier but depending on the substance used and frequency of use disqualification time will vary. Please contact a Recruiting Unit supervisor by email for more clarification on this issue to check your eligibility.