Iowa POST Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Age: At least 18 years old under Iowa Administrative Code minimum standards; many agencies require 21 at time of appointment.
• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen and a resident of Iowa or intending to become a resident upon employment.
• Driver license: Valid Iowa driver’s license (or ability to obtain one by hire date).
• Criminal history: No felony convictions; must not be addicted to drugs or alcohol; must meet Iowa Law Enforcement Academy moral character and background standards.
• Other requirements:
  • Must be able to read and write the English language and pass any required reading/writing tests.
  • Must successfully complete a physical fitness test adopted by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) consisting of a 1-minute push-up test, 1-minute sit-up test, and 1.5-mile run, with age- and sex-based standards.
  • Must undergo and pass a fingerprint-based criminal history and background investigation.
  • Must successfully complete mandatory psychological testing in accordance with Iowa Administrative Code, including evaluation by a licensed psychologist.
  • Must pass a medical examination demonstrating fitness to perform essential law enforcement duties.
  • Must pass drug screening as required by hiring agencies.
  • Must be hired or sponsored by an Iowa law enforcement agency to attend the ILEA Basic Academy.
  • Must successfully complete an ILEA-approved basic training academy and meet all certification requirements set by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council.

Physical Fitness Standards

Iowa law requires all peace officer candidates to pass a physical fitness performance test adopted by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. The standard ILEA test consists of a 1-minute push-up test, a 1-minute sit-up test, and a 1.5-mile run, with performance benchmarks based on age and sex.

• 1-minute push-up test (upper-body muscular endurance).
• 1-minute sit-up test (core and hip-flexor endurance).
• 1.5-mile run (aerobic capacity and leg endurance).

ILEA fitness standards are derived from Cooper Institute norms. Candidates must meet or exceed the required percentile for their age and sex group to be admitted to the academy, and agencies frequently require the same test during hiring. Many departments publish example charts (e.g., males age 20–29: ~38 sit-ups, 29 push-ups, 1.5-mile run around 12:51; females age 20–29: ~32 sit-ups, 15 push-ups, 1.5-mile run around 15:26), but applicants should consult current ILEA documentation or agency announcements for exact numbers.

Academy Training Requirements

Minimum academy hours: 620

The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Basic Academy is a residential course currently delivered over roughly 16 weeks. ILEA identifies a long-course basic academy of at least 620 hours, and Academy curriculum pages describe a modern program of approximately 639 hours of instruction covering foundations of policing, legal topics, communication, crisis response, firearms, defensive tactics, driving, investigations, physical training and scenario-based exercises.

Reference: Iowa Law Enforcement Academy – Basic Academy overview, curriculum and tuition/fees pages.

Reciprocity / Lateral Entry

Iowa provides certification options for previously certified Iowa officers, out-of-state officers, and certain federal or military officers through the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy’s certification and waiver processes.

• Previously certified Iowa officers who move from one Iowa agency to another may retain certification if they meet the continuity and training requirements in Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 3 and ILEA policy.
• Out-of-state officers with prior basic academy training and certification may be evaluated for equivalency; depending on ILEA’s review, they may be required to complete Iowa-specific legal, skills, and firearms training and pass the state certification exam.
• Federal or military police officers may be considered under similar equivalency provisions when their training and experience are substantially comparable to Iowa’s basic standards.
• All reciprocity or equivalency candidates must meet the same minimum standards as new Iowa officers, including background, psychological, medical, and physical fitness requirements, and must be employed or conditionally hired by an Iowa law enforcement agency.

Reciprocity and waiver decisions are governed by Iowa Administrative Code, Agency 501 (particularly Chapters 2 and 3) and are reviewed case-by-case by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and its Council. Hiring agencies may still require lateral officers to attend portions of the basic academy or additional field training.

POST Contact Information

Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA)
7105 NW 70th Avenue, Burma Road – Building 4640, Johnston, IA 50131
Phone: 515-331-5778
Website: https://ilea.iowa.gov

Official POST Requirements:
https://ilea.iowa.gov/agencies/basic-academy