Pennsylvania POST Requirements
Fast Facts
- Minimum age: At least 18 years old for Act 120 municipal police certification; many academies and agencies require 21 years of age by graduation or appointment.
- Education: High school diploma or GED; must meet MPOETC minimum reading level (9th grade).
- Academy hours (minimum): 919
- Reciprocity: MPOETC provides training waivers and exemption pathways for out-of-state, federal, and military officers whose prior training and experience are substantially equivalent to Pennsylvania Act 120 standards.
Minimum Requirements
- Age: At least 18 years old for Act 120 municipal police certification; many academies and agencies require 21 years of age by graduation or appointment.
- Education: High school diploma or GED; must meet MPOETC minimum reading level (9th grade).
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen.
- Driver license: Valid driver’s license (Pennsylvania license required by employment in most cases).
- Criminal history: No disqualifying criminal convictions—generally any Misdemeanor 2 or higher, or any offense punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.
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Other requirements:
- Satisfactory criminal background check and character review.
- Medical examination including vision and hearing standards.
- Psychological evaluation by an approved professional.
- Pre-employment drug screening.
- Successful completion of MPOETC-approved entrance physical fitness test.
Physical Fitness Standards
MPOETC requires Cooper-based physical fitness standards for both academy admission and academy graduation, with age- and sex-based requirements.
- 1.5-mile run (Cooper-based time standards).
- Sit-ups within a timed period.
- Push-ups within a timed period.
- Additional academy-administered conditioning as required.
Entrance and exit standards follow MPOETC’s statewide Cooper-norm charts. Academies may enforce slightly stricter benchmarks but cannot go below MPOETC minimums.
Academy Training Requirements
Minimum academy hours: 919
Pennsylvania’s Act 120 academy is a comprehensive 919-hour program mandated by MPOETC, typically delivered over approximately 22 weeks full-time (or extended part-time formats). Training covers criminal law, patrol procedures, investigations, firearms, EVOC, defensive tactics, physical fitness, and scenario-based instruction.
Reference: MPOETC Act 120 Municipal Police Officer Basic Training Curriculum.
Reciprocity / Lateral Entry
MPOETC provides training waivers and exemption pathways for out-of-state, federal, and military officers whose prior training and experience are substantially equivalent to Pennsylvania Act 120 standards.
- Out-of-state officers may receive partial waivers based on documented equivalency of prior basic academy training and experience.
- Federal law enforcement and military police may qualify if they document significant prior training (often 760+ cumulative hours) and sworn experience.
- Approved waiver applicants may complete a reduced instructional block rather than the full 919-hour academy.
- All candidates must still pass MPOETC certification exams and satisfy medical, psychological, and background requirements.
Waivers are not automatic; MPOETC evaluates each applicant individually based on submitted training records and experience documentation.
POST Contact Information
Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC)
8002 Bretz Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112-9748
Website:
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/mpoetc
Official POST Requirements:
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/mpoetc/programs/training/basic-police-officer-training/