Rhode Island POST Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Age: 21 years old at appointment.
• Education: High school diploma or GED; many departments require college credits.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen.
• Driver license: Valid driver's license required.
• Criminal history: No felony convictions; must meet background & moral character standards.
• Other requirements:
  • Pass physical agility test (PAT).
  • Pass written exam.
  • Pass psychological and medical evaluation.
  • Drug screening.
  • Complete Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy (RIMPTA).

Physical Fitness Standards

Rhode Island uses strict Cooper-based PAT standards for academy entrance.

• 1.5-mile run
• Sit-ups (1 minute)
• Push-ups (1 minute)
• Vertical jump
• 300-meter sprint

Minimum standards increase during academy progression.

Academy Training Requirements

Minimum academy hours: 1000

RIMPTA requires approximately 22 weeks of training, exceeding 1,000 hours.

Reference: Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy – Basic Training.

Reciprocity / Lateral Entry

Rhode Island does NOT traditionally offer reciprocity; most lateral officers must attend full academy.

• Case-by-case legal equivalency review.
• May require full RIMPTA academy regardless of prior experience.

One of the strictest states for lateral transfers.

POST Contact Information

Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy
640 New London Ave., Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: 401-464-1773
Website: https://rimpta.ri.gov

Official POST Requirements:
https://rimpta.ri.gov/basic-training