Tennessee POST Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Age: At least 21 years old.
• Education: High school diploma or GED; some agencies require college hours.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen.
• Driver license: Valid Tennessee driver’s license by appointment.
• Criminal history: No felony convictions; no domestic violence convictions; no disqualifying misdemeanors.
• Other requirements:
  • Pass TBI/FBI fingerprint background investigation.
  • Pass medical, psychological, and drug screening.
  • Meet physical fitness standards set by the Tennessee POST Council.
  • Graduate from a POST-approved basic police academy.

Physical Fitness Standards

Tennessee academies use a standardized physical fitness entry and exit test based on Cooper benchmarks.

• 1.5-mile run.
• 300-meter sprint.
• Push-ups in one minute.
• Sit-ups in one minute.
• Agility/job-task components depending on academy.

Individual academies may require higher-than-minimum performance.

Academy Training Requirements

Minimum academy hours: 488

Tennessee POST requires a minimum of 488 hours of basic recruit training, though most academies exceed 500 hours.

Reference: Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission – Basic Law Enforcement Academy.

Reciprocity / Lateral Entry

Tennessee POST provides a waiver process for out-of-state officers with substantially equivalent training and experience.

• Submit previous academy curriculum and experience documentation.
• Complete Tennessee supplemental training requirements.
• Pass the POST state certification exam.

Eligibility varies depending on recency and comparability of prior experience.

POST Contact Information

Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission
3025 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: (615) 741-4461
Website: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/post.html

Official POST Requirements:
https://www.tn.gov/commerce/post/law-enforcement-officers.html