• Possess a Basic Peace Officer License issued Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License
• No Felony Convictions
• High school diploma or equivalent (Associate’s/Bachelor’s degree preferred)
• Must pass a background check, physical fitness test, and psychological evaluation

• The first step is submitting your application on-line. If you meet the minimum requirements you will be notified by email or telephone of the next available Physical Readiness and written test date.
• The Department will select the most competitive candidates to continue in the application process. Be sure to review the Department’s list of disqualifiers’ prior to submitting your application on-line and documents.
• Pass Physical Readiness Test (Click for more Information)
• Pass Reading Comprehension Exam
• Pass Writing Exam
• Background Investigation
• Pass/Recommended Psychological Exam
• Pass/Recommended Medical Exam
• Interview Board
• Offer of Employment

• Fail Reading Comprehension test
• Failed Writing Exam
• Illegal Drug Use
• Medical Examination – Not Recommended
• Psychological Examination – Not Recommended
• Being prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle;
• Having been convicted of six (6) or more traffic violations, or a conviction of failing to maintain financial responsibility within the last 24 months;
• The applicant’s driver license has been suspended for refusal to submit to a chemical test within the last five years;
• Currently on probation for any traffic offense or having a suspended driver license;
• Currently delinquent or having been delinquent in child support payments within the last 5 years as determined by a court or the Texas Attorney General’s Office;
• Having been or currently on court-ordered supervision or probation for any offense of the grade of felony or Class A misdemeanor;
• Having been convicted of any offense of the grade of felony or Class A misdemeanor;
• Having been on or currently on court-ordered supervision or probation for any criminal offense of the grade of Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years;
• Having been convicted of an offense of the grade of a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years;
• Having been convicted of a family violence offense;
• Currently being under indictment or criminal investigation;
• Being prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition;
• Having committed theft(s) while in a position of trust or in a pattern that shows habitual theft will permanently disqualify the applicant;
• Applicant must be of good moral character and habits. An investigation will be made regarding character, habits, previous employment, or other matters necessary to satisfactorily establish good moral character, habits, honesty, truth, and veracity. Credit history and financial condition of the applicant will be reviewed. Credit history will not be sole basis for disqualification.
• Applicants must answer truthfully and fully all questions asked of them. Any misrepresentation or omission of any material fact on the application, other department forms, during the background investigation, or in any phase of the selection process may disqualify the applicant.
• If an investigation discloses a willful misrepresentation, omission or falsification, the application will be rejected and the applicant will be permanently disqualified from applying in the future.
• Having committed sufficient criminal activities to establish a pattern of disregard for the law will permanently disqualify the applicant.
• Having committed any detected or undetected crime of a serious or aggravated nature including, but not limited to: criminal homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, incest, felony assault will permanently disqualify the applicant.
• Commission of a detected or undetected serious crime as an adult, which constitutes a felony, domestic violence, Class A misdemeanor, a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, repeated misdemeanor offenses, or a crime involving violence that occurred within 10 years prior to the submission of the application will disqualify the applicant.
• Any undetected crimes occurring beyond the ten year period will be subject to further review.
• Having been involved with seditious movements, terrorist activities, or any efforts to violently overthrow the United States government will permanently disqualify the applicant.
• Disciplinary action in prior employment, the military or educational institutions will be a basis for further evaluation. Applicant cannot reapply within 1 year from the date they were disqualified.
• Other indications of criminal history will be individually evaluated.

• This assessment is a measure of jumping or explosive power and is recommended as apart of the public safety fitness assessment batter. It is an important area for pursuit tasks requiring jumping and vaultingA Vertec Device is used to measure vertical jump
  • The athlete stands flat-footed next to the Vertec and reach up with their dominant arm, pushing the vanes as high as possible.
  • The height of the highest vane that the applicant can touch with a flat-footed reach is the standing reach height.
  • The applicant performs a countermovement jump (a quick squat down and then an explosive upward jump) while attempting to hit the vanes with their fingertips.
  • The highest vane the applicant successfully displaces during the jump is recorded
  • The applicant’s standing reach height will be subtracted from the jump height to determine the vertical jump measurement.
  • The applicant will perform three jumps and the highest jump will be recorded

• One or two experienced spotters must be used.
• Starting weight for men is about 2/3 of body weight. Starting weight for women is the bar (45 lbs.).
• With applicant in supine position, spotters lower bar until applicant’s elbows reach 90 degrees. Subject should have a slightly wider than shoulder width grip on bar.
• Spotters then release bar and applicant presses to full extension while exhaling.
• Spotters take bar, place on rack and increase poundage.
• Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 until the 1RM is reached. This should take approximately 5 to 6 trials.

Convert the 1RM free weight bench press score to the estimated 1RM Universal bench press score by using the following formulas:

Males:     Estimated 1RM Universal = (1.016 x free weight 1RM) + 18.41

Females: Estimated 1RM Universal = (.848 x free weight 1RM) + 21.37

Example: Steve’s 1RMfor free weights is 200 lbs.

He weighs 160 lbs. Estimated 1RM Universal= (1.016 x 200) + 18.41

Estimated 1RMUniversal= 221.6 lbs.

Divide the number of pounds pressed by bodyweight to determine ratio:

1RM ratio: 221.6/160 =1.385

Use norms to determine fitness category

1.385 would be in the 90^th percentile

This test measures abdominal muscular endurance.

• The applicant starts by lying on the back, knees bent, heels flat on the floor, with the fingers laced and held behind the head. Avoid pulling on the head with the hands. The buttocks must remain on the floor with no thrusting of the hips.
• An assistant holds the feet down firmly.
• The applicant performs as many correct sit ups as possible in one minute.
• In the up position, the applicant should touch elbows to knees and then return until the shoulder blades touch the floor.
• Score is total number of correct sit ups. Any resting should be done in the up position.
• Breathing should be as normal as possible, making sure the applicant does not hold their breath as in the Valsalva maneuver.
• Neck remains in the neutral position.
• Do not pull on the head or neck.

• As with all physical tests, warm up and stretching should precede testing.
• If using a 400-meter track, applicant runs 3/4 of 1 lap (inside lane) at maximal level of effort. Time used to complete distance is recorded in seconds. Consult norms to determine fitness category.
• Applicant should walk for 3-5 minutes immediately following test to cool down. This is an important safety consideration.

This test measures muscular endurance of the upper body (anterior deltoid, pectoralis major, triceps).

• The hands are placed slightly wider than shoulder width apart, with fingers pointing forward. An administrator places one fist on the floor below the subject’s chest. If a male is testing a female, a 3-inch sponge should be placed under the sternum to substitute for the fist.
• Starting from the up position (elbows extended), the applicant must keep the back straight at all times and lower the body to the floor until the chest touches the administrator’s fist. Applicant then returns to the up position. This is one repetition.
• Resting should be done only in the up position. Both hands must remain in contact with the floor at all times.
• The total number of correct push-ups in 1 minute is recorded as the score.

• Applicants should not eat a heavy meal or smoke for at least 2-3 hours prior to the test.
• Applicants should warm up and stretch thoroughly prior to the test.
• If possible, each applicant should have experienced some practice in pacing prior to the test. Often applicants will attempt to run too fast early in the run and become fatigued prematurely. A trained pacer might accompany the applicants around the track during the actual test.
• The applicant runs 1.5 miles as fast as possible. If a 440-yard track is used, 6 laps must be completed using the inside lane (lane 1). If using a 400-meter track, an additional 15 yards must be run after the 6 laps are completed.
• During the administration of the test, applicants can be informed of their lap times.
• Upon test completion, a mandatory cool down period is enforced. The applicants should walk slowly for about 5 minutes immediately after the run to prevent venous pooling (i.e., pooling of the blood in the lower extremities which reduces the return of blood to the heart and may cause cardiac arrhythmias).