How to Become a Police Officer in Idaho

Becoming a Police Officer in Boise, Idaho

The city of Boise is the largest one in the state of Idaho and has a population of 239,687, according to the United States Census Bureau. Since Boise is more than twice as large as the next most populous city in the state, there are plenty of Boise Police jobs.


When becoming a police officer in Boise there are a series of steps one most complete during the hiring process in order to become a recruit with the Boise Police Department. When considering how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Boise you must do the following:

  • Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements
  • Step 2. City Application and Personal History Statement
  • Step 3. Oral Interview
  • Step 4. Physical Fitness Test
  • Step 5. Polygraph Test and Background Check
  • Step 6. Psychological Evaluation, Medical Exam and Drug Screen
  • Step 7. Training Academy

Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements

Before completing an application, you must first review the basic requirements and qualifications for the police officer position in Boise, Idaho. The requirements with the Boise Police Department are as follows:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age by date of hire
  • Must have at least 64 credit hours at a university
  • Must be of high moral character
  • Must be a United States citizen
  • Must have a valid state driver’s license
  • Must be able to legally possess a firearm
  • Must have uncorrected vision that is at least 20-200
  • Must be in good physical condition

Step 2. City Application and Personal History Statement

If you meet the requirements as stated above and on the Boise Police Department website, then you can go ahead and complete an application with the city human resources department. The application will review information including work history, education and will include a short written exam in order to test your ability to accurately follow directions and have a comprehensive knowledge of English. The application will also include a personal history statement, which will include information that will be cross-checked with your background check later on in the hiring and recruitment contest.

Step 3. Oral Interview

If your application is accepted, you will then be scheduled for an oral interview. The interview will be one-on-one with a representative from the Boise Police Department. The interview will seek to determine whether you have the honesty, integrity and work ethic to become a successful police officer with the department.

Step 4. Physical Fitness Test

The physical fitness test will determine whether or not you have the physical abilities to perform the day-to-day opportunities of a police officer. The following tests ask you to do the following:

  • A minimum 14-inch vertical jump
  • 15 sit-ups in one minute
  • 21 push-ups in one minute
  • Run 300 meters in 77 seconds
  • Run 1.5 miles in 17 minutes and 17 seconds

Step 5. Polygraph Test and Background Check

The polygraph test and background check will seek to determine whether you have the integrity and moral standards to be a good candidate for a position with the department. The polygraph will focus on prior problems with employers, drug usage, criminal activity and blackmail issues. If you pass these tests without any information being found to be falsified you will move on in the recruitment process.

Step 6. Psychological Evaluation, Medical Exam and Drug Screen

The psychological exam will be with a contracted psychologist working for the Boise Police Department. You will be asked to perform some written tests and then you will do an interview with the psychologist regarding your past history. The total time for the evaluation will be at least 2 hours, and a written report by the psychologist will be turned into the police department for further review.

The medical exam will determine that you are physically able to perform the duties of a police officer. The exam will seek out any medical conditions that may interfere with your ability to meet the standards of the Boise Police Department.

The drug screen will test for any illegal substances that could be in your system. Failing the drug test will automatically disqualify you from further consideration with the department and you will not be allowed to enroll with the training academy.

Step 7. Training Academy

The state of Idaho requires that all police officer recruits must receive a Peace Officers Standards and Training certificate. The training academy consists of 10-weeks of advanced training and then 14-weeks of field training. The advanced training consists of criminal investigation techniques, patrol standards, peace officer and community policing, among many other subjects. The field training consists of on-the-job training with a veteran police officer. After field training you will be given a beat and will become a police officer with the Boise Police Department.

Becoming a Police Officer in Idaho Falls, Idaho

Compared to many police departments in the state of Idaho, Idaho Falls police jobs are more plentiful. The city of Idaho Falls is one of only three cities in the state that have a population of more than 100,000 residents.

Becoming a police officer in Idaho Falls requires you to complete a series of steps. The Idaho Falls Police Department requires that you go through the following process prior to becoming an officer:

  • Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements
  • Step 2. Complete an Application and Civil Service Writing Exam
  • Step 3. Physical Fitness Battery Test
  • Step 4. Oral Interview
  • Step 5. Background Check, Polygraph Testing and Administration Interview
  • Step 6. Psychological and Medical Examinations
  • Step 7. Academy Training

Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements

Before beginning the process with the Idaho Falls Police Department, you must first review the basic requirements for the police officer position. The basic requirements are the following:

  • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Must have at least 2 years of full-time employment history
  • Must have a valid driver’s license
  • Must be able to speak and write in fluent English
  • Must be a United States citizen
  • Must be at least 21 years of age

Step 2. Complete an Application and Civil Service Writing Exam

The next step in the process, if you meet the basic requirements, is to complete an application with the City of Idaho Falls. If any information from the application is found to be false, then you will be disqualified from the process on the spot. The application includes a civil service writing exam. The exam only happens once a year, during the third week of May. Upon completion of the exam, a pool of 25 to 30 candidates will be chosen to continue on in the process- and they will be weeded out as the process goes through the rest of the steps.

Step 3. Physical Fitness Battery Test

The next step is a physical fitness test, in which you will be asked to meet the following basic requirements:

  • Must have at least a 14-inch vertical jump
  • Must be able to do 15 sit-ups in one minute
  • Must be able to do 21 push-ups in one minute
  • Must run 300 meters in 77 seconds
  • Must be able to run 1.5 miles in 17 minutes and 17 seconds

For those that qualify after the physical fitness battery test, they will be scheduled for an oral interview with representatives from the Idaho Falls Police Department.

Step 4. Oral Interview

The oral interview is conducted by the Civil Service Commission. The Commission will ask you questions about past experiences, your skills and the qualifications that make you a better candidate than the other applicants that are remaining. When thinking about how to become a cop by meeting requirements in Idaho Falls, it is very important to be honest with a high amount of integrity, desire and moral standards of behavior.

Step 5. Background Check, Polygraph Testing and Administration Interview

Next, there will be an extensive background check, and then a polygraph test that will try to determine whether you can handle stress and tell the truth about your past. Information from your application and background check will be used during the polygraph test. The next step is another interview with administrators from the Idaho Falls, Idaho Police Department. At this point, the scores will be added up from the civil service test, the physical fitness battery exam and the interviews. Three candidates will then be chosen for each open position with the Idaho Falls Police Department.

Step 6. Psychological and Medical Examinations

The psychological exam is with a psychologist and will take several hours to complete. The psychologist will delve into your decision-making processes and will elaborate upon any difficulties you may have had in the past in order to determine if you can handle the mental stress of the job as a police officer. The medical exam is conducted by a doctor and seeks to identify any medical problems that may interfere with your ability to perform the day-to-day tasks of an officer in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Step 7. Academy Training

You will then be offered a job and will be enrolled in the Peace Officer Standards and Training program, in order to receive a certificate and work for the Idaho Falls Police Department. The academy is a series of classes that will teach you the various duties involved with being a police officer. You will also be enrolled in a field training program that will provide on-the-job training with the department.

Becoming a Police Officer in Meridian, Idaho

The city of Meridian, Idaho has a population of 88,242, which makes it the third most-populous city in the entire state. On top of that, Meridian is also one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. When considering those facts, Meridian police jobs are some of the most attractive in the state.

When considering how to become a cop by meeting the police officer requirements in Meridian, Idaho, there are a series of steps you must first complete in the hiring and recruitment process. When becoming a police officer in Meridian, you must first do the following:

  • Step 1. Review Basic Requirements/ Qualifications
  • Step 2. Complete an Application
  • Step 3. Physical Agility Testing
  • Step 4. Interview
  • Step 5. Polygraph Testing and Background Investigation
  • Step 6. Psychological Examination, Drug Testing and Medical Check
  • Step 7. Academy Enrollment

Step 1. Review Basic Requirements/ Qualifications

The first step in the process is to make sure that you meet the basic requirements and qualifications. You cannot complete an application or be considered for a position with the Meridian Police Department unless you first meet the following criteria:

  • Must have 60 college credits or 4 years of military history with an honorable discharge
  • Must be in good physical condition
  • Must be of good moral character
  • Must have no felony convictions
  • No misdemeanor convictions within the last 5 years
  • At least two years of work experience post-high school
  • Must be at least 21 years of age

Step 2. Complete an Application

If you meet the requirements, then you can complete an application with the City of Meridian, Idaho. The application will be screened to make sure you meet the qualifications, and then you will be contacted to complete a written examination. The written exam will test your skills in a variety of areas pertaining to the duties of a professional police officer.

Step 3. Physical Agility Testing

The physical agility testing requires that you perform the following:

  • 15 sit-ups in one minute
  • 21 push-ups in one minute
  • a 300 meter run in 77 seconds
  • a 1.5 mile run in 17 minutes and 17 seconds
  • a vertical jump of at least 14 inches

Step 4. Interview

Upon completion of the physical agility test, you will be interviewed by the Meridian Police Department Chief of Police. He will ask you questions in regards to your past, your present and your goals for the future. If he deems you to be a good candidate, he will schedule you for the next step with in 10 days after the interview was completed.

Step 5. Polygraph Testing and Background Investigation

The polygraph test will determine whether you have the morals and integrity to be an honest and dependable employee with the Meridian Police Department. The background investigation will look into various aspects of your personal history in order to identify any areas that could be problematic or that could differ from the information provided on your application and throughout the rest of the process up to this point.

Step 6. Psychological Examination, Drug Testing and Medical Check

After the background check, there will be a psychological exam performed by a contracted psychologist. The information from the application, the background check, the polygraph and the interview will all be used by the psychologist in order to identify whether or not you are mentally fit to handle the daily stress involved with the position as a police officer. The drug testing will seek to find illegal substances in your system and the medical check will identify whether or not your body is ready and capable to handle the unpredictable nature of the job.

Step 7. Academy Enrollment

The training academy will teach you all the skills you will need in order to be an officer with the Meridian, Idaho Police Department. The basic classes will take 14 weeks to complete and will total more than 700 hours of hands-on training will professionals from police departments all across the state of Idaho.

Becoming a Police Officer in Nampa, Idaho

With a population of 106,119, the city of Nampa, Idaho is only one of three cities in the state that exceeds 100,000 people. Nampa is the second-largest city in the state and is home to the Nampa Police Department.

In order to get a job as a police officer with the Nampa Police Department, there are a series of steps one must go through. The hiring process is as follows:

  • Step 1. Review Basic Requirements
  • Step 2. Complete an Application
  • Step 3. Extensive Written Examination
  • Step 4. Physical Fitness Test
  • Step 5. Oral Board Evaluation
  • Step 6. Background Check and Polygraph Testing
  • Step 7. Psychological Evaluation and Medical Examination
  • Step 8. Training Academy

Step 1. Review Basic Requirements

Before completing an application for Nampa Police jobs, you should first review the qualifications and requirements for the position. Becoming a police officer in Nampa requires that you meet the following criteria:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age
  • Must not have any felony convictions since turning 18 years old
  • No minor misdemeanor convictions in the past 5 years
  • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Must posses a valid driver’s license

Preference is given to applicants who have the following experience:

  • Military experience without a dishonorable discharge
  • At least 64 credits earned through a college with accreditation
  • Possession of a Peace Officer Standards and Training certificate
  • Bilingual in Spanish and English

Step 2. Complete an Application

If you meet the basic criteria for the position, then you can complete an application with the Nampa, Idaho Police Department. The application includes information about your background, which will be verified further along in the process. If any information contained in the application is found to be falsified then you will be automatically disqualified from the hiring and recruitment process.

Step 3. Extensive Written Examination

The written examination will delve into your abilities to follow directions, make sound decisions under pressure and communicate effectively with the public. A representative from the Nampa Police Department will review the written exam and then schedule you to continue along in the process.

Step 4. Physical Fitness Test

The physical fitness test seeks to determine whether you can meet the physical demands of the position. When determining how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Nampa, you must be able to meet the standards set forth in a 300 meter run, a 1.5 mile run, a vertical jump test, and sit-ups and push-ups. If you can pass the physical fitness test you will then be scheduled for an interview within 7 to 10 days.

Step 5. Oral Board Evaluation

The oral board evaluation is an interview with a group of representatives from the city government and the Nampa Police Department. The evaluation will seek to determine whether or not you are capable of handling the stress of the job, as well as the ability to be honest, hardworking and smart when on the clock with the department.

Step 6. Background Check and Polygraph Testing

The background check will look into various aspects of your past. Information included in the check are employment history, education, family, medical, criminal and rental history amongst other things. The information will be cross-compared with the information provided in your application and the polygraph test will seek out more detailed information contained in your background check.

Step 7. Psychological Evaluation and Medical Examination

The psychological evaluation will look into your abilities to handle stress and to make honest decisions while on the job. The evaluation will be conducted with a professional psychologist working under contract with the Nampa, Idaho Police Department.

The next step in the process is a medical examination with a doctor under contract with the Nampa Police Department. The doctor will look for any medical conditions that may interfere with your ability to meet the physical demands of the job.

Step 8. Training Academy

The training academy will prepare you to earn a Peace Officer Standards and Training certificate, which is required in order to move onto a police officer position in Nampa, Idaho. The training academy includes the following phases:

  • 6 weeks of in-house mini academy training
  • 14 weeks of field training
  • 10 weeks in patrol academy
  • 40 hour annual block training
  • Quarterly firearms training and qualification

Becoming a Police Officer in Pocatello, Idaho

Pocatello, Idaho is the fifth most-populous city in the state and often offers opportunities for aspiring police officers and other law enforcement professionals. The city’s population is 77,202, according to the United States Census Bureau.

In Pocatello, police jobs require that you complete a series of steps in order to become an officer with the department. The Pocatello Police Department requires that you follow theses steps when becoming a police officer:

  • Step 1. Review Basic Qualifications
  • Step 2. Complete Application and Written Examination
  • Step 3. Physical Fitness Test
  • Step 4. Background Investigation
  • Step 5. Interview
  • Step 6. Conditional Job Offer
  • Step 7. Academy and Field Training

Step 1. Review Basic Qualifications

The first step in the process is to review the basic requirements for the position. If these are not met, then you will not be accepted into the recruitment process. When considering how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Pocatello. The following are the basic requirements needed to get a position with the department:

  • Must be a United States citizen
  • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Must have a minimum of two years of work experience after high school
  • Must have a valid driver’s license
  • Must have computer experience
  • Must be at least 21 years of age

Step 2. Complete Application and Written Examination

Next, you will fill-out an application with the Pocatello Police Department and complete a Civil Service Written Examination. A study guide for the written examination can be found here.

Step 3. Physical Fitness Test

The physical fitness test is meant to measure your ability to handle the sometimes unpredictable physical demands of the job with the Pocatello Police Department. The physical fitness test requires you do to the following:

  • Must have at least a 14-inch vertical jump
  • Must do at least 15 sit-ups in one minute
  • Must do at least 21 push-ups in one minute
  • Must run 300 meters in 77 seconds
  • Must run 1.5 miles in 17 minutes and 17 seconds

Step 4. Background Investigation

The background investigation will focus on your past history in education, work, family, relationships, rental, medical and psychological. The information obtained during the background check will then go on to be used in the interview and then in the conditional job offer process. Any information obtained in the background check that does not match-up with the information provided in your application may disqualify you from the process.

Step 5. Interview

The interview will be with a cross-section of employees from the city government and from the Pocatello Police Department. The interview will seek to determine whether you have the honesty, integrity and work ethic to be a valuable member of the department.

Step 6. Conditional Job Offer

The conditional job offer process includes a polygraph test, medical, vision and hearing exams and a psychological test. The polygraph test will make sure you are honest in the way you answer, and that information will be used during the psychological exam as well. The psychological test will focus on your history and will seek to determine whether you are mentally ready to handle the stress of the job as a police officer in Pocatello, Idaho.

Step 7. Academy and Field Training

The academy will focus on teaching the skills of patrolling areas, making arrests, handling criminals and conducting criminal investigations among many other things. The academy includes 700 hours of training, spread over 14 weeks on intensive courses. After graduating from the academy, you will be enrolled in field training, which is on-the-job with a professional veteran officer from the department.

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