How to Become a Police Officer in Michigan

 To become a police officer in Michigan you have to be licensed by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). To get that license candidates must meet minimum selection standards, including passing a basic police academy course or having prior training and experience, and being hired by a law enforcement agency

Requirements to Become a Cop in MI

The minimum standards begin with U.S. citizenship and an age minimum of 18 years old. Minimum education is a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. No candidate can have a felony conviction or an expunged conviction on his/her record, and good moral character must be verified through a comprehensive background investigation of school and employment records. Home environment and personal traits will be examined as part of the background investigation. A valid driver’s license is required and it may not be in a state of suspension. All candidates will undergo fingerprinting for as part of the background check and will be tested for use of controlled substances.

Application Process Disqualification Factors

All candidates must be free of physical defects and chronic diseases, mental or emotional instability. Chronic diseases include diabetes, seizures and narcolepsy, with each case to be reviewed by a licensed physician to determine the extent, if any, on job performance.

 Hearing will be tested to determine if it meets job qualifications, eyesight must be 20/20 in each eye, corrected. Height and weight must meet an acceptable Body Mass Index, which, should it exceed 35, will subject the candidate to further evaluation.

 Candidates must be free from mental or emotional instabilities that may impair the performance of the essential job functions of a law enforcement officer or which might endanger the lives of others or the law enforcement officer.

Police Testing Standards

All candidates must pass a reading and writing examination that can be reviewed at www.michigan.gov/mcoles/0,1607,7-229–147712–,00.html. Candidates also must pass a physical fitness  pre-enrollment test involving vertical jump, sit-ups, push-ups and a half mile run, to be taken within 180 days before beginning basic academy training. Information about the physical fitness test can be found at www.michigan.gov/mcoles/0,1607,7-229–147713–,00.html.

Police Training Academy Requirements

Successfully completing basic police training is a must, or course, and Michigan offers three ways to do this. Approximately 50% of candidates are hired first by a police agency, which then sends them to an academy at the agency’s cost.