An applicant for employment must meet the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of the United States (born or naturalized) or a permanent resident of the United States
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Possess a high school diploma, a "General Educational Development" (GED) equivalent, or have a college degree; from an accredited educational institution approved by the U.S. Department of Education
• Be willing to work various shifts

An applicant must be able to successfully complete the following:

• Reading comprehension test
• Physical fitness test
  • Minimal on Cooper's PT Standard of:
    • Pass a basic Physical Fitness test to be hired in Corrrections
    • Academy Cadet 5% to qualify for entry into the POST academy
• Interview
• Pre-polygraph exam
• Extensive background investigation
• Post-polygraph exam
• Psychological exam
• Medical exam and drug screen

New Cooper Age and Gender Base Standards for Law Enforcement (PDF)