Occasionally we receive calls and/or emails asking how someone becomes a police officer in Minnesota. The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training is responsible for administering the rules and regulations for law enforcement. A link to their page regarding this topic can be found at the bottom of this section.
The procedure for becoming a peace officer in Minnesota has three basic components.
- First, the candidate must complete pre-service education and training.
- Second, the candidate must apply for and pass the Peace Officer Licensing Exam or the Reciprocity Licensing Examination to become eligible to be licensed.
- Third, the candidate must meet the peace officer selection standards (established by POST Board rule) and be appointed by a law enforcement agency.
Once these three steps are completed, the candidate applies for and is issued a peace officer license.
Here is a link to the full process: https://dps.mn.gov/entity/post/becoming-a-peace-officer/Pages/peace-officer-how-to-become.aspx