How to Become a Police Officer in Alabama

Alabama is a great place to live and an even better place to serve as a police officer. Alabama is home to over 4.8 million residents and has nine major cities.¹ With a cost of living 11% lower and housing costs 33% lower than the national averages, law enforcement professionals can live comfortably in Alabama.²

According to the latest available data, 10,420 sworn police officers are employed in Alabama.³ Recently, 12 law enforcement agencies were merged to create the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. They include the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Investigation, the Fusion Center, the Criminal Justice Information Center, the Marine Police, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Enforcement, the Department of Revenue Enforcement, the Forestry Commission Investigations, the Public Service Commission Enforcement, and the Office of Prosecution Service Computer Forensics Lab. In addition to this agency, there are many police and sheriff’s departments across the state that can offer promising jobs for aspiring cops.

Alabama Police Officer Requirements

Candidates seeking to become cops in Alabama must have good moral character and meet several other qualifications. Prospective officers must:

Be over age 17 to become a cadet, over age 20 to become a sworn law enforcement officer
Be a US citizen
Have either a high school diploma or GED
Possess a valid driver’s license and have a three-year record of driving
Have no felony convictions, nor pardons for felonies
Not have been dishonorably discharged from the US military

Any misdemeanors for domestic violence offenses may disqualify or make you a less desirable candidate for law enforcement. A candidate hoping to become an Alabama law enforcement officer must also be in good physical and mental health. Each applicant will need to undergo a physical exam and receive a physician’s declaration of the candidate’s good health and physical fitness in order to be appointed. Applicants will also need to undergo a psychological test.

In addition to your medical releases, you will be required to pass the physical ability/agility test which will include timed sit-ups and push-ups, climbing over a fence, running and climbing through small spaces like windows, and a timed run (discussed further below).

Required Examinations

Multiple exams and one skills test are required to become an Alabama police officer. Throughout the police academy, candidates must maintain a score of at least 70% on all written tests. To graduate from the academy and become sworn officers, candidates must pass a physical agility exam which consists of completing a 1.5 mile run in less than 15 minutes and 28 seconds, 22 push-ups in one minute, and 25 sit-ups in one minute.

Police recruits must also pass a legal issues exam and a first aid exam, scoring 70% or more on both. Finally, the candidate must complete 43 hours of firearms training. Candidates must qualify to safely and effectively operate firearms on at least two of three scored attempts, including shooting a handgun and shotgun and proficiency with a patrol rifle.

Alabama State Trooper Requirements

The state of Alabama has 18 highway patrol offices. The Alabama Highway Patrol Headquarters is located in Montgomery. For the details for each location including commanding officers, review the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency website.

In order to apply to be an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) trooper, candidates must:

Possess a high school diploma or GED
Be 21 years or older
Be able to accept an assignment in any part of the state, not necessarily the candidate’s home county
Pass the agency’s multiple-choice written exam; candidates are placed in the competitive application pool according to their exam scores
Not have any disqualifying criminal convictions
Not have been dishonorably discharged from the military

In order to be selected for Alabama trooper training, candidates must:

Have passed the Basic Ability Test for Law Enforcement Officers or hold an associate’s degree or higher
Pass a physical agility test
Pass a vision screening
Complete a personal interview
Undergo a full background check that will include a polygraph and testing for illegal drugs
Pass a medical evaluation

Selected candidates will become trooper trainees. After training and a six-month probationary period, trainees will be eligible for promotion to ALEA troopers.

Alabama Sheriff Deputy Requirements

Alabama has 67 counties and there is at least one sheriff for each county. Jefferson County is the largest county in Alabama; its sheriff’s department has 573 sworn deputies and 168 civilian employees.⁴

To qualify as a sheriff’s deputy for Jefferson County, candidates must:

Possess a high school diploma or GED
Be at least 21 years of age
Not have any felony convictions
Not have any domestic violence convictions
Pass a medical exam and drug test
Possess a valid driver’s license and a good history or driving
Pass the Alabama physical agility test and knowledge exams
Not have been dishonorably discharged from the military

“Interview officers, participate in ride-along programs, volunteer, become acquainted with the needs of the community, develop an authentic understanding of the profession, and live a life of leadership by setting a positive example. A candidate who has followed this advice will surely have an advantage in the interview and hiring process for becoming a police officer.” – Jonathan Parker, Founder/President of Covered Law Enforcement

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Police Departments in Alabama

Alabama has 417 law enforcement agencies and roughly 250 sworn police officers per 100,000 residents.⁵ The state of Alabama covers 52,419 square miles. Its capital city is Montgomery and the largest city by population is Birmingham. Age requirements for aspiring police officers vary across the state, but all cities require candidates to possess a high school diploma or GED, have no felony convictions, possess a valid driver’s license, and not have been dishonorably discharged from the military.

Birmingham

To qualify as an officer in the Birmingham Police Department (BPD), candidates must be at least 21 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED. The BPD has several divisions and task forces where officers can find career advancement opportunities. Project ICE (Isolate Criminal Events) works with the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau to investigate federal firearm violations. The Pawn Shop Detail reviews pawned property to identify burglary suspects. The Major Fraud Unit investigates white-collar crime in the city. The Victims Liaison Unit works to improve the way victims of crimes are treated. To learn more, see our in-depth guide on becoming a police officer in Birmingham.

Montgomery

Montgomery, Alabama is home to one of the five largest police forces in the state. With 503 sworn police officers and 11 civilian employees, the Montgomery Police Department (MPD) serves 200,000 residents and an estimated 150,000 annual visitors.^6,7

Potential recruits must be US citizens, have a high school diploma or GED, and be at least 19 years of age. Additionally, candidates must live within an hour from the police headquarters upon completion of the training academy. Montgomery Police Department offers lateral transfers for out-of-state Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST)-certified officers and military and federal police.

Mobile

The Mobile Police Department (MPD) is often actively recruiting police officers. The MPD employs over 490 sworn officers and 240 non-sworn employees.⁶ Candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED, but can earn higher base salaries based on the level of education completed.

Candidates must be 21 years old to be sworn police officers, but individuals ages 17 to 22 years old can take advantage of MPD’s Civilian Cadet Training Program. This salaried program provides cadets with public safety training that will give them more experience if they decide to pursue becoming sworn and licensed later on.

The Mobile Police Department has several units that serve the city, including:

Ranger Unit, a group designated to reduce crime in targeted areas
Mounted Patrol Detail, patrol officers on horseback
Traffic Safety Unit, officers that respond to traffic accidents, provides traffic escorts and enforces traffic laws such as the speed limit
Tactical Response Unit, a team of officers that respond to hostage situations, barricaded suspects and sniper events
Jaguar Detail, officers that respond to areas with high crime rates related to drug activity, shootings, and robberies
Homeland Security Unit, a team that works with federal law enforcement agencies on matters of homeland security
Marine Detail, officers stationed at the Port of Mobile, designated to protect citizens and visitors around the Carnival Cruise ship port

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Police Training Academies in Alabama

Prior to becoming a licensed law enforcement officer, candidates must complete 480 hours of basic training at a school certified and authorized by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC). In addition to physical training, cadets will be exposed to the following topics:

Introduction to Law Enforcement
General Topics
Equipment
Criminal Investigations
Criminal Procedures and Laws of Evidence
Juvenile Procedures
Courts
Patrol Techniques
Traffic Operations
Offensive and Defensive Tactics
Community/News Media Relations
Firearms Training
Examinations

There are 10 approved training academies in the state of Alabama:

Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center – Selma, AL
APOSTC Law Enforcement Academy at Tuscaloosa – Tuscaloosa, AL
APOSTC Law Enforcement Academy-Baldwin County – Stapleton, AL
Birmingham Police Academy – Birmingham, AL
Department of Corrections Training Academy – Selma, AL
Huntsville Police Academy – Huntsville, AL
Jefferson County Law Enforcement Academy – Fultondale, AL
Mobile Police Academy – Mobile, AL
Montgomery Police Academy – Montgomery, AL
Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy – Anniston, AL

For details regarding each academy in Alabama, you can read more on APOSTC’s website.

“Start training now for the job you want tomorrow. In Alabama, some agencies hire officers, then train them in-house before sending them through a mandatory 13-week APOSTC law enforcement academy. But most agencies hire you just a couple of days before sending you. Day One of the Academy you will have to complete a physical fitness test comprised of 22 pushups, 25 sit-ups, 1.5-mile timed run (must complete within 15:28), and a physical agility course, where you scale a wall, push a car, and pull a 165 lb dummy, all within 90 seconds.

If you fail any portion of the physical fitness test, you will be given a retest between 48 and 72 hours later. If you fail the test for the second time you are dismissed from the Academy. Because the agency only has six months to get you through a full 13-week academy, they will normally separate the failing officer at this point. So if you are interested in getting a job in law enforcement, find out the physical requirements and start training now. Your future job is dependent on it.” -Randy Vaughn, Director, Alabama Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) Law Enforcement Academy-Tuscaloosa

Alabama Police Jobs Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are currently 10,420 people serving as law enforcement officers in Alabama, earning an average of $44,490 per year.³ It is projected that by 2024, that workforce will grow by 4.9% to 11,210 police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and state troopers.⁸ On average, there are expected to be 740 law enforcement job openings per year in the state.⁸ This number may fluctuate as budgets for new officers are closely tied to city budgets and priorities, and officers may retire, relocate, or change industries.

For a full listing of law enforcement jobs in your area, check out our police jobs board.

Police and Sheriff Patrol Officer Salary in Alabama

City	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Birmingham-Hoover	3,080	$49,990
Mobile	840	$38,130
Montgomery	1,030	$46,140

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2017.³

References:
1. US Census Bureau, Alabama: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/AL/PST045221
2. Sperling’s Best Places, Alabama: https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/state/alabama
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Alabama: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_al.htm
4. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department: https://jeffcosheriffal.com/
5. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, 2008: https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/census-state-and-local-law-enforcement-agencies-2008
6. Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports, Full-time Law Enforcement Employees: https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2016/crime-in-the-u.s.-2016/tables/table-26/table-26-state-cuts/table-26-alabama.xls
7. Montgomery Police Department: https://www.montgomeryal.gov/government/city-government/city-departments/police
8. Projections Central: https://www.projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm