How to Become a Police Officer in Arizona

The Grand Canyon State is an excellent place to become a police officer, with high salaries and warm weather. Over 11,400 police officers were employed in Arizona in 2017.¹ Police officers in Arizona work hard to protect the 7.1 million residents of the state, fight crime, and maintain order in the state’s communities. On this page, you can read about the minimum requirements for aspiring police officers in Arizona and find information about major police departments in the state.

Arizona Police Officer Requirements

The Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Board sets the minimum requirements for Arizona cops. While these minimum requirements apply to all potential police officers in the state, individual police departments can set additional requirements. For example, a police department may require recruits to hold an associate degree in criminal justice or a related field. Even in departments that require only a high school diploma or GED, candidates with a degree are usually preferred.

In order to become a sworn officer, Arizona police officer candidates must:

Have US citizenship
Possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent
Be 21 years of age upon graduation from the academy
Possess valid Arizona driver’s license
Have no felony convictions
Have been honorably discharged, if a military veteran
Not have been denied or revoked from certified status in any other law enforcement agency
Meet guidelines for past use and sale of illegal substances

“Today’s choices affect tomorrow’s options. Aspiring officers need to practice good judgment skills in their daily lives so they don’t undermine their ability to meet and pass basic recruitment standards. The recruitment process is often highly competitive and applicants will need to establish integrity, honesty, modesty, and sound decision-making as personal traits via their past actions. Prior choices will either help or hinder an applicant’s opportunity to become part of this rewarding and challenging career.” – Captain R.B. Hamilton, Support Division Commander, Yuma Police Department.

Required Examinations

In addition to the qualifications above, applicants must successfully complete several examinations in order to become a police officer in Arizona. These include passing a written exam consisting of 100 multiple choice questions, passing a physical exam consisting of sit-ups, push-ups, a 1.5-mile run, a 300-meter run, and an agility run, and completing an oral interview covering interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Officer candidates will also need to complete a polygraph exam, background investigation, psychological evaluation, and a medical exam that will include a drug test.

Arizona Trooper or Highway Patrol Requirements

The Arizona Highway Patrol Division was established in 1931. The HPD is comprised of four Patrol Bureaus, a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau, and an Aviation Section. There is also a dedicated DUI squad. As of 2016, the HPD employed 575 troopers and 121 command staff.³ The starting salary for HPD troopers is $40,275 per year.³

In order to become a part of the Arizona Highway Patrol, officers must meet the above-listed state guidelines for police officers. It is strongly recommended that prospective troopers request and complete a Ride Along with a trooper before applying, which serves as an informational interview and introduction to the field.

Arizona Sheriff Deputy Requirements

Arizona has 15 counties, each of which has a sheriff’s office. The largest sheriff’s office in Arizona is the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO), which employs approximately 3,300 officers and civilians.⁴ A sheriff’s deputy’s minimum job requirements will vary by county, but they are similar to those for Arizona police officers.

Maricopa County

The largest sheriff’s office in Arizona, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO) operates in the fourth-largest county by population in the US. The county is divided into six districts and includes four specialized units: Lake Patrol, Trails Division, Aviation Division, and a K9 Unit. Requirements to be a deputy sheriff for the MCSO are similar to those for police officers in the state; candidates must:

Be 21 years of age at the time of testing
Be a US citizen
Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
Have no felony convictions
Have no misdemeanor convictions within the last three years
Be able to pass a drug test
Have no dishonorable discharges from the armed service
Have no driver’s license suspensions within the last 12 months

Police Departments in Arizona

In 2017, an estimated 11,480 police and sheriff’s patrol officers were employed in Arizona.¹ While cops must meet the minimum requirements set forth by the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Board, each police department may have its own set of additional requirements for prospective officers.

Phoenix

Serving a population of 1.6 million people (the fifth-largest in the US), the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) is staffed with nearly 3,000 officers and 1,000 support personnel.⁵ The PPD is organized into six divisions and 23 bureaus, with specialty units typical for major metros including SWAT, Vice, K9, and Mounted Patrol.

Requirements to become a police officer for the PPD are similar to those for the state of Arizona; candidates must:

Hold US citizenship
Be at least 21 years of age
Have adequate vision and physical fitness
Have no history of criminal or improper conduct
Pass a qualifying written exam
Pass a rigorous physical examination, as well as a polygraph test and a variety of other screenings

Police officer pay in Phoenix starts at $24.75 per hour.⁵ More information on working for the Phoenix Police Department, check out our Phoenix city police page.

Mesa

The Mesa Police Department (MPD) serves the third-largest city in Arizona, with nearly 500,000 residents.⁶ Mesa cops start at an annual salary of $56,534 but can make up to $79,789 per year, with benefits including tuition reimbursement.⁶ To become part of the law enforcement team at the MPD, recruits must:

Be at least 21 years old and a US citizen
Possess a high school diploma or GED (a college education is preferred)
Have a valid Arizona driver’s license
Complete a background investigation and pass medical and drug tests

For more information on the MPD, see our Mesa police work page.

Additional Police Departments in Arizona

How to Become a Police Officer in Tucson

“We would advise anyone preparing for a career in law enforcement to be well rounded. Having a great foundation educationally and professionally in a variety of topics is paramount in being able to engage with the public. Police officers must be able to connect with a multitude of people from different backgrounds, each having different experiences and issues. The more well-rounded one is, we have found the better they work with the public. We would also advise potential candidates to look at the requirements of each state to include background requirements. Unfortunately, many candidates do not pass the background test and if they had known what the requirements were at an early age they could avoid the automatic disqualifiers.” – Tempe Police Department.

FIND SCHOOLS

Police Training Academies in Arizona

Candidates who have been conditionally hired as a police recruit must attend and complete training at one of Arizona’s 13 POST basic training academies.

Arizona POST training academies include:

Arizona Correctional Officer Training Academy – Phoenix, AZ
Arizona Western Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy – Yuma, AZ
Chandler-Gilbert Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy – Chandler, AZ
Glendale Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy – Glendale, AZ
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy – Phoenix, AZ
Mesa Police Department Training Academy – Mesa, AZ
Northeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy – Taylor, AZ
Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy – Prescott, AZ
Phoenix Regional Police Academy – Phoenix, AZ
Pima County Sheriff’s Department – Tucson, AZ
Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Center – Tucson, AZ
Western Arizona Law Enforcement Training Center – Lake Havasu City, AZ

Learn more about Arizona Police Training Academies through the the Arizona POST Board.

“As a Background Investigator and Recruiter for the Glendale Police Department, I am often asked what it takes to get hired and what is it that we’re looking for. My answer to these questions seems so trivial, but it truly is one of, if not the most important factors in determining if someone can make it through this process or not. My advice is to simply be yourself! So many times people enter our process trying to act like they think we want them to act or they will answer questions in a manner they believe a police officer would answer and this usually results in an unfavorable appearance because it’s just not genuine. If you are a nice person with a great personality…let it show! If you’re cool, calm, and collected then that’s who you are…if you’re a little bit goofy…be that too! Be you at all costs! This profession is made up of and takes all kinds of people…people just like you!” – Detective Tom Sye, Glendale Police Department

Arizona Police Jobs Outlook

The metropolitan area of Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale has the ninth-highest concentration of employment for police officers out of all metro areas in the US.¹ The outlook for law enforcement careers in Arizona is strong. A 6.9% increase in police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the state is predicted through 2026.⁷ This equates to 630 average annual openings including new positions as well as replacements, a promising landscape for aspiring cops.⁷

For more information current law enforcement openings, take a look at our police jobs board.

Police and Sheriff Patrol Officer Salary in Arizona

City	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Flagstaff	270	$53,440
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale	7,600	$69,370
Tucson	1,630	$61,260

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2017.⁸

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm
2. US Census Bureau, Arizona: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/AZ/PST045221
3. Arizona Highway Patrol Division: https://www.azdps.gov/organization
4. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.mcso.org/about-us/mcso-at-a-glance
5. Phoenix Police Department: https://www.phoenix.gov/police/
6. Mesa Police Department: https://www.mesaazpolice.gov/home-police
7. Projections Central: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm
8. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2017 State and Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates, Arizona: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_az.htm