Iowa Law Enforcement Academy

WHAT DO I NEED TO BECOME A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE STATE OF IOWA?

 How do I apply to come to the Law Enforcement Academy?

You must be hired by or sponsored by a Law Enforcement Agency before attending the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

 What requirements must I meet in order to get hired by an Agency?

All minimum standards for Iowa law enforcement officers must be satisfied:

The person must

1. Be a U. S. Citizen and a resident of Iowa or intend to become a resident upon being employed;
2. Be 18 years of age at the time of appointment;
3. Hold a valid Iowa driver's license;
4. Not be addicted to drugs or alcohol [modified for Chapter 400 civil service positions by §400.17 of the Code of Iowa];
5. Be of good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation including a fingerprint search conducted of local, state and national fingerprint files and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
6. Successfully pass physical fitness tests; (see chart below)
7. Not be opposed to use of force to fulfill duties;
8. Be a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate;
9. Have uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the Occupational demands of law enforcement;
10. Have normal hearing in each ear (hearing aids are acceptable if a candidate can demonstrate sufficient hearing proficiency to perform all necessary duties of a law enforcement officer)
11. Be examined by a physician and meet the physical requirements necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer.
12. Undergo psychological testing.
13. Undergo cognitive (Basic Skills) testing.

Do I have to meet these requirements if I am hired as chief of police?

Yes. They apply to the hiring of all full-time and part-time officers except reserve officers in all cities in Iowa regardless of population

Can some agencies apply different tests and higher standards than the minimum state standards?

Yes they can as long as all of the minimum standards and tests are successfully passed prior to hire. 

Will I be tested on the physical fitness minimums again after I have been hired?

Yes before entry into any of the law enforcement certification training programs you will be re-tested to make sure you meet the minimum hiring PT standards. 

Can only certified officers be hired?

No. Officers have one year from the date of their employment in which to become certified through the successful completion of training at an approved law enforcement training facility. This must be accomplished in order to remain eligible for continued employment. 

I am an officer who has been trained and certified in another state. Do I still have to go through the Academy?

No, providing that the person has actually served as a sworn officer in the other state within twelve months before the hiring date in Iowa, and that the training received for certification in the other state was at least 160 hours. The person may then be eligible for Certification Through Examination in Iowa. Application must be made to the Academy within 120 days after hiring. All minimum standards for Iowa law enforcement officers must be met prior to hiring. Although you may not have to attend the Academy to receive certification it is strictly up to the hiring agency if they want you to attend. 

Will my training at the Law Enforcement Academy count as credit at other Colleges or Universities?

Some Community Colleges accept attendance at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy as college credit. Check with you registrars office or the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy for details. 

Can I attend other colleges in Iowa to receive Certification as a Law Enforcement Officer?

Some Community Colleges have programs where hired officers can attend certification programs provided they have a two-year or a four-year degree in Criminal Justice or Police Science. Again, all pre-employment minimum hiring standards must be met.

There are also several Regional Training Sites including sites run by the Des Moines Police Department, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Department of Public Safety but you must be hired by those agencies in order to attend these regional schools.

These answers are synopsized primarily from 501 Iowa Administrative Code, Chapters 2 and 3, the rules of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy adopted pursuant to Chapters 80B and 80D of the Code of Iowa. Full details and complete information is more fully set forth therein. For copies and additional information please contact the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy by e-mail at ILEA Web Admin, phone (515) 242-5357 or fax (515) 242-547)

* Females in excess of 49 years of age may do pushups on their knees.

Normative data for these age groups have not been established.