Enrollment Requirements

TCLEOSE and the Texas Occupations Code set minimum requirements and qualifications for persons to be licensed as a peace officer in the State of Texas. These requirements are set forth in TCLEOSE rules 217.1. TCLEOSE posts a copy of their rules on their web site at http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us.

Individuals must make sure that they meet all requirements prior to application to CVC's Law Enforcement Academy. Applicants must:

Be a U.S. citizen
Have a valid Texas drivers license
Be a high school graduate, or have a G.E.D. and 12 hours of college and/or 24 months of active service in the U.S. military.
Applicants who were in the U.S. military, must have an honorable discharge, or DD214.
Cannot have been convicted of a Class B misdemeanor or above. (deferred adjudication is considered a conviction if community service or fine was attached as a condition of the deferment).
Cannot have been convicted of any family violence offenses.

Although it is not required by TCLEOSE, CVC's Law Enforcement Academy requires candidates to take the reading comprehension section of the Accuplacer Skills test and achieve a minimum score of 78. The TCLEOSE Basic Peace Officer exam is based on an educational level of between a high school sophomore and a college sophomore. A score of 78 on the Accuplacer Skills test, ensures that a potential cadet has reading and comprehension skills of least a freshman college level.

Once a candidate has passed the Accuplacer test, he/she receives a packet of information to continue the enrollment process:

Screening application
Drivers License History from Texas DPS
Criminal History check through TCLEOSE ($40)
Physical and Drug screen
Psychological exam - MMPI (approximately $100)

Cadets who attend the Academy as an employee of a police agency will be exempted from the above process, as long as the agency administrator provides the Academy a letter acknowledging that the cadet meets all requirements for licensure listed in TCLEOSE rule 217.1

All candidates should be warned that the CVC Academy is very discipline oriented, and cadets will be exposed to vigorous cognitive and physical application. The Academy prepares cadets to be professional police officers, with an emphasis on team building and espirit de corp. Persons with individualistic attitudes need not apply.