Education
High school diploma, GED certificate, or high school proficiency examination, or a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited or approved college/university, as specified by POST. Successful graduation from a basic law enforcement training academy at a POST certified academy. College level coursework in administration of justice and police science is desirable.

Experience
Completion of a California POST approved academy. For lateral entry: Possession of a POST Basic Certificate and one year of experience working as a sworn police officer. A lateral transfer is defined as the transfer of a police officer currently employed in a comparable POST law enforcement agency.