IN-STATE OFFICERS/EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Candidate must have honorably served (full-time employed, benefits-eligible) as a sworn full-time paid peace officer as designated by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.122, within two continuous years (no break in-service) as of March 26, 2027. The Department will not waive the two years of experience performing full-time paid law enforcement duties within two continuous years as of March 26, 2027. Additionally, the Department will not accept service time as a reserve officer, corrections/jailer, and communications operator.
OUT OF STATE, FEDERAL AGENTS/OFFICERS & MILITARY POLICE
Can I become a peace officer in Texas if I was a peace officer in another state or for the Federal Government?
It depends on your work history and training. Go to the FORMS AND APPLICATIONS page of our website and find the Out of State/Federal Application Packet. This application explains which documents must be submitted to be considered for the Texas licensing process. If after reviewing the requirements you have questions, gather your training records and call TCOLE at 512-936-7700. Because each situation is different, your call could be lengthy. Make sure you have paper, pencil, and if possible, access to the TCOLE website at www.tcole.texas.gov when you call.
Important: Out-of-state peace officers, federal agents/officers, and military police are responsible for submitting their application to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), completing the Texas Supplemental Peace Officer online (1018) course, other required courses as determined by TCOLE and pass the TCOLE state licensing examination by March 26, 2027.
Out-of-state, federal agents/officers and military police are responsible for submitting the Out of State/Federal Officers Eligibility Form to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and providing required documents to determine eligibility along with all other requirements. Additionally, the candidate is responsible for all fees they may incur to complete the eligibility process.
Please expect a delay of two to four weeks from the date the Commission receives the TCOLE Eligibility form for approval/ denial of eligibility.
Out of State, federal agents/officers and military police may proceed through all phases of the application process but cannot complete the Department's hiring process until they have successfully passed the TCOLE Texas Peace Officer licensing examination.
Federal Law Enforcement with a Federal Agency given Special Investigator designation by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.122 is acceptable as law enforcement experience. The applicant must have 24 months of continuous (no break in-service) full-time work experience with a qualifying Federal Agency.
As part of the Conditional Job Offer process, applicants who pass and are invited to the Academy will be informed of their region before the start of the recruit school. The assignment of duty stations is dependent on the availability within the State of Texas. The Department will make every attempt to accommodate the applicant’s preferred region.
Duty station assignments will be guaranteed upon graduation.
Peace Officers selected to attend the B-2027 Advance Peace Officer School will be guaranteed assignment to a specific Highway Patrol region during the Conditional Job Offer of the application process.
Once the FTO Program is complete, Troopers having 4 years of full-time verified prior law enforcement service will advance to the combined Trooper II salary of $110,376.75 ($9,198.06 monthly).
Troopers with less than 4 years of verified full-time prior law enforcement service will advance to the combined Trooper I salary of $90,544.78 ($7,545.40 monthly) until they reach 4 years of combined law enforcement experience. At this time, they will advance to the Trooper II salary as listed above.
