Police Officer, Miami Police
Become a Miami Police Officer
Do you want to become a Police Officer with the City of Miami?
Step 1. Prepare Before You Apply
Applicants must meet all the below requirements in order to receive employment consideration.
- Applicants must have a passing score on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Basic Abilities Test (FDLE BAT) examination in the area of law enforcement prior to attending orientation. Proof is not required to be uploaded at the time of application. Proof of passing examination scores are to be verified at time of orientation. The FDLE BAT can be taken at Miami-Dade College or any other authorized provider at the applicants’ expense. For information on the FDLE BAT, visit the Miami-Dade college page or the FDLE/Pearson test page
NOTE: BATs administered before August 15, 2019, will still be valid for four years from the testing or amended date. BATs administered after August 14, 2019 by any vendor other than Pearson VUE will be declared invalid and results will not be placed in the Automated Training Management System (ATMS).
- Age: Applicants must be at least 19 years of age.
- Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens per Florida Statute 943.13.
- Education: High school diploma or its equivalent. Foreign degrees or diplomas require transcript evaluations by a NACES approved transcript evaluation service, which determines reciprocity to education in the United States. Translations are not accepted in lieu of evaluations.
- Driver’s License: Applicants must submit a copy of a valid driver’s license from any state provided that prior to appointment a valid State of Florida Class E Driver’s License is submitted to the Miami Police Department’s Recruitment and Selection Unit. Please note that driving records and validity may be checked and may be grounds for disqualification at any time subsequent to application.
- Visual Acuity: 20/30 vision in each eye with correction and must be binocular and monocular of 20/100 vision in each eye without correction (glasses or contacts). Depth and color perception must be within normal limits.
- Convictions: Per Florida Statute 943.13, applicants must not have been convicted of any felony nor misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, or have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States. Criminal history may disqualify applicants.
NOTE: Before becoming a permanent Police Officer, the employee must successfully complete the basic recruit program of the Police Academy, the Florida State Officer Certification Exam (SOCE), and the Field Training Officer Program.
Step 2.Apply Online
- Create an online profile if you have not done so already, on our government jobs page.
- Search “police” for police openings, or view all City of Miami job openings, if desired.
- Read Job Announcement information, specifically the Documentation Requirements section before you apply.
- Please be sure to attach all required documents to your employment application each time you apply. Uploaded documents remain in your online profile but they will not attach automatically and you will be deemed ineligible without the proper documentation.
NOTE: Police job listings will only appear on our job page during a recruitment period, which will be announced on our news page. We encourage you to apply immediately, as positions close after a sufficient amount applications are received, or within five business days – whichever comes first.
Step 3.Complete the Following Tests
After you apply and are deemed eligible, in addition to meeting the documentation requirements listed above, all applicants may be subject to the successful completion of the following criteria to be considered for appointment:
A. Personal History Questionnaire, or PHQ.
- A PHQ is sent to eligible candidates. This document will include your future Orientation/Physical Agility Testing date and time. This document will be filled out and turned in when you appear at your Orientation/Physical Agility Test.
B. Orientation/ Physical Agility Test (PAT)
- Guidelines for Physical Agility Test
- Police Officers Physical Agility Training
C. One-on-One interview with assigned Background Investigator
- Applicants must demonstrate their ability to effectively communicate in a one-on-one interview process, which requires the applicant to respond to common police scenarios.
D. Psychological examination – Part A
- All applicants are required to take a psychological examination. The psychological exam is administered by the department’s psychological consultant at no charge to the applicant. This is part A of a two step Psychological examination process.
E. Polygraph examination
- All applicants are required to take a polygraph examination. The polygraph is administered at no charge to the applicant.
F. Criminal Records Check and Driving Record Check.
- The background investigator will conduct a thorough background for all applicants.
G. Post-offer medical examination and Toxicology Screening – Inclusive of Part B of the Psychological Examination
- All applicants must submit to a toxicology examination by a company selected by the City of Miami. Toxicology screens are at the expense of the applicant. However, those who successfully pass the toxic screen will be reimbursed by the City of Miami.
- Complete Medical Examination: All applicants must submit to a toxicology examination and medical examination, which includes a stress test and echocardiogram, by a City of Miami contracted physician. There is no charge for this physical.
- Vision Requirements: All applicants must have at least 20/30 vision in each eye with correction and must be binocular and monocular of 20/100 vision in each eye without correction (glasses or contacts). Depth and color perception must be within normal limits.
NOTE: Examinations and appointments are done on different dates which will be provided to the candidate by the assigned background investigator. Failure to keep appointments at any phase of the selection process may result in disqualification. Contingent on passing all hiring steps and exams, a conditional offer of employment will be given and candidates will complete necessary documents to attend the Police Academy Orientation.
Step 4.The Police Academy
If all of the above tests are passed, you will then attend the Police Academy.
The Miami Police Training Center offers a full-time Police Academy Class recruit training program. The recruit class operates Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for approximately six months. Each class has an assigned Training Advisor on staff to provide training and guidance to recruits during their program. Police Academy Class (PAC) training is a six-month program. The training consists of State of Florida mandated courses (770 hours) that include Law, Crime Scene Investigation, Patrol Procedures, Criminal Investigations, DUI/Traffic Stops, Traffic Crash Investigations, Physical Fitness, Firearms, Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations, Patrol Procedures, Report Writing, First Aid, Communications, Defensive Tactics, Dart-Firing Stun Gun, and Human Issues.