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Getting a License if you are an out of state peace officer

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) welcomes law enforcement officers from other areas considering a career move to Texas.  Please review the “Out of State/Federal Application” carefully.

You must meet ALL of the work and training requirements (see chart below), and successfully complete the Texas Supplemental Peace Officer Course before you can make application to take the state licensing exam. Once we verify that your application meets all the requirements you will be issued you an endorsement to take the state licensing exam.

Please contact our staff for any questions or clarification regarding the documentation that must be submitted with the application and fee.  Do not make assumptions you will be accepted until your application has been approved.

 

Work and Basic Training Requirements

Work History
The applicant must be currently licensed/certified and have honorably served (employed benefits eligible) as a sworn peace officer for 12 consecutive months, following initial basic training, with an agency in the state where the license or certificate was issued.

Training Requirements
TCLEOSE uses the number of hours in our basic peace officer training course to determine the minimum amount of hours for equivalency.  The chart below identifies the hourly requirements.

 

Years

Texas Hours

Minimum Hours
Accepted

9/01/1970 – 12/31/1972

140

112

1/01/1973 – 12/31/1980

240

192

1/01/1981 – 8/31/1985

320

256

9/01/1985 – 8/31/1994

400

320

9/01/1994 -12/31/2001

560

448

1/01/2002 – 12/31/2004

576

461

1/01/2005 - current

618

494

 

Before individuals with federal credentials or out-of-state license(s) may attempt the licensing exam, they must meet all of the statutory licensing requirements of the State of Texas and the rules of the Commission

U.S. citizenship is a requirement to be licensed as a peace officer in Texas.  (Commission Rule (§217.1(a)(18))

All applicants will be subject to a search through the National Decertification Database (NDD), NCIC/TCIC, and National Criminal History Databases to establish eligibility.

Qualifying Federal Departments:

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, § 2.122, recognizes specific criminal investigators of the United States as having authority to enforce selected state laws by virtue of their authority.  Prior training will be evaluated and approved by the Commission to insure it meets current training requirements.

  1. Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
  2. Special Agents of the Secret Service;
  3. Special Agents of the United States Customs Service;
  4. Special Agents of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms;
  5. Special Agents of the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency;
  6. Inspectors of the United States Postal Service;
  7. Special Agents of the Criminal Investigation Division and Inspectors of the Internal Security Division of the Internal Revenue Service;
  8. Civilian Special Agents of the United States Naval Investigative Service;
  9. Marshals and Deputy Marshals of the United States Marshals Service;
  10. Special Agents of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service;
  11. Special Agents of the United States Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
  12. A person designated as a Special Policeman by the Federal Protective Service of the General Services Administration under 40 U.S.C. Section 318 or 318d;
  13. A customs inspector of the United States Customs Service or a Border Patrolman or Immigration Officer of the  United States Department of Justice;
  14. A commissioned law enforcement officer of the National Parks Service;
  15. A Special Agent or Law Enforcement Officer of the United States Forest Service; and

Federal Officers must:

  1. successfully complete an approved Federal Agency Law Enforcement training course (equivalent course topics and hours);
  2. be subject to continued employment or eligible for re-hire (excluding retirement);
  3. have honorably served (employed; benefits eligible) in one of the above federal capacities for 12 consecutive months, following initial basic training;
  4. have a copy of all their military discharge(s) (DD-214) (if applicable); all must be under honorable or general-under-honorable conditions; and
  5. have successfully completed the “Texas Supplemental Peace Officer Course” #1018.

Individuals from other U.S. states must:

  1. demonstrate a successful completion of a state POST-approved (or state-licensing-approved) basic police officer training academy (with equivalent course topics and hours of training);
  2. be currently licensed or certified as a peace officer by a state POST (or state licensing authority);
  3. never have had, nor currently be in the process of, having the license or certification surrendered, suspended, or revoked;
  4. have honorably served (employed benefits eligible) as a sworn peace officer for 12 consecutive months, following initial basic training, with an agency in the state where the license or certificate was issued;
  5. have a copy of all their military discharge(s) (DD-214) (if applicable), all must be under honorable or general-under-honorable conditions; and
  6. have successfully completed the “Texas Supplemental Peace Officer Course” #1018. 

Required Documents to Accompany the Application:

1.  A certified or notarized copy of the basic training certificate for a police officer

2.  A certified or notarized copy of a Federal Agent’s License or Credentials; or a certified or notarized copy of the police officer license or certificate issued by the state POST

3.  A notarized statement from the state POST, current employing agency, or federal employing agency revealing any disciplinary action(s) that may have been taken against any license or certificate issued by that agency or any pending action

4.  A notarized statement from your employing agency confirming time in service as a police officer, federal officer or agent

5.  A certified or notarized copy of your valid state-issued driver’s license

6.  A passport-sized color photograph (head and shoulders with a plain background), signed with your full signature on the back of the photograph

7.  A copy of all your military discharge(s) (DD-214) (if applicable); all must be under honorable or general-under-honorable conditions

8.  A copy of your certificate showing completion of the “Texas Supplemental Peace Officer Course”

9.  An attached certified check or money order in the amount of $150 (the application fee is non-refundable and is assessed to cover the cost of reviewing and processing your application)

The Commission may request that applicants submit a copy of the Basic and Advanced Training Curriculum for equivalency evaluation and final approval.

Preparation for the Licensing Examination

The latest “Texas” editions of the following references are suggested reading.
1.  Code of Criminal Procedure
2.  Penal Code
3.  Transportation Code
4.  Alcoholic Beverage Code     
5.  Health and Safety Code
6.  Family Code

Texas statutes may be found online at www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us.

The “Basic Peace Officer Course” and the “The Texas Supplemental Peace Officer Course” outlines are on the Commission website, www.tcleose.state.tx.us, under “law enforcement trainers, Instructor resources.”  The supplemental peace officer course can be taken through one of the Commission academies.  Our academies are listed on our website.

Possible sources for the reference material:
Public libraries
College bookstores
West Publications (800) 328-9352
Sterling Publications (210) 438-7110
Lexis-Nexis (800) 833-9844
Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (512) 320-8274

 

Notice

You must complete the application, attach the non-refundable $150 fee plus the required documents, have it notarized, and mail it back to the Commission.  If you are qualified, your endorsement, allowing you to test, will be mailed.  The endorsement expires in 180 days from the date of issue.  According to Commission Rule §219.1(d)(2), the endorsement cannot be extended.  Please allow at least two weeks to receive the endorsement. 

A list of test sites can be found on our website exam provider page  Contact the test site to schedule an exam, directions to site, any exam fee and method of payment. 

You will not be allowed to attempt the exam without a valid endorsement and a state or federal photo ID. 

 

If you have any questions, please call (512) 936-7700.