Frequently Asked Questions

Qualifications:

• You are 21 years old or older
• You are a US Citizen
• You don’t have any felony convictions
• You don’t have any misdemeanor convictions involving force or violence (including all domestic violence)
• You have not used (even recreationally) any of the following:
  • Marijuana within 6 months
  • Cocaine, Methamphetamine, or other controlled substances that are not prescribed to you in the last 5 years
  • Steroids in the last 12 months
  • Hallucinogens (LSD, Ecstasy, Mushrooms) in the last 10 years
• If you served in the military you have either an Honorable discharge or a General discharge under Honorable Conditions
• You are not under any criminal investigation or have any outstanding warrants

Yes. All cadets in the Academy are paid. Learn more here.

Not at this time, but we’re always looking for ways to better support and develop our officers.

The Huntsville Police Department is accepting applications almost year-round from Alabama POST-certified officers with a minimum of 2 years of experience to join our team as a Lateral Entry Officer. For qualifications and job descriptions click here. If you have further questions you may also contact our recruiters at HPDRecruiting@HuntsvilleAl.gov.

Our hiring process typically lasts four months.

The approved written test for all applicants applying to become a Police Officer in the State of Alabama is the ACT WorkKeys Test. Take a look at this study resource from ACT as you prepare. The test can be taken at most Community Colleges in the state.

This varies on the unit. Some units require the officer just to be off probation (1-year full employment). Others require anywhere from 2-5 years of patrol experience.

Although the hours of the day will vary on the training scheduled for the day, our cadets do go home after training has completed for the day.

No. College degrees are not required although many of our officers have a degree. For some promotional opportunities a degree is required. In other circumstances, degrees can assist in rankings for other types of advancement.

Read about the Physical Fitness test here or watch this video to learn more about what to expect. The best way to see if you would pass is to run the exact (or as close as you can simulate) Physical Fitness test at least once per week, as described in the link above. This will not only prepare you physically but also mentally.

No matter if someone is an avid shooter or new to the concept, the academy will start everyone from scratch. This is not only with firearms but every aspect of policing. It helps us ensure everyone is getting the same high-quality training.