You must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, have a valid Iowa driver's license and be an Iowa resident, or intend to become one.
Before training at the Iowa law enforcement academy, you must have a law enforcement agency hire or sponsor you.
In addition to passing a physical exam given by a qualified doctor, you must have vision no less than 20/100 uncorrected and 20/20 corrected, and normal hearing, with or without the use of a hearing aid.
Law enforcement training in Iowa requires psychological testing, cognitive skills testing and physical fitness testing. The physical fitness test includes sit-ups, push-ups and a long-distance run.
Persons accepted into the law enforcement academy must demonstrate good moral character. The academy conducts a background investigation on each applicant, including a fingerprint search. Felony crimes or crimes of moral turpitude disqualify you.