Florida requires anyone employed as a full-time law enforcement officer to possess certain pre-employment qualifications as well as complete the required Florida Law Enforcement Training. Florida Code Title XLVII, Section 943.10 defines law enforcement officer (see Resources).
To be a law enforcement officer in Florida you must be at least 19 years old, be a U.S. citizen, have a high school diploma, pass a physical examination, not have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanor crimes and be of good moral character. You will also need to submit a set of fingerprints for a background check.
As a new Florida recruit, you must pass the Basic Abilities Test (BAT) as well as the Basic Recruit Training Program. Usually, an applicant must complete and pay for their training prior to applying for a position but in some circumstances where there is a shortage of officers an agency may sponsor an applicant's training. There are many training centers across Florida, many of them affiliated with community colleges. A list of training centers can be found on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement website (see Resources).