In order for an individual to enroll in any basic licensing course the provider must have on file documentation,
acceptable to the Commission, that the individual meets eligibility for licensure.
(b) The commission shall issue a license to an applicant who meets the following standards:
(1) minimum age requirement:
(A) for peace officers and public security officers, is 21 years of age; or 18
years of age if the applicant has received:
(i) an associate’s degree; or 60 semester hours of credit from anaccredited college or university; or
(ii) has received an honorable discharge from the armed forces of theUnited States after at least two years of
active service;
(B) for jailers and telecommunicators is 18 years of age;
(2) minimum educational requirements:
(A) has passed a general educational development (GED) test indicating highschool graduation level;
(B) holds a high school diploma; or
(C) for enrollment purposes in a basic peace officer academy only, has an honorable discharge from the armed forces
of the United States after at least 24 months of active duty service.
(3) is fingerprinted and is subjected to a search of local, state and U.S. national
records and fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record; (4) has never been on court-ordered community
supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor
within the last ten years from the date of the court order; (5) is not currently charged with any criminal offense for which
conviction would be
a bar to licensure;
(6) has never been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class Bmisdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor
within the last ten years;
(7) has never been convicted or placed on community supervision in any court of an offense involving family
violence as defined under Chapter 71, Texas Family Code; (8) for peace officers, is not prohibited by state or federal
law from operating amotor vehicle;
(9) for peace officers, is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessingfirearms or ammunition;
(10) has been subjected to a background investigation completed by the enrolling or appointing entity into the
applicant’s personal history. A background investigation shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(A) An enrolling entity shall:
(i) require completion of the Commission-approved personal history statement;
(ii) verify that the applicant meets each individual requirement for licensure under this rule based on the personal
history statement and any other information known to the enrolling entity; and
(iii) contact all previous enrolling entities.
(B) In addition to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, a law enforcement agency or law enforcement agency
academy shall:
(i) require completion of a personal history statement that meets or exceeds the Commission-
approved personal history statement;
(ii) contact at least three personal references;
contact all employers for at least the last ten years, if applicable;
(iv) contact the chief administrator or the chief administrator’s designee at each of the applicant’s
previous law enforcement employers; and
(v) complete criminal history and driving records checks.
(11) examined by a physician, selected by the appointing or employing agency, who is licensed by the Texas Medical
Board. The physician must be familiar with the duties appropriate to the type of license sought and appointment to be
made. The appointee must be declared by that professional, on a form prescribed by the commission, within 180 days
before the date of appointment by the agency to be:
(A) physically sound and free from any defect which may adversely affect the
performance of duty appropriate to the type of license sought;
(B) show no trace of drug dependency or illegal drug use after a blood test or
other medical test; and (C) for the purpose of meeting the requirements for initial licensure, an individual’s satisfactory
medical exam that is conducted as a requirement of a basic licensing course may remain valid for 180 days from the
individual’s date of graduation from that academy, if accepted by the appointing agency;
(12) examined by a psychologist, selected by the appointing, employing agency, or the academy, who is licensed by the
Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. This examination may also be conducted by a psychiatrist licensed by
the Texas Medical Board. The psychologist or psychiatrist must be familiar with the duties appropriate to the type of
license sought. The individual must be declared by that professional, on a form prescribed by the commission, to be in
satisfactory psychological and emotional health to serve as the type of officer for which the license is sought. The
examination must be conducted pursuant to professionally recognized standards and methods. The examination process
must consist of a review of a job description for the position sought; review of any personal history statements; review of
any background documents; at least two instruments, one which measures personality traits and one which measures
psychopathology; and a face to face interview conducted after the instruments have been scored. The appointee must be
declared by that professional, on a form prescribed by the commission, within 180 days before the date of the
appointment by the agency;
(A) the commission may allow for exceptional circumstances where a licensed physician performs the evaluation of
psychological and emotional health. This requires the appointing agency to request in writing and receive approval
from the commission, prior to the evaluation being completed; or
(B) the examination may be conducted by qualified persons identified by Texas Occupations Code § 501.004. This
requires the appointing agency to request in writing and receive approval from the commission, prior to the evaluation
being completed; and
(C) for the purpose of meeting the requirements for initial licensure, an individual’s satisfactory psychological exam
that is conducted as a requirement of a basic licensing course may remain valid for 180 days from the individual’s
date of graduation from that academy, if accepted by the appointing agency;
(13) has never received a dishonorable discharge; (14) has not had a commission license denied by final order or
revoked;
(15) is not currently on suspension, or does not have a surrender of license currentlyin effect;
(16) meets the minimum training standards and passes the commission licensingexamination for each license
sought;
(17) is a U.S. citizen.
