As a police officer you'll need to have the skills and ability to undertake many different tasks - including communicating with people, completing forms and writing reports (paper-based and electronic) and dealing with violent or potentially violent, difficult or distressing situations.

To apply to become a police officer you need to meet the following requirements:

You can also use this checklist to help decide if you meet the pre-entry requirements.

Citizenship     

You must be an Australian citizen or hold permanent residency status.

Personal qualities

You must be of excellent character, honest, dependable, self-confident, tolerant, understanding, highly motivated, culturally sensitive and committed to community safety and service. Some current or previous involvement within the community is desirable.

If you have a previous criminal history or serious traffic offences you should discuss these matters with the Recruiting Section before you apply.

Communication          

You must be able to receive and relay information accurately and within urgent time demands.

Age

Applicants must be 18 years or over before commencing the cadet training course. Mature age people are encouraged to apply.

Driver's licence         

You must hold an unrestricted or probationary class 'car' driver's licence. Experience in driving both manual and automatic vehicles is essential.

Health and fitness     

You must be medically and physically fit and will have to undertake medical and fitness examinations. Applicants 35 years and over will be advised by the Police Medical Officer to undertake an electrocardiogram (ECG) at their own expense before they can participate in the physical agility testing  PDF (15KB).

Fitness Training Information  PDF (21KB).

Eyesight

You must have a minimum of 6/9 vision in each eye, either with or without visual aids.

Education

You will need the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) with eight units at Stage 2 level graded at C standard or higher. Two units must be chosen from the arts/ humanities/ social and cultural studies subjects. You will need to provide documentary evidence of both the SACE and the Record of Achievement.

You might also be considered for selection if you can demonstrate or produce evidence of an ability to cope with the academic aspects of recruit training and subsequent demands of police duties.

Keyboard and Computing skills

You need to have basic computing skills  PDF (86KB) and be able to demonstrate a typing speed of at least 30 wpm with 98% accuracy. You will be required to demonstrate your computing skills and typing competence as part of the computer competency assessment during the selection process.

First aid 

You must have a current Basic (or Essential) First Aid Certificate.

The following organisations run first aid training courses:

• St John Ambulance Australia (SA Inc) (08) 8306 6900  
• Australian Red Cross (08) 8293 9200 or 1300 367428
• Royal Life Saving Society (08) 8234 9244

Please make sure that the course you do covers bleeding control and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).