Montana POST Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Age: At least 21 years old for certification as a law enforcement officer; some agencies may hire at 20½ if candidate will turn 21 within specified time.
• Education: High school diploma or GED; many agencies require some college coursework.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen.
• Driver license: Valid driver’s license (Montana license by hire).
• Criminal history: No felony convictions; must meet Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) minimum selection standards and suitability criteria.
• Other requirements:
  • Pass a fingerprint-based background investigation.
  • Pass a medical exam, psychological evaluation and drug screening.
  • Be hired or have conditional employment with a Montana law enforcement agency.
  • Complete the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) basic course and pass certification exam.

Physical Fitness Standards

Montana’s MLEA requires recruits to pass a physical fitness assessment and maintain physical readiness throughout their certification. Numeric standards vary by class. [Nationwide training hours memo lists Montana at ~720 hours].

• 1.5-mile run or equivalent aerobic event
• Push-ups in one minute
• Sit-ups in one minute
• Agility course/job-task simulation (drag, climb, sprint)
• Defensive tactics endurance events

Montana does not publish a single statewide numeric fitness chart for all academies; individual training schools set the clearly published standards under MLEA oversight.

Academy Training Requirements

Minimum academy hours: 720

Based on national minimum-training-hours data, Montana’s basic law enforcement academy minimum is approximately 720 hours. (Exact MLEA requirement varies and may be higher.)

Reference: Montana Law Enforcement Academy – basic certification requirements.

Reciprocity / Lateral Entry

Montana offers certification by waiver for out-of-state, federal or military officers if prior training and experience meet Montana standards.

• Submit academy transcripts, certification and service records to MLEA for review.
• Complete any Montana-specific law/regulation/skills training as required.
• Pass Montana certification exam and meet background/fitness/medical standards.

Eligibility depends on currency of training, scope of prior service and whether prior academy covered Montana-equivalent content.

POST Contact Information

Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA)
1530 Law and Justice Drive
Helena, MT 59601
Website: https://mlea.mt.gov

Official POST Requirements:
https://mlea.mt.gov