Skip to content
Police Pay Australia
Join · Candidate hub

Joining the police in Australia
every force, every step

Eight forces, eight sets of rules. This hub puts every force's entry requirements side by side, links you to a guide for each stage, and gives you the tools to prepare.

Updated 9 October 2026 11 min read Sources checked 9 October 2026 Independent, not advice

The short answer

To become a police officer in Australia you choose one of eight forces, meet its eligibility rules (usually 18+, citizen or permanent resident, a driver licence), pass its tests (aptitude, fitness, psych, medical, interview and background checks), then complete a paid academy course of about 6 to 8 months and a probation period of 1 to 2 years.

Forces you can join

8

6 states, NT and the AFP (incl. ACT)

Top recruit pay

$74,619

NT Police, a year while training

No written exam

2

NSW Police and WA Police

Upper age limit

None

in any force's requirements we read

Contents +
  1. 1The journey, step by step
  2. 2All 8 forces compared
  3. 3Who can apply
  4. 4Entrance tests and fitness
  5. 5Academy, pay and probation
  6. 6Prep tools
  7. 7Every joining guide
  8. 8Choosing a force
  9. 9What we couldn't confirm
  10. 10FAQs
  11. 11Sources

What does the journey to becoming a police officer look like?

Every force runs its own process, but they share the same shape.

Australia has no national police service you can apply to for a state job. You apply to one force at a time: the NSW Police Force, Victoria Police, the Queensland Police Service, WA Police, SA Police, Tasmania Police, the NT Police Force or the Australian Federal Police (which also polices the ACT). Each sets its own eligibility rules, tests, academy and pay, but the order of events is broadly the same everywhere.

  1. 1

    Choose your force

    Week 0

    Decide where you want to live and work. You will normally serve in that state or territory for years, often starting in a regional posting.

  2. 2

    Check eligibility

    Before applying

    Age, citizenship or residency, driver licence, education, first aid and swimming certificates. Most forces have an online self-check.

  3. 3

    Apply and sit the aptitude test

    Stage 1

    An online application, then a written or online test in most forces. NSW and WA have no separate written exam.

  4. 4

    Fitness test

    Stage 2

    Usually a beep test plus strength and agility tasks. SA uses a timed circuit instead.

  5. 5

    Psych, medical and background checks

    Stage 3

    Personality testing, a medical (often at your own cost), criminal and traffic history, references, social media and fingerprints.

  6. 6

    Panel interview

    Stage 4

    Behavioural and scenario questions about integrity, teamwork, communication and judgement.

  7. 7

    Offer and academy

    Months 3–12

    A place in an intake, then roughly 6 to 8 months of paid training (NSW's model differs).

  8. 8

    Probation

    Years 1–2

    Sworn as a probationary constable, then 1 to 2 years of supervised work before you're confirmed.

The detail inside each stage varies a lot. Victoria charges $284 for its entrance exam, Queensland's is free if QPS sponsors you, and NSW has none at all. The beep test standard runs from level 5 to level 7. Training ranges from 25 weeks in Victoria to 30 weeks in the NT. The rest of this hub sets those differences out side by side, and our complete guide to becoming a police officer in Australia walks through each step in depth.

Already a police officer overseas?

This force doesn't sponsor overseas officers directly, but WA, SA and Queensland do, and you can transfer across later. See police officers moving to Australia, plus visas for police officers and what happens to your UK police pension.

Entry requirements for all 8 forces, side by side

This table pulls together the facts most applicants want first. Every cell comes from our force data files, which are read from official recruiting pages and the relevant industrial agreements. Where a figure is our own calculation or hasn't been confirmed from a primary source, it's flagged.

Australian police entry requirements compared, October 2026

NSW Police

Minimum age
18
Citizenship or residency
Citizen, PR, or NZ citizen on a 444 visa (WSU says citizens or PRs only for the degree)
Entrance test
No separate written police entrance exam
Beep test
Level 7.1
Academy
16 weeks online (unpaid) + 16 weeks at the Academy, Goulburn
Pay while training
$1,360 a week at Goulburn; Session 1 unpaid

Victoria Police

Minimum age
18
Citizenship or residency
Citizen or PR; NZ citizens on a special category visa
Entrance test
Victoria Police Entrance Exam
Beep test
Level 5.01
Academy
25 weeks (sworn in at week 12), Glen Waverley, Melbourne (Mildura from Jan 2027)
Pay while training
$61,187 a year

QPS

Minimum age
17.5 to apply, 18 to start
Citizenship or residency
Citizen, PR, or NZ citizen on a Special Category Visa; overseas police via a labour agreement
Entrance test
QPS Entrance Assessment (QPSea)
Beep test
Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7)
Academy
About 8 months (exact weeks unconfirmed); PACE 20 weeks, Oxley (Brisbane) or Townsville
Pay while training
$59,728 a year calc

WA Police

Minimum age
17 years 6 months to apply, 18 on appointment
Citizenship or residency
Australian or NZ citizen, or Australian PR
Entrance test
No written entrance exam
Beep test
Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female)
Academy
28 weeks, Joondalup (north of Perth)
Pay while training
$74,309 a year

SAPOL

Minimum age
17 at application (unconfirmed)
Citizenship or residency
Australian or NZ citizen, or Australian PR (unconfirmed)
Entrance test
SAPOL Recruitment Test
Beep test
No beep test (circuit test)
Academy
About 6 months (unconfirmed), Taperoo (Adelaide)
Pay while training
$71,872 a year

Tasmania Police

Minimum age
17.5 to apply, 18 to start
Citizenship or residency
Australian or NZ citizen, or Australian PR
Entrance test
Online suitability (psychometric) testing
Beep test
Level 6.01
Academy
28 weeks (incl. 6 weeks at a station), Rokeby (Hobart); some intakes in Launceston
Pay while training
$61,801 a year

NT Police

Minimum age
18 at the start of training
Citizenship or residency
Citizen, PR or NZ citizen; NTPF does not sponsor visas
Entrance test
Cognitive assessment
Beep test
Level 6.1
Academy
30 weeks (one FAQ says 32), Berrimah (Darwin)
Pay while training
$74,619 a year

AFP

Minimum age
18
Citizenship or residency
Australian citizen only
Entrance test
AFP online testing (SHL)
Beep test
Level 6.5
Academy
26 weeks (PSOs 15 weeks), Barton, Canberra
Pay while training
$69,698 a year

'calc' = calculated by us from the published rule; 'unconfirmed' = reported but not confirmed from a primary source. Queensland's training pay is our calculation from its 70%-plus-allowance rule; its recruiting site quotes two different totals. SA's minimum age comes from its job advert, not its eligibility page.

Three patterns stand out. First, residency rules are similar everywhere except the AFP, which takes Australian citizens only. Second, the written test is the most variable stage: five forces use an outside provider (ACER for Victoria and Queensland, TAFE SA, Talogy in Tasmania and SHL for the AFP), NSW relies on university entry standards, and WA uses psychological evaluation alone. Third, pay during training differs by more than $14,891 a year between the highest and lowest published recruit rates.

The force you pick decides your test, your fitness standard, your academy and your first posting. Choose it first, then prepare for its process, not a generic one.

Who can apply to join the police?

The core eligibility rules are close to identical across Australia. You need to be old enough, have the right to live and work here permanently, hold a driver licence and be of good character. Beyond that, the details differ in ways that can rule you in or out of a specific force.

Minimum age to start

18

QLD, WA and Tas let you apply at 17.5

Maximum age

None

no force lists one; health and fitness apply

Citizenship

PR or citizen

AFP: citizens only

Education

Varies

none in Vic and WA; ATAR 50 in NSW

Watch the smaller requirements, because they are the ones people miss. Tasmania, Queensland, the NT and the AFP want a swimming certificate before you go far, and NSW wants an Aquatic Rescue Sequence certificate. Victoria, WA, Tasmania, the NT and the AFP require a current first aid certificate. Victoria rejects learner permits and caps you at 7 demerit points when you apply.

Things to sort out before you apply anywhere

  • ✓ A full or provisional driver licence (NSW wants at least 6 months' driving experience).
  • ✓ A current first aid certificate (HLTAID011 is accepted in most forces).
  • ✓ A swimming or aquatic rescue certificate if your force requires one.
  • ✓ Certified copies of your ID, licence, school results and qualifications.
  • ✓ A full, honest list of every offence, fine and police contact, including as a juvenile.
  • ✓ Two or more referees who have known you for a while and can be reached quickly.

Criminal history, tattoos and medical conditions are assessed case by case in most forces rather than ruled out by a fixed list. WA says a criminal record is not automatically disqualifying, while Tasmania and the NT stress that non-disclosure is treated far more seriously than the offence itself. Read the detail in our police eligibility requirements guide, and the police age limit guide if you are starting later in life.

Entrance tests and fitness standards by force

The entrance test and the fitness test are where most applicants need to put in focused work. Both are pass or fail in most forces, and both can be retaken, though often only after a wait. Here is what each force uses.

Police entrance tests and fitness tests by force

NSW Police

Entrance test
No separate written police entrance exam
Fees and costs
No exam fee; medical $555.50; Aquatic Rescue $10; first aid from $79
Fitness test
Physical Capacity Tests
Beep test
Level 7.1

Victoria Police

Entrance test
Victoria Police Entrance Exam (ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research))
Fees and costs
$284 entrance exam (exemptions available); medical at your cost
Fitness test
Victoria Police fitness test
Beep test
Level 5.01

QPS

Entrance test
QPS Entrance Assessment (QPSea) (ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research))
Fees and costs
QPSea $0 if QPS sponsors you, $279 if not (ACER)
Fitness test
QPS Recruit Entry Fitness Assessment (Standard V1 20251021)
Beep test
Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7)

WA Police

Entrance test
No written entrance exam
Fees and costs
No written exam; final-stage costs reimbursed
Fitness test
Physical Performance Evaluation (PPE)
Beep test
Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female)

SAPOL

Entrance test
SAPOL Recruitment Test (TAFE SA)
Fees and costs
TAFE SA reading and writing test (fee not published in the sources we read)
Fitness test
'Fit for duty' test (wearing a 10 kg vest)
Beep test
No beep test (circuit test)

Tasmania Police

Entrance test
Online suitability (psychometric) testing (Talogy; PAR Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI))
Fees and costs
No exam fee listed; certificates and medical at your cost
Fitness test
Tasmania Police fitness test (traffic-light system)
Beep test
Level 6.01

NT Police

Entrance test
Cognitive assessment
Fees and costs
No exam fee listed
Fitness test
NTPF fitness assessment
Beep test
Level 6.1

AFP

Entrance test
AFP online testing (SHL) (SHL)
Fees and costs
No exam fee listed (SHL online tests)
Fitness test
Entry Physical Competency Assessment (EPCA)
Beep test
Level 6.5

Queensland's QPSea fee is from ACER's registration page (checked 9 October 2026). Victoria's fee is from Victoria Police's recruitment process page.

Entrance tests

Victoria's exam has four parts (numeracy, abstract reasoning, literacy and report writing) and you must pass all of them. ACER's Queensland assessment has three: literacy and abstract reasoning (30 questions in 35 minutes each) and a 35-minute writing task. SA's TAFE-run test has covered reading and writing only since April 2025, with a 60% pass mark in each. The AFP's online SHL battery covers deductive and inductive reasoning, personality and calculation, with a maximum of 3 attempts 12 months apart.

Several forces exempt you if you already hold a degree or a good ATAR, or if you've passed another force's exam. Our police entrance exam guide lists the exemptions force by force.

Free tool

Practise for your entrance test free

Five AI-generated practice questions a day in numeracy, verbal and abstract reasoning, plus a marked writing task, tuned to the force you pick. Full access is A$39.99 for 180 days.

Start practising →

Fitness

Beep test standards run from Level 5.01 in Victoria to Level 7.1 in NSW, but the beep test is rarely the only hurdle. NSW adds a 25 push-up standard and a 90-second prone bridge, Tasmania scores broad jump, grip and waist measurement, and SA's circuit asks you to carry two 15 kg weights in a 10 kg vest. Check your numbers against every force with the police fitness test checker and train with the free beep test audio.

Academy, pay while training and probation

Once you have an offer, you start at your force's academy. All eight forces train recruits in a central academy, and most offer accommodation for people who live far away. Pay starts on day one everywhere except the first part of NSW's degree.

Police academy, recruit pay and probation by force

NSW Police

Where
Goulburn
How long
16 weeks online (unpaid) + 16 weeks at the Academy
Pay while training
$1,360 a week at Goulburn; Session 1 unpaid
Probation after
12 months as a Probationary Constable

Victoria Police

Where
Glen Waverley, Melbourne (Mildura from Jan 2027)
How long
25 weeks (sworn in at week 12)
Pay while training
$61,187 a year
Probation after
To week 116 of training (2 years 13 weeks)

QPS

Where
Oxley (Brisbane) or Townsville
How long
About 8 months (exact weeks unconfirmed); PACE 20 weeks
Pay while training
$59,728 a year calc
Probation after
At least 12 months (First Year Constable Program)

WA Police

Where
Joondalup (north of Perth)
How long
28 weeks
Pay while training
$74,309 a year
Probation after
18 months as a Probationary Constable

SAPOL

Where
Taperoo (Adelaide)
How long
About 6 months (unconfirmed)
Pay while training
$71,872 a year
Probation after
About 2 years in total (unconfirmed)

Tasmania Police

Where
Rokeby (Hobart); some intakes in Launceston
How long
28 weeks (incl. 6 weeks at a station)
Pay while training
$61,801 a year
Probation after
First year (up to 12 months)

NT Police

Where
Berrimah (Darwin)
How long
30 weeks (one FAQ says 32)
Pay while training
$74,619 a year
Probation after
2 years from commencement

AFP

Where
Barton, Canberra
How long
26 weeks (PSOs 15 weeks)
Pay while training
$69,698 a year
Probation after
At least 12 months at Band 2.4 and until the workbook is signed off

SA's academy length and probation, and Queensland's course length in weeks, come from search summaries of official pages and are not confirmed. The NT's constable course is 30 weeks on its recruiting page and 32 weeks in one FAQ.

NT Police pays the most while you train ($74,619 a year) and QPS the least of the forces that publish an annual rate ($59,728). NSW is different again: its first 16-week session is unpaid, then the Academy pays $1,360 a week. After graduation, first-year constable pay jumps: NSW Police $92,576, Victoria Police $84,060, QPS $78,505, WA Police $94,651, SAPOL $83,398, Tasmania Police $73,518, NT Police $87,005, AFP $72,317 in base salary, before loadings and shift allowances. See the full detail in police recruit pay while training and police pay in Australia.

Budget for the costs before you're paid

Some forces leave you to pay for parts of the application. NSW lists $555.50 for the initial medical plus any specialist fees, Victoria's medical and entrance exam are at your cost, and Tasmania's certificates, GP medical, hearing and eye tests are too. WA reimburses its final-stage costs, and Queensland has waived its pre-selection test fees for sponsored applicants.

Free and paid tools to prepare

We built a set of prep tools around the real stages of Australian police recruitment. The free versions are genuinely usable; the paid passes add volume and personalisation. We aren't a force, ACER or a recruiter, and none of our tools reproduce official test items.

AI tool AI police mock interview Answer real-style panel questions by typing or speaking and get a STAR score and fixes. Two free scored answers a day; A$34.99 for 30 days. AI tool Entrance exam practice AI practice sets and marked writing for every force's test. Five free questions a day; A$39.99 for 180 days. Free Fitness test checker Enter your beep level, push-ups and plank time and compare them with seven forces' published minimums at once. Free Beep test audio Run the 20 m shuttle test in your browser with beeps and spoken level calls. No app or sign-up. AI tool Fitness pass plan A week-by-week plan to your force's standard, built from your current results. A$24.99. Free quiz Which force should I join? Seven questions about location, pay, super, remote work and fitness, matched to the eight forces.
A$79.99

All three AI prep tools in one pass

The Recruit Prep Bundle gives you the mock interview, entrance exam prep and fitness pass plan for 180 days for A$79.99, against A$99.97 bought separately.

See the bundle →

Every joining guide on this site

Start with the four national guides, then go to the guides for your force. Each per-force guide is built from the same data as the tables above.

Start here How to become a police officer in Australia The full national guide: every step, every force's rules, costs and a preparation plan. Eligibility Police eligibility requirements Citizenship, age, licence, education, health, criminal history and tattoos, force by force. Eligibility Police age limits Minimum ages, why there's no upper limit, and compulsory retirement ages by force. Timeline How long police recruitment takes Each force's process length, intake cycles, academy and probation, plus a 6-month plan.

How to join, by force

NSW How to become a police officer in NSW Step-by-step for NSW Police Force. VIC How to become a police officer in VIC Step-by-step for Victoria Police. QLD How to become a police officer in QLD Step-by-step for Queensland Police Service. WA How to become a police officer in WA Step-by-step for Western Australia Police Force. SA How to become a police officer in SA Step-by-step for South Australia Police. TAS How to become a police officer in TAS Step-by-step for Tasmania Police. NT How to become a police officer in NT Step-by-step for Northern Territory Police Force. AFP How to join the AFP Step-by-step for Australian Federal Police (incl. ACT Policing).

Entrance exams

All forces Police entrance exams in Australia Which forces test you, how, and what it costs. NSW NSW Police entrance exam Format, sections and how to prepare. VIC Victoria Police entrance exam Format, sections and how to prepare. QLD QPS entrance exam Format, sections and how to prepare. WA WA Police entrance exam Format, sections and how to prepare. SA SAPOL entrance exam Format, sections and how to prepare. TAS Tasmania Police entrance exam Format, sections and how to prepare. NT NT Police entrance exam Format, sections and how to prepare. AFP AFP entrance exam Format, sections and how to prepare.

Fitness tests

All forces Police fitness tests in Australia Every force's physical test side by side. All forces Beep test levels for police What each level means and the standard for every force. NSW NSW Police fitness test Each component, the standard and a plan. VIC Victoria Police fitness test Each component, the standard and a plan. QLD QPS fitness test Each component, the standard and a plan. WA WA Police fitness test Each component, the standard and a plan. SA SAPOL fitness test Each component, the standard and a plan. TAS Tasmania Police fitness test Each component, the standard and a plan. NT NT Police fitness test Each component, the standard and a plan. AFP AFP fitness test Each component, the standard and a plan.

Interviews

All forces Police interview questions Common questions, STAR answers and what panels assess. NSW NSW Police interview The panel format and the questions to expect. VIC Victoria Police interview The panel format and the questions to expect. QLD QPS interview The panel format and the questions to expect. WA WA Police interview The panel format and the questions to expect. SA SAPOL interview The panel format and the questions to expect. TAS Tasmania Police interview The panel format and the questions to expect. NT NT Police interview The panel format and the questions to expect. AFP AFP interview The panel format and the questions to expect.

Psych, medical and background checks

Checks Police psychological assessment What the psych tests and interview look for. Checks Police medical requirements Medical standards and what to disclose. Checks Background and integrity checks Vetting, references, social media and disclosure. Checks Can you join the police with tattoos? Each force's tattoo rules. Checks Can you join with a criminal record? How offences and disclosure are assessed. Checks Police eyesight requirements Vision, colour vision and laser surgery rules.

The academy and recruit pay

All forces Police recruit pay while training What every academy pays, and which part of NSW's is unpaid. NSW NSW Police academy Length, location, life on course and pay. VIC Victoria Police academy Length, location, life on course and pay. QLD QPS academy Length, location, life on course and pay. WA WA Police academy Length, location, life on course and pay. SA SAPOL academy Length, location, life on course and pay. TAS Tasmania Police academy Length, location, life on course and pay. NT NT Police academy Length, location, life on course and pay. AFP AFP academy Length, location, life on course and pay.

Other pathways and careers

Pathway UK police officers moving to Australia Which forces recruit UK officers, visas and recognised service. Pathway NZ police officers moving to Australia Transfer programs open to New Zealand officers. Pathway Victoria Police PSO The Protective Services Officer role and how to convert to constable. Pathway AFP Protective Service Officer Training, pay and remote postings. Pathway Police custody officer The unsworn custody role and how it differs from a constable. Career Becoming a detective How long it takes and the route in. Career Specialist police units Dog, water, highway, tactical and more. Career Women in policing Standards, support and flexible work. Pathway Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathways ACPO, IPROWD and other programs. Pathway Career change into policing Joining later in life, money and timing. Education Do you need a degree to be a police officer? Where degrees are built in and where they help.

How do you choose which force to join?

Most people choose the force in the state they already live in, and that's usually right: you'll have local knowledge, family nearby and no relocation. But if you're flexible, the differences are large enough to be worth weighing. Here are the questions that separate the forces most clearly.

Matching your priorities to a force

Pay while you train

Look at
NT Police, WA Police
Why
The highest published recruit rates ($74,619 and $74,309)

Super

Look at
Queensland, AFP
Why
QLD pays 18% employer super; the AFP pays 15.4%

Avoiding a written exam

Look at
NSW, WA
Why
No separate written entrance exam (NSW needs ATAR 50 or equivalent instead)

A lower fitness bar

Look at
Victoria, Queensland
Why
Beep Level 5.01 and Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7)

A degree as part of training

Look at
NSW
Why
The Associate Degree in Applied Policing, with 16 weeks unpaid

Remote and regional incentives

Look at
NSW, NT, WA, SA
Why
Large remote payments, housing or housing allowances

Federal and overseas work

Look at
AFP
Why
National policing, protective services and international deployments

Remote incentives can change the maths completely. NSW pays a cash incentive for up to five years at designated remote locations, the NT offers barracks, departmental housing or a housing allowance, and WA fully subsidises housing in its Schedule G towns. Read each force's profile on the forces comparison hub before you decide.

Free tool

Not sure which force fits you?

Answer seven quick questions about where you want to live, pay, super, remote work and fitness, and see how the eight forces rank for you.

Take the quiz →

What we couldn't confirm (and who can)

We only publish what official sources support. A few points that matter to applicants are not published clearly, or the official pages contradict each other.

Open questions for applicants

Queensland's exact academy length in weeks and overall recruitment timeline

Who can confirm
QPS Recruiting, 1300 BE A COP

SA's minimum age, citizenship and licence rules (taken from a job ad), academy length and probation

Who can confirm
SAPOL Recruiting

Whether NZ citizens on a 444 visa can do NSW's degree (NSWPF says yes, the university says citizens or PRs)

Who can confirm
NSWPF Recruitment and Western Sydney University admissions

Compulsory retirement ages in NSW, Victoria, WA and SA

Who can confirm
Each force's HR area or police association

Victoria's video interview stage (in a search summary, not on the process page)

Who can confirm
Victoria Police Recruiting

The NT constable course: 30 or 32 weeks

Who can confirm
NT Police Recruitment, 1800 005 099

How we keep this current

The tables on this hub read from one data file per force. When a force changes its fitness standard, recruit pay or entry rules, we update that file and every page that uses it changes together. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via the corrections page.

Free email alerts

Get told when a force opens an intake or changes its entry rules

One short email when something changes for applicants anywhere in Australia: new academy start dates, recruitment drives, entrance test or fitness standard changes, and new pay for recruits.

  • ✓Intake and recruitment campaign alerts for all 8 forces
  • ✓Entry rule, test and fitness changes the week they happen

Sent by Police Pay Australia when there's news. Unsubscribe any time. See our privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the basic requirements to become a police officer in Australia?

Every force asks for roughly the same core: be at least 18 by the time you start training, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (the AFP requires citizenship), hold a driver licence, be of good character and pass fitness, medical and psychological checks. Education rules vary most: Victoria and WA set no minimum, while NSW needs an ATAR of 50 or equivalent.

Which Australian police force is easiest to get into?

No force publishes pass rates, so nobody can honestly rank them on difficulty. You can compare the published bars: Victoria and Queensland have the lowest beep test standards, NSW and WA have no separate written entrance exam, and Victoria and WA have no education minimum. Pick on where you want to live and work first.

Do you get paid while training at the police academy?

In seven of the eight forces, yes, from day one. Annual recruit rates range from $59,728 (QPS) to $74,619 (NT Police). NSW is the exception: the first 16-week online session of its associate degree is unpaid, and the 16 weeks at Goulburn pay $1,360 a week.

How long does it take to become a police officer in Australia?

Allow roughly 9 to 18 months from application to graduation. Published process times run from about 8 to 12 weeks in Tasmania to 6 to 12 months for the AFP, and the academy then takes roughly 6 to 8 months. After graduation you are on probation for 1 to 2 years depending on the force.

Is there an age limit to join the police in Australia?

Not an upper one. None of the eight forces lists a maximum joining age in the requirements we read, though you must pass the same fitness and medical standards as everyone else. The minimum is 18 to start training; Queensland, WA and Tasmania let you apply at 17 and a half.

Can you join the police without a degree?

Yes, in every force. Only NSW builds a degree into training (the Associate Degree in Applied Policing), and you study it as part of the job. Most other forces award a Diploma of Policing during or after probation. A degree can exempt you from some entrance exams, such as Victoria's and SA's.

Can I join an Australian police force from the UK?

Some forces recruit serving UK officers directly. WA, SA and Queensland all run international pathways with recognised service and visa sponsorship, and Victoria recognises UK service if you already have residency. NSW, the NT and the AFP require residency or citizenship and have no overseas lateral route we could find.

What beep test level do I need for the police?

It depends on the force. NSW asks for Level 7.1, WA Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female), the AFP Level 6.5, Tasmania Level 6.01, the NT Level 6.1, Victoria Level 5.01 and Queensland Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7). SA has no beep test; it uses a timed fit-for-duty circuit in a weighted vest.

Evidence

Sources and how we checked them

Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, read on 9 October 2026. Pay rates and rules change when new agreements are made, so check the source for the date you're reading this. Where we couldn't confirm something from an official source, the page says so instead of guessing. Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy.

  1. NSW Police Force recruitment: Salary and benefits — NSW Police
  2. Victoria Police: Police officer training — Victoria Police
  3. QPS Recruiting: General entry policing pathway (as summarised publicly) — QPS
  4. Let's Join Forces (WA Police Force): Training at the Academy — WA Police
  5. SAPOL: The Academy — SAPOL
  6. Tasmania Police Recruitment: FAQs — Tasmania Police
  7. NTPFES: Constable recruitment page — NT Police
  8. AFP College — AFP
  9. NSW Police Force recruitment: Application process — NSW Police
  10. Victoria Police: Police recruitment process — Victoria Police
  11. ACER: QPS Entrance Assessment (QPSea) candidate information — QPS
  12. Let's Join Forces (WA Police Force): Entry-level officer recruitment process — WA Police
  13. SAPOL: Recruitment process — SAPOL
  14. Tasmania Police Recruitment: Online Suitability Testing — Tasmania Police
  15. NTPFES: Constable recruitment page — NT Police
  16. AFP Online testing for new recruits (PDF) — AFP
  17. ACER: QPS Entrance Assessment (structure and fees) — QPSea sections and the $0 / $279 fee

Related guides

Every Australian police force compared → Pay, fitness, academy, super and retirement for all eight forces. Police pay in Australia 2026 → What you'll earn after the academy, force by force. Pay comparison calculator → Compare take-home pay and super across forces at each career stage.

Joining the police

More in this series

AI prep tools Recruit Prep Bundle AI mock interview, entrance exam prep and a fitness pass plan together for 180 days, for less than buying them separately. Academy and training Police recruit pay while training Recruit pay in all 8 forces compared, with tax, super, academy costs and the pay jump at graduation. Academy and training NSW Police Academy, Goulburn The ADAP with Western Sydney University: the unpaid online session, 16 weeks at Goulburn, pay, fees and attestation. Academy and training Victoria Police Academy Glen Waverley's 25-week course week by week, swearing-in at week 12, live-in costs and the new Mildura academy. Academy and training QPS Academy, Oxley and Townsville About 8 months of recruit training, free live-in, recruit pay, the First Year Constable Program and PACE. Academy and training WA Police Academy, Joondalup 28 weeks at Joondalup: subjects, hours, Recruit-in-Training pay, regional accommodation and 18 months' probation. Academy and training SA Police Academy, Taperoo SAPOL cadet training at Taperoo: course length, subjects, the fit-for-duty test to graduate, pay and probation. Academy and training Tasmania Police Academy, Rokeby 28 weeks at Rokeby or the Launceston satellite course: board, UTAS units, trainee pay and your first posting. Academy and training NT Police College, Darwin The Constable course at Berrimah: 30 or 32 weeks, two-step recruit pay, housing, remote postings and 2-year probation.
See every joining the police guide →

General information, not advice. This guide explains published rules and rates. It doesn't consider your personal circumstances and isn't financial, legal, tax or credit advice. Confirm anything you rely on with your force, your police association, the ATO or a licensed professional.