Want to serve and wondering how to become a police officer? In this article, we explain all the steps and requirements to become a police officer.
Being a police officer is a fascinating job and, above all, a calling. Whether you want to investigate, protect, intervene or provide support, there is definitely a unit for you!
So: what are the requirements? Policing careers are recruiting, both men and women, whatever your level of education: you can apply as a Gardien de la paix (police constable) as soon as you have the high school diploma level. With a bachelor's degree (three years of higher education), you can take the police officer (officier de police) exam, and with a master's degree (five years of higher education, preferably in Law) you can go straight to the police commissioner exam!
You also need to be in good physical condition and in good health, because you will have to pass a physical test! The other requirements are:
- Being of legal age
- Holding French nationality
- Having no incompatible entry on your criminal record
- Being fit to carry and use a firearm (medical examination required)
- Being in good standing with national service obligations (having attended the Defense and Citizenship Day)
Speaking of tests, what are the tests you will face during your application? The Gardien de la paix exam was revised in 2022, so its format has changed!
You will first be tested with a written exam made up of several practical case studies. You will be assessed on your writing skills, as well as your ability to analyze, summarize and understand a situation: you will have to picture yourself in your future duties!
The second stage is a multiple-choice test made up of questions on general knowledge and foreign languages. For the foreign language, you can choose between English, Spanish and German!
Beware: on these tests, a score below 5/20 is disqualifying!
Once these written assessments are completed, the physical tests and the oral interview remain.
The physical test is the same as before: a motor skills course and a respiratory endurance test (also known as the Luc Léger test).
The motor skills course is a course made up of 10 stations to complete as quickly as possible. Be careful: if a station is incomplete, you will receive penalties, and if a station is abandoned, you will score zero for the whole course. Squats, hurdle crossing, crawling, balance beam — you will find all the stations to train on in this video!
The Luc Léger test is an iconic test, both in the police and in the army. You will have to run back and forth between two zones (marked out by cones) over a distance of 20 m. Each whistle blow marks a level, each one faster than the last. The more levels you complete, the better your score! You can listen to the official French Army soundtrack here. A score below 7/20 on either test is disqualifying!
The final test is a 25-minute oral interview. You will have to introduce yourself in 5 minutes, mentioning your academic and extracurricular background and your professional motivations. Beware: the weighting is 5 and a score below 5/20 is disqualifying!
Then, depending on available positions and entry requirements, you will be able to apply to more specialized units such as the riot control police, the K9 unit, or even become a police bomb disposal officer! Good luck to all!
Now that you know how to become a police officer, take a look at the right gear on the GK PRO shop!
For more information about the recruitment process, you can visit the official National Police page.
