Police Recruit Scholarship Program

Tuition, uniforms, equipment, and books will be paid by the City of Tampa. Police Recruit Scholarship recipients will attend the Basic Recruit class at Hillsborough Community College to receive training for State of Florida certification as a law enforcement officer. Training class will be held Monday through  Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and lasts approximately  6  months. Successful candidates  who receive the scholarship award must sign a contract with the City in order to participate. Those selected will be hired as a City of Tampa employee in a Police Recruit position and will receive pay and benefits during the training period.

Police Recruits who successfully complete all training required  by the State of Florida to obtain certification as a law enforcement  officer and pass the State examination will be reclassified as Police Officer.  At the time the Police Recruit Scholarship Recipient is sworn-in as a Police Officer, all benefits of the current labor contract will be afforded. State of Florida Incentive Plan--maximum available $1,560 per year.  

Note: Personnel with prior or current certifications as a Police Officer and Corrections Officer are not eligible for the Police Recruit Scholarship Program. For information on the Equivalency of Training process, contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at 850/410·8600 (www.fdle.state.fl.us/CjST).

Minimum Age 21 years.

• Individuals will be considered who have not reached  21 years of age but will by the time of swearing in as a law enforcement  officer.    

Citizenship: Applicant must be a United States Citizen. 

Character and overall physical condition must be suitable for law enforcement work and candidates must pass the City's background investigation.

Education/Work Experience Qualifications:  

• Possession of an Associate's Degree or completion of 2 years of college coursework (60 semester or 90-quarter hours) or 45 credit hours from an accredited college or university or current enrollment in the remaining credit hours which will meet or exceed the required educational level (must have 60 credits at the time of being appointed a police officer);
• -OR- produce official documentation from one of the accepted educational  institutions which clearly states that upon successful completion of the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, and CJSTC Certification Exam, the applicant will be awarded a specified number of articulated credit hours which, when added to their existing earned credits, will meet or exceed the educational standards for employment with the Tampa Police Department as a Police Officer;
• -OR- 3 years active duty military experience;
• -OR- Military Reservist with no college and 6yrs experience as a reservist.
• -OR- An equivalent combination of college education and military experience.

The following documents are required upon application submission or no later than the posted filing deadline (missing documents will result in a status change to not qualified):

• High School Diploma or College Diploma/Transcript
• Birth Certificate (legible copy)
• DD 214 Military Discharge-member 4 copy (if applicable)
• Drivers license

• Completion of Self-Evaluation Supplemental
• Physical Abilities Test (pass/fail)
• Background Investigation (to include polygraph)