How to become a police officer in North Dakota
In North Dakota, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The North Dakota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board sets the statewide standards; the credential is Peace Officer License (limited license until basic training and licensing exam are passed). At the Fargo Police Department, new hires start at $66,498 a year, rising to $98,488.
Pay at the Fargo Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Fargo Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $66,498 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $98,488 |
Fargo PD recruiting site (joinfargopd.com, linked from fargond.gov): 'Starting salary range is $66,498 increasing to $69,992 after your first year.' Pay scale example, Police Officer steps 1-9: $31.97, $33.65, $35.34, $37.10, $38.96, $40.91, $42.95, $45.10, $47.35/hr (x 2080: $66,498 to $98,488). Step timing beyond year 1 not stated. Fargo runs its own paid 18-week academy.
Source:[joinfargopd.com]
Pay for this work across North Dakota
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in North Dakota, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 1,630 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $58,620 |
| Median pay | $74,500 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $91,440 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen or resident alien status
- Not pled guilty to or convicted of any felony, crime of moral turpitude, crime of domestic violence, or other offense bearing on ability to serve; a felony conviction requires license denial (NDCC 12-63-12)
- Not prohibited from using or possessing a firearm under state or federal law
- Valid driver's license
- Complete background investigation by the hiring agency with two fingerprint cards for state and federal checks
- Board-approved medical examination and psychological evaluation
- Not prohibited from access to NCIC and CJIS databases
- Sidearm qualification (written exam and shooting) and online use-of-force exam before a limited license is issued
- Attend the first available basic training session after the limited license is issued
- No minimum age is stated in NDCC 12-63 or the POST FAQ
Source:[post.nd.gov]
Hiring process
- Agency application and background investigation with fingerprints
- Board-approved psychological evaluation and medical examination
- Sidearm qualification and online use-of-force exam
- Agency submits license forms (PFN 1, 2, 3, 14); limited license issued
- Basic full-time peace officer training course
- North Dakota Peace Officer Licensing Examination (70% to pass)
- Full peace officer license
Source:[post.nd.gov]
Entrance exam
North Dakota Peace Officer Licensing Examination. Given by POST Board representatives at the end of basic training; minimum passing score 70%; $25 fee. One retake within thirty days; a second failure requires repeating the basic course (N.D. Admin. Code 109-02-02).[post.nd.gov]
Required training
Length not published. POST rules require the board-certified basic full-time peace officer training course (state Law Enforcement Training Academy in Bismarck or another certified academy) but no hour total was found. Fargo PD: 'The Fargo Police Academy is an 18-week training program fully certified by the North Dakota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board' and is paid.[ndlegis.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: City of Fargo police pension plan
- Benefit formula: 2.65% of the highest three years of salary (average) x years of service
- When you can retire: Vested at 10 years of service; can draw the pension at age 49 1/2
No single statewide plan for North Dakota local police was confirmed, so this is the Fargo plan as described on the Fargo PD recruiting site; officers and the city both contribute.
Source:[joinfargopd.com]