Section 1031 Of Article 2. Disqualifications For Office Or Employment From California Government Code >> Division 4. >> Title 1. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2.
1031
. Each class of public officers or employees declared by law to
be peace officers shall meet all of the following minimum standards:
(a) Be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident
alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship, except as
provided in Section 2267 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) Be at least 18 years of age.
(c) Be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and
national fingerprint files to disclose a criminal record.
(d) Be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough
background investigation.
(e) Be a high school graduate, pass the General Education
Development Test or other high school equivalency test approved by
the State Department of Education that indicates high school
graduation level, pass the California High School Proficiency
Examination, or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced
degree from an accredited college or university. The high school
shall be either a United States public school, an accredited United
States Department of Defense high school, or an accredited or
approved public or nonpublic high school. Any accreditation or
approval required by this subdivision shall be from a state or local
government educational agency using local or state government
approved accreditation, licensing, registration, or other approval
standards, a regional accrediting association, an accrediting
association recognized by the Secretary of the United States
Department of Education, an accrediting association holding full
membership in the National Council for Private School Accreditation
(NCPSA), an organization holding full membership in AdvancED, an
organization holding full membership in the Council for American
Private Education (CAPE), or an accrediting association recognized by
the National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting
Associations (NFNSSAA).
(f) Be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental
condition that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a
peace officer.
(1) Physical condition shall be evaluated by a licensed physician
and surgeon.
(2) Emotional and mental condition shall be evaluated by either of
the following:
(A) A physician and surgeon who holds a valid California license
to practice medicine, has successfully completed a postgraduate
medical residency education program in psychiatry accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and has at
least the equivalent of five full-time years of experience in the
diagnosis and treatment of emotional and mental disorders, including
the equivalent of three full-time years accrued after completion of
the psychiatric residency program.
(B) A psychologist licensed by the California Board of Psychology
who has at least the equivalent of five full-time years of experience
in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional and mental disorders,
including the equivalent of three full-time years accrued
postdoctorate.
The physician and surgeon or psychologist shall also have met any
applicable education and training procedures set forth by the
California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
designed for the conduct of preemployment psychological screening of
peace officers.
(g) This section shall not be construed to preclude the adoption
of additional or higher standards, including age.