Introduction to Criminology
Self-paced online Introduction to Criminology course (Criminology 150). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →TexasPublic safety
How many college credits do you need to be a police officer in Texas?
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
College credits to be a police officer in Texas: none if you are 21 and have a high school diploma or GED. To be licensed at 18 you need an associate degree or 60 semester hours from an accredited college, or an honorable discharge, under 37 TAC 217.1. Some agencies ask for more, and many pay more for degrees.
The numbers in one table
These are the state minimums and one agency example. Your agency may set higher hiring rules.
| Situation | College needed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Age 21 or older | None; diploma or GED | 37 TAC 217.1 |
| Age 18 to 20 | 60 semester hours or an associate degree (or honorable discharge) | 37 TAC 217.1 |
| TCOLE Intermediate in 4 years | Associate degree | TCOLE chart 2.9.26 |
| TCOLE Intermediate in 2 years | Bachelor's or higher | TCOLE chart 2.9.26 |
| Austin education pay, first tier | Associate's or 60 college hours | City of Austin |
Why 60 hours matters for younger applicants
For an 18-year-old, 60 hours opens the door three years early. Hours must be semester hours from an accredited college or university, so plan where they will be posted. A mix of general education courses is fine; the rule does not name subjects.
Remember that the age rule is only one door. The academy, the hiring agency and TCOLE's own licensing steps still apply, including the basic course, the licensing exam and background checks. College hours do not replace any of those steps.
Agencies can ask for more
The state rule is a floor. Some departments ask for college hours or a degree for all applicants, or give preference to them. Read the current job posting, and ask the recruiter in writing which hours count and how they must be shown.
Credits after you are hired
College keeps paying off after the academy. TCOLE's Intermediate chart lets an associate degree replace training hours with four years of service, or a bachelor's with two. Many agencies pay monthly education incentives; Austin, for example, pays $1,200 a year at the associate or 60-hour level and $2,640 a year for a bachelor's.
- Shorter path to the Intermediate certificate
- Education incentive pay at many agencies
- A base for promotion and specialist roles
A simple plan to reach 60 hours
Sixty semester hours is usually about twenty three-hour courses. Many applicants split them into a core of general education and a block of job-related subjects. Before you start, write down every course you already have, with the college and the hours, so you only fill the gap. If you took dual-credit courses in high school, they may already be on a Texas college transcript and count.
Plan the order too. Writing and an introductory psychology course help with later courses, and they are often required for an associate degree if you decide to finish one.
- English composition and a math course
- Psychology, sociology and criminology
- Ethics and a second writing course
- Science and humanities electives to finish the 60
Building the hours online
UPI Study courses in criminology, psychology, sociology and writing carry ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit and can become semester hours via a college transcript. TESU, UoPeople and Newlane are partner colleges that consider such credit. UPI Study is not accredited, and the academy or agency decides what counts, so ask in writing first.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your academy, agency HR or TCOLE in writing whether hours posted on an accredited college transcript after outside study will count, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Does a GED work for Texas police?
Yes. TCOLE's rule accepts a high school diploma or a GED at high school graduation level. College hours are only needed to be licensed before 21, unless your agency asks for more. If you hold a GED, keep a copy of the certificate and score report, because the academy and agency will ask for proof of education when you apply.
Do the 60 hours need to be in criminal justice?
The state rule asks for 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university and does not name a subject. Agencies that pay for degrees may want them job-related, so ask HR. When pay or promotion depends on a degree, ask whether the degree must be in criminal justice or a related field.
Does military service replace college for Texas police?
For the age rule, an honorable discharge after the required active service lowers the minimum age to 18. TCOLE's Intermediate chart also counts 2 or 4 years of military service. Check the rule for the exact service needed.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Introduction to Sociology
Self-paced online Introduction to Sociology course (Sociology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Criminology, psychology, sociology and writing in one plan.
Sources
- 37 Tex. Admin. Code 217.1, Minimum Standards for Enrollment and Initial Licensure (Cornell LII copy)(b)(1)(A) minimum age 21, or 18 with an associate's degree or 60 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university, or an honorable discharge; (b)(2) high school diploma or GED. Amended eff. 1 Apr 2024. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- TCOLE: Intermediate Peace Officer Proficiency Certification Requirements Chart (2.9.26) (official)Commission Rules 221.1 and 221.3: Intermediate certificate with 8 years + 400 training hours, 6 + 800, 4 + 1,200, or 2 + 2,400; or 4 years with an associate degree, or 2 years with a bachelor's or higher (or 2 or 4 years of military service); plus required courses. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- City of Austin Police Recruiting: Pay and Benefits (official)Education incentive pay per year in 12 monthly installments: associate's or 60 college credit hours $1,200; bachelor's $2,640; master's $3,600; TCOLE Master Peace Officer certificate pay $1,800 a year. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.