A high school diploma and fill out the application. Here are the standards for a CA cop. The minimum selection standards for peace officers in California are set forth in Government Code Sections 1029 and 1031. Every California peace officer must: Be free of any felony convictions; Be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship (CHP officers must be US citizens at time of appointment); Be at least 18 years of age; Be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record; Be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation; Be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development test or have attained a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited institution; and Be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer. Source: https://theacademy.ca.gov/basic_police_academy#:~:text=Each%20Basic%20Police%20Academy%20applicant%20must%3A%20Pass%20the,of%20medical%20insurance%2C%20DMV%20history%2C%20DOJ%20Firearms%20Clearance.