Become a Colorado POST Certified
Reserve Police Officer with the
Colorado Rangers!

The application period for those who are not POST certified to attend our Reserve Police Academy in Class 12 beginning in August 2026 is now closed.

You may submit the inquiry form below now if you meet one of the following conditions:

  • Current Colorado POST Basic (aka “Full”) certification
  • Expired Colorado POST Basic certification which is renewable
  • POST certification from another state and you qualify for Colorado POST Provisional certification
  • You are interested in attending our 2027 POST Reserve Police Academy in Class 13

Before submitting your inquiry below, please read all of the information on this page carefully and completely!

The Colorado Rangers are an Equal Employment Opportunity agency. The Colorado Rangers will not tolerate any member engaging in unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation against any member or applicant because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, pregnancy status, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, spousal or civil union status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Colorado POST Certifications

There are three levels of POST certification in Colorado – Basic (aka “Full” is required for paid positions), Provisional (for qualified out of state officers) and Reserve (unpaid).  

Basic and Reserve certifications will remain active as long as the officer is employed with an agency and remains in good standing as well as for three (3) years after leaving an agency if they do not become employed by another agency.  For this definition, “employed” also applies to Reserve officers.

Provisional certification is an interim certification that affords a qualified out-of-state officer the opportunity to obtain employment as a Colorado peace officer while completing the requirements for Basic certification.  There are additional requirements and restrictions – for more information go to this page HERE.

Expired Reserve certifications CANNOT be renewed and completion of another POST Reserve Academy would be required.

For more information on Colorado POST certifications, visit this SITE.

Expired Basic (aka “Full”) certifications may be renewable and you’ll find more information about the process. 

Requirements

There are POST requirements to serve as a peace officer in Colorado.

For more information on the POST requirements for certification, use the links below:

There are disqualifying incidents that may preclude POST certification which include those listed HERE.

Certifications  |  Academy Training
Tuition & Fees  |  Duty Obligations

 

Current / Previous Certification

If you have a current Colorado POST Basic or Reserve Certification, you may submit your inquiry now. 

Please note that we are unable to provide you with a “dual commission” whereby you are a sworn peace officer with another agency and the Colorado Rangers.

Expired Colorado POST Basic Certification

If you previously held a Colorado POST Basic (not Reserve) Certification in good standing which has expired, you may have the option to renew it.  For more information on renewals go HERE.

Our Reserve Police Academy Format

Classes in our POST Reserve Police Academy are held on Saturday and Sunday across most weekends along with some Friday evenings.  

Colorado Rangers Reserve Police Academy

Fees

If you are invited to submit your application after discussions with a Recruiter and your initial interview, all applicants will be subject to the following fees:

  1. Application Fee

  2. Psychological Evaluation Fee

If you do not already have a current Colorado POST certification, and we offer you a slot in our Reserve Police Academy class, you will be subject to an Academy Tuition Copay that is roughly 1/10 of the corresponding cost / value.  

Colorado Rangers Police Rifle

Duty Hours Requirements

Graduates of Our POST Reserve Police Academy

In return for attending our Colorado POST Reserve Police Academy you will have a duty commitment of a minimum of 120 approved duty-rated hours covering at least 12 duty shifts in total per year for the first 3 years of service.

Attending our Academy is a very significant value and Cadets will have an additional financial responsibility if they fail to accumulate the required number of approved duty-related hours after being sworn in as a Colorado Ranger.

All Rangers are required to log a minimum of 120 approved duty-rated hours covering at least 12 duty shifts per year to remain in good standing.

Colorado Rangers Reserve Police Academy

Other Agency Sponsored Tuition

To support other agencies that do not have their own POST Reserve Police Academy program, we may offer a limited number of slots in our Academy classes subject to availability.  In this case, another law enforcement agency accepts you and pays the tuition for you to attend our POST Reserve Police Academy.

Prospective Applicant
Inquiry Form

If you have a real interest in serving as a Reserve Police Officer with the Colorado Rangers, we ask that you first complete and submit a brief inquiry form. Once of our Recruiters will then respond and answer your questions.

Please only use this form to inquire about becoming a Reserve Police Officer with the Colorado Rangers. 

If you are not interested in the possibility of applying to our agency, and you want to make a general inquiry, express a concern or leave a comment, please use a different form that you will find by clicking HERE.

Geographic areas

Colorado Rangers has three Troops located along the Front Range which serve dozens of partner agencies along the Front Range as well as in several mountain communities.

Rangers may accept duty shifts throughout our area of operations and they are not limited to areas in or near each Troop’s primary duty area.

No obligation

While there is no obligation involved here, we ask that you use this inquiry form only if you are genuinely interested in the possibility of applying to our Agency.

What to expect after you submit this form

One of our Recruiters will usually contact you within 5 business days.  Please be patient as they have regular street duty as well.

Please note that required fields on this form are marked with an asterisk*

Please include your phone # in case we need to reach you if email does not work for any reason.
If a Recruiter has not contacted you within 5 business days, please resubmit this form. Thank you.