{"id":46887,"date":"2018-12-13T16:45:58","date_gmt":"2018-12-13T16:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=46887"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:38:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T14:38:30","slug":"tcole-exam","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/tcole-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"TCOLE Practice Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requires all candidates seeking to become peace officers to pass a comprehensive state licensing exam. It measures the candidate\u2019s command of all the procedural and practical knowledge covered during the mandatory basic peace officer training course.<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free TCOLE practice test!<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttonlinks\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/tcole\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Guide Button', 'Guide Click', 'TCOLE Guide Click']);\">TCOLE Study Guide<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/tcole\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Flashcard Button', 'Flashcard Button Click', 'TCOLE Flashcard Click']);\">TCOLE Flashcards<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"TCOLE_Exam_Eligibility\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>TCOLE Exam Eligibility<\/h2>\n<p>The exam is open to anyone who meets the following eligibility criteria:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be a US citizen of at least 21 years of age<\/li>\n<li>Possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent<\/li>\n<li>If you have served in the armed forces, you must have been honorably discharged<\/li>\n<li>Have no record of conviction for a Class B misdemeanor or worse within the last ten years<\/li>\n<li>Have no current criminal offense charge<\/li>\n<li>Have no record of conviction for an offense involving family violence<\/li>\n<li>Possess a valid, unrestricted driver\u2019s license<\/li>\n<li>Have no prohibition under state law from possessing firearms or ammunition<\/li>\n<li>Complete a physical exam by an approved, licensed physician<\/li>\n<li>Have no trace of illegal drug use (as determined by various medical tests, including a blood test)<\/li>\n<li>Complete a psychiatric evaluation by an approved, licensed psychologist<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"TCOLE_Exam_Outline\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>TCOLE Exam Outline<\/h2>\n<p>The TCOLE certification test for peace officers includes a total of 250 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 3 hours. The questions will cover all the material that you learned in your Basic Peace Officer training course.<\/p>\n<p>Below is a brief overview of what you will be expected to be familiar with on test day:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Professionalism and ethics<\/li>\n<li>Professional policing<\/li>\n<li>Fitness and wellness<\/li>\n<li>Stress management<\/li>\n<li>TCOLE Rules<\/li>\n<li>Multiculturalism and Human Relations<\/li>\n<li>Racial profiling<\/li>\n<li>US Constitution and US citizens&#8217; rights<\/li>\n<li>Texas Constitution and citizen&#8217;s rights<\/li>\n<li>Penal code<\/li>\n<li>Code of criminal procedure<\/li>\n<li>Arrest, search, and seizure<\/li>\n<li>Asset forfeiture<\/li>\n<li>Identity theft<\/li>\n<li>Consular notification<\/li>\n<li>Civil process<\/li>\n<li>Health and safety code<\/li>\n<li>Controlled Substance Act<\/li>\n<li>Alcoholic beverage code<\/li>\n<li>Sexual assault and family violence<\/li>\n<li>Missing and exploited children<\/li>\n<li>Child alert checklist<\/li>\n<li>Victims of crime<\/li>\n<li>Human trafficking<\/li>\n<li>Traffic code<\/li>\n<li>Intoxicated driver (SFST)<\/li>\n<li>Written communication<\/li>\n<li>Verbal communication and public interactions<\/li>\n<li>Spanish<\/li>\n<li>De-escalation strategies<\/li>\n<li>Force options theory<\/li>\n<li>Crisis intervention<\/li>\n<li>Traumatic brain injury<\/li>\n<li>Arrest and control<\/li>\n<li>Criminal investigations<\/li>\n<li>Juvenile offenders<\/li>\n<li>Professional police driving<\/li>\n<li>Patrol skills<\/li>\n<li>Radio communications<\/li>\n<li>LTFA<\/li>\n<li>Amber-Silver alert<\/li>\n<li>Civilian interactions<\/li>\n<li>Deaf and hard-of-hearing interactions<\/li>\n<li>Canine encounters<\/li>\n<li>Emergency medical assistance<\/li>\n<li>Firearms<\/li>\n<li>HAZMAT awareness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check Out Mometrix's TCOLE Study Guide<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/tcole\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Study Guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/tcole\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"184\" height=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/tcole.jpg\" alt=\" Study Guide\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Registration\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Registration<\/h2>\n<p>You can start your application online on the TCOLE website. Once you have established that you meet the eligibility criteria and you have completed your Basic Peace Officer training course, you will be able to register for an appointment that works with your schedule. The test is offered on multiple dates throughout the year.<\/p>\n<p>You will have to pay an exam fee of $25 in order to reserve your place for the exam.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Passing_Score\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span> Passing Score<\/h2>\n<p>TCOLE does not publicly provide a fixed passing score for the peace officer licensing exam. As a study target, aim well above 80% on practice questions so you have a margin of safety before test day.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check Out Mometrix's TCOLE Flashcards<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get complex  subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button blue-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/tcole\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Flashcards<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/tcole\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"184\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/tcoleflash.jpg\" alt=\" Flashcards\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Study_Tips\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span> Study Tips<\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"How_to_Study_Effectively\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>How to Study Effectively<\/h3>\n<p>Your success on TCOLE test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It\u2019s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking TCOLE practice tests to evaluate your progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a free TCOLE certification practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The questions you got wrong<\/li>\n<li>The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right<\/li>\n<li>The ones you found difficult or slow to work through<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This will show you exactly what your weak areas are and where you need to devote more study time. Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn\u2019t understand the material? Was it because you didn\u2019t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Answer_Explanations\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Answer Explanations<\/h3>\n<p>Additionally, many TCOLE practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question\u2019s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you\u2019re positive you have a thorough understanding.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Comprehend_Each_Topic\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Comprehend Each Topic<\/h3>\n<p>As you go along, keep in mind that the TCOLE practice test is just that: practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same exact questions. If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won\u2019t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you\u2019ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Strategy_for_TCOLE_Practice\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Strategy for TCOLE Practice<\/h3>\n<p>When you\u2019re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Remove Limitations.<\/strong> Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and TCOLE study guide handy. Take your time and focus on applying the strategies you\u2019ve learned.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Time Yourself.<\/strong> Take the second practice test \u201copen book\u201d as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourself to finish in time.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Simulate Test Day.<\/strong> Take any other practice tests as if it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials. Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as quickly and accurately as possible.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep Practicing.<\/strong> Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it\u2019s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you\u2019ll be able to focus on recalling the material you\u2019ve learned.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"FAQs\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>FAQs<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How many questions are on the TCOLE certification test for peace officers?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>There are 250 multiple-choice questions on the exam.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How long is the TCOLE certification test for peace officers?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The time limit for the exam is 3 hours.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is the passing score for the TCOLE certification test for peace officers?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>There is no set passing score for this exam.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How much does the TCOLE certification test for peace officers cost?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The examination fee is $25.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"author\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Headshot of Mometrix associate Peter Rench.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Peter-Rench-scaled.webp\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">By <span itemprop=\"name\">Peter Rench<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&amp;M University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"editor\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Aaron Lanni profile pic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image_2024-12-11_124906662.png\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">Edited by <span itemprop=\"name\">Aaron Lanni<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Aaron is the content manager and lead editor for Mometrix Academy. He regularly produces, updates, proofreads, and edits content to ensure it meets Mometrix\u2019s quality and accessibility standards.<\/p>\n<\/div><p class=\"alignright author-desc author-link\"><a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/editorial-guidelines\/\">Learn more about our editorial guidelines<\/a> \u2192<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/\">Mometrix Academy &#8211; Home<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">Mometrix Test Preparation is not affiliated with or endorsed by any official testing organization. All organizational and test names are trademarks of their respective owners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requires all candidates seeking to become peace officers to pass a comprehensive state licensing exam. It measures the candidate\u2019s command of all the procedural and practical knowledge covered during the mandatory basic peace officer training course. Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free TCOLE practice test! TCOLE &#8230; <a title=\"TCOLE Practice Test\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/tcole-exam\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about TCOLE Practice Test\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":202520,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-46887","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-public-service-and-legal","7":"page_type-exam-overview","8":"page_domain-tcole"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46887"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":294005,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46887\/revisions\/294005"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/202520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}