1. (1) Physical Examinations. Each applicant shall submit to a complete physical examination conducted by a licensed Medical Doctor (M.D.), a licensed Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), or by a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) or a Physician’s Assistant (P.A.) who is licensed and duly authorized by state statute to conduct said physical examinations. The appointing authority shall designate one of the above-named health care professionals to conduct the physical examination. The health care professional conducting the examination shall certify to the Commission on APOST Form Number 3A that the applicant is physically fit and in good health to participate in the rigorous training conducted at a law enforcement academy and is physically fit to perform the duties of a law enforcement officer.

2. (2) Psychological Evaluations. Each applicant shall submit to a comprehensive psychological evaluation by a Licensed Behavioral Health Professional with experience in conducting Psychological Testing and Evaluations. The Behavioral Health Professional shall have experience working with the law enforcement community. The report of the examining professional shall state whether the applicant is recommended or not recommended for employment/appointment as a law enforcement officer. The examining professional shall complete and submit to the Commission APOST Form Number 3B.

   1. (a) The psychological evaluation administered to law enforcement officers must meet the approval of the Commission.
   2. (b) An applicant who fails to receive an acceptable assessment of his/her psychological evaluation from the Committee is not eligible for employment/appointment for a period of one (1) year and must first be reviewed and cleared by the Committee on Character and Psychological Evaluation Review prior to any future appointment as a law enforcement officer. The applicant is not exempt from Rule 650-X-2-.01.

   Should the report of the examining professional provide a recommendation other than “Recommended for employment/ appointment as a law enforcement officer,” and the employing agency submits to the Commission an Application for Certification of the individual notwithstanding said recommendation, then the employing agency must provide documented, supplemental information to the Commission to support and validate the fitness of the applicant applying to be certified as a law enforcement officer. The applicant’s APOST Form 3B, the report of the examining professional, and any supporting documents submitted by the agency head will then be reviewed by the Commission’s “Committee on Character and Psychological Evaluation Review”. The Committee will evaluate the reports and other documents to determine the acceptability of the applicant. If the application is rejected by the Committee, the Executive Secretary will notify the employing agency that the applicant is ineligible for appointment and the applicant’s provisional appointment as a law enforcement officer is deemed terminated.

Author: R. Alan Benefield, Executive Secretary

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§36-21-40 et seq.

History: Effective date: September 29, 1983. Repealed and Replaced: Filed May 8, 1995; effective June 12, 1995. Amended: Filed April 4, 1997; effective May 9, 1997. Amended: Filed August 8, 2014; effective September 12, 2014. Amended: Filed August 8, 2017; effective September 22, 2017. Repealed and New Rule: Published February 26, 2021; effective April 12, 2021. Amended: Published September 30, 2021; effective November 14, 2021. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.