The following were obtained from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Web Site. Contact FDLE for current requirements. Some agencies require more formal education than those shown below.

Florida Statute 943.13
Officers' minimum qualifications for employment or appointment

On or after October 1, 1984, any person employed or appointed as a full-time, part-time, or auxiliary law enforcement officer or correctional officer; on or after October 1, 1986, any person employed as a full-time, part-time, or auxiliary correctional probation officer; and on or after October 1, 1986, any person employed as a full-time, part-time, or auxiliary correctional officer by a private entity under contract to the Department of Corrections, to a county commission, or to the Correctional Privatization Commission shall:

1. Be at least 19 years of age
2. Be a citizen of the United States, notwithstanding any law of the state to the contrary
3. Be a high school graduate or its "equivalent" as the commission has defined the term by rule
4. Not have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, or have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States. Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement is not eligible for employment or appointment as an officer, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication. Notwithstanding this subsection, any person who has pled nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false statement, prior to December 1, 1985, and has had such record sealed or expunged shall not be deemed ineligible for employment or appointment as an officer
5. Have documentation of his or her processed fingerprints on file with the employing agency or, if a private correctional officer, have documentation of his or her processed fingerprints on file with the Department of Corrections or the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. If administrative delays are caused by the department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the person has complied with subsections (1)-(4) and (6)-(9), he or she may be employed or appointed for a period not to exceed 1 calendar year from the date he or she was employed or appointed or until return of the processed fingerprints documenting noncompliance with subsections (1)-(4) or subsection (7), whichever occurs first.
6. Have passed a physical examination by a licensed physician, based on specifications established by the commission.
7. Have a good moral character as determined by a background investigation under procedures established by the commission.
8. Execute and submit to the employing agency or, if a private correctional officer, submit to the appropriate governmental entity an affidavit-of-applicant form, adopted by the commission, attesting to his or her compliance with subsections (1)-(7). The affidavit shall be executed under oath and constitutes an official statement within the purview of s. 837.06. The affidavit shall include conspicuous language that the intentional false execution of the affidavit constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree. The affidavit shall be retained by the employing agency
9. Complete a commission-approved basic recruit training program for the applicable criminal justice discipline, unless exempt under this subsection. An applicant who has:

(a) Completed a comparable basic recruit training program for the applicable criminal justice discipline in another state or for the Federal Government; and
(b) Served as a full-time sworn officer in another state or for the Federal Government for at least one year
is exempt in accordance with s. 943.131(2) from completing the commission-approved basic recruit training program.

10. Achieve an acceptable score on the officer certification examination for the applicable criminal justice discipline
11. Comply with the continuing training or education requirements of s. 943.135.

Florida Statute 943.137
Establishment of qualifications and standards above the minimum

1. Nothing herein may be construed to preclude an employing agency from establishing qualifications and standards for employment, appointment, training, or promotion of officers that exceed the minimum requirements set by ss. 943.13 and 943.17
2. The qualifications of an employing agency that exceed the minimum employment or basic recruit training course established by the commission are binding on individuals affected and shall be recognized by the commission.
 
Source document: Florida Department of Law Enforcement Web site October 2001