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Quick answer
The TCOLE peace officer licensing exam is the state exam taken after the 736-hour Basic Peace Officer Course (#736). It has 250 multiple-choice questions drawn at random from the course chapters, and the minimum passing score is 70 percent. A learner who fails all three attempts must enroll in a new course. TCOLE does not publish a time limit.
About the exam
TCOLE Basic Peace Officer Licensing Exam (Texas)
To be licensed as a peace officer in Texas you must complete the Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) at a TCOLE-approved academy and pass the state licensing exam given by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The current course is #736 (reported as 1000736): at least 736 hours, 43 chapters in 16 areas, and more than 700 learning objectives. It replaced the older 720-hour course in January 2024, so material that mentions course #720 is out of date.
TCOLE publishes the full course as a free Instructor Resource Guide (IRG), updated in September 2025, and encourages academies to give it to learners as a study guide. The licensing exam draws its 250 questions at random from those chapters. This practice test follows the curriculum hours: the Penal Code, constitutional law and arrest, search and seizure, traffic and DWI, family violence and mental health crisis, professionalism and use of force, and patrol, juvenile and special regulations.
Recent changes matter. The Code of Criminal Procedure's Chapter 2 was replaced by Chapters 2A and 2B on January 1, 2025, the Use of Force chapter was completely revised in 2025, and the family violence and missing-persons chapters were rewritten in 2024. Every question here cites the IRG chapter or the statute section it comes from.
Exam format
TCOLE Peace Officer Exam: questions, time and pass mark
| Item | Official exam | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 250 multiple-choice questions, randomly selected from chapters in the BPOC. | Verified Oct 2026 (BPOC 736 IRG Abstract) |
| Pass mark | 70 percent minimum. | Verified Oct 2026 (BPOC 736 IRG Abstract) |
| Attempts | Three. A learner who fails all three must enroll in a new BPOC. | Verified Oct 2026 (BPOC 736 IRG Abstract) |
| Time limit | Not published by TCOLE. | Not published by the agency; practice test uses 120 minutes for 100 questions |
| Course | BPOC #736: at least 736 hours, in person only, with no attendance allowance; missed content must be made up. | Verified Oct 2026 (BPOC 736 IRG Abstract) |
| Who may test | Learners who complete the BPOC and are endorsed by their academy. | Verified Oct 2026 (BPOC 736 IRG Abstract) |
The practice test above draws 100 questions with a 120-minute timer and a 70% pass mark. Practice mode lets you work one topic at a time with explanations after every answer, and the cheat sheet view lists every question and answer for review.
Cost and booking
Fees, where to take it and retakes
You do not book the licensing exam on your own. Your academy endorses you once you complete the BPOC and arranges the exam at a TCOLE testing site. Tuition is set by each academy, and TCOLE's exam fee was not on the pages we checked, so ask your academy what is included.
Because the third failed attempt sends you back to a brand-new 736-hour course, treat every attempt seriously. Use the academy's end-of-course assessments and practice tests to find weak chapters before you sit the state exam.
What’s covered
320+ practice questions, by topic
Written from TCOLE Basic Peace Officer Course #736 Instructor Resource Guide (Sept 2025), Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Transportation Code. Every explanation cites its section.
- Texas Penal Code and Criminal Responsibility70
- Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, Arrest and Search57
- Traffic Law, Crashes and DWI45
- Family Violence, Victims and Mental Health Crisis42
- Professionalism, TCOLE Rules and Use of Force46
- Patrol, Investigation, Juveniles and Special Regulations64
Official sources
Facts on this page were checked against these pages in October 2026.
Why people fail
The mistakes that cost people the TCOLE Peace Officer Exam
- Studying only the subjects taught last. The exam draws from all chapters, so the Penal Code and arrest, search and seizure material from early in the academy is just as likely to appear.
- Confusing offense grades and punishment ranges: Class A, B and C misdemeanors, state jail felonies and the degrees of felony, and what raises an offense one grade.
- Mixing up warrantless arrest authority under Chapter 14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, including what an officer may do outside the officer's jurisdiction.
- Using old statute numbers. Chapter 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure became Chapters 2A and 2B on January 1, 2025.
- Knowing use-of-force case names but not the rules: Graham v. Connor's objective reasonableness test, Tennessee v. Garner and Penal Code 9.51.
A study plan that works
- Download the free 2025 BPOC 736 Instructor Resource Guide from TCOLE and read the abstract to see how the exam works.
- Work through the Penal Code chapter first, then arrest, search and seizure, then traffic and DWI, which together carry a large share of the material.
- Use this quiz in Practice mode one category at a time. When you miss a question, read the cited IRG chapter section.
- Take timed Tests (100 questions, 120 minutes). The real exam is 250 questions, so once you score 80 percent, do two Tests back to back to build stamina.
- In the last week, review the numbers: fines and jail ranges, CE hours, alert criteria and juvenile time limits.
Try a few
Sample TCOLE Peace Officer Exam practice questions
Six questions pulled straight from the bank, with the answer shown. For the timed, no-peeking version, use the quiz above.
Why: A Class A misdemeanor carries a fine up to $4,000, up to one year in jail, or both. $2,000 is the Class B limit, and $10,000 is the felony limit.
Source: Penal Code 12.21; BPOC 736 IRG Ch. 8.6
Why: Criminal trespass is generally a Class B misdemeanor. It rises to Class A in listed cases, such as trespassing in a habitation.
Source: Penal Code 30.05(d); BPOC 736 IRG Ch. 8.17, Scenario 2
Why: Article 14.03(d) permits an out-of-jurisdiction arrest for a felony, a Chapter 42 or 49 Penal Code offense, or a breach of the peace committed in the officer's presence or view, with prompt notice to the local agency.
Source: CCP Art. 14.03(d)
Why: Section 545.412 requires a child passenger safety seat system for a child younger than eight unless taller than four feet, nine inches. The offense is a misdemeanor with a fine of $25 to $250.
Source: Transp. Code 545.412(a), (b)
Why: Each 24-month training unit requires 40 hours of continuing education including the required legislative updates. Two units make a 48-month training cycle.
Source: 37 TAC 218.3; BPOC 736 IRG Ch. 4.5
Why: The curriculum states that once a traffic stop begins, officers must have independent justification for searching the vehicle or occupants, such as consent, search incident to arrest, probable cause, or inventory of an impounded vehicle.
Source: BPOC 736 IRG Ch. 6.1(B)(iii)
FAQ
TCOLE Peace Officer Exam questions, answered
How many questions are on the TCOLE peace officer exam?
250 multiple-choice questions, randomly selected from the chapters of the Basic Peace Officer Course. Our timed practice test uses 100 questions from a bank of 324.
What score do you need to pass the TCOLE exam?
The minimum passing score is 70 percent, according to the BPOC 736 Instructor Resource Guide. This practice test uses the same 70 percent pass mark.
How many times can you take the TCOLE licensing exam?
Three times. If a learner fails all three attempts, the learner must enroll in a new Basic Peace Officer Course.
How long is the TCOLE peace officer exam?
TCOLE does not publish a time limit on the pages we checked. Ask your academy before exam day. Our practice test allows 120 minutes for 100 questions.
Is the Basic Peace Officer Course curriculum public?
Yes. TCOLE publishes the full 2025 BPOC 736 Instructor Resource Guide (abstract, objectives and chapters 1 to 43) as a free download on its Course Curriculum Materials and Updates page.
Is BPOC course 720 still used?
No. The 720-hour course was replaced by the 736-hour course #736 in January 2024, and the curriculum was updated again in September 2025.
Is this the official TCOLE exam?
No. ExamStates is an independent practice site. The questions are original, written from the BPOC 736 curriculum and the Texas statutes it cites, with the source named for every answer.