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Exam Review

Key Facts: TCOLE Exam

Provider

Pass Rates

TCOLE reports

70%

Passing Score

175/250

250

Exam Questions

TCOLE

3 hrs

Exam Duration

TCOLE

Site-set

Exam Fee

Authorized test site

736 hrs

Min Academy

BPOC 1000736

The TCOLE peace officer licensing exam has 250 questions in 180 minutes and normally requires a 70% passing percentage. Current Rule 219.1 allows three attempts, all within 180 days from licensing-course completion, and failed/expired attempts require repeating the basic licensing course. The current Basic Peace Officer Course is course 1000736 with 736 hours, so preparation should follow the 2025 BPOC 736 curriculum rather than older 696-hour outlines.

Sample TCOLE Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the TCOLE exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the Texas Penal Code, what is the difference between a Class A misdemeanor and a Class B misdemeanor?
A.Class A misdemeanors carry up to 6 months in jail, while Class B carries up to 30 days
B.Class A misdemeanors carry up to 1 year in jail and/or $4,000 fine, while Class B carries up to 180 days and/or $2,000 fine
C.Class A misdemeanors are felonies, while Class B are not
D.There is no difference; both carry the same penalties
Explanation: Under Texas Penal Code Section 12.21-12.22, Class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a fine not to exceed $4,000. Class B misdemeanors carry up to 180 days in county jail and/or a fine not to exceed $2,000. Understanding these classifications is fundamental for proper charging decisions.
2Which of the following is NOT an element of the offense of theft under Texas Penal Code Section 31.03?
A.The defendant unlawfully appropriated property
B.The property belonged to another person
C.The defendant used force to take the property
D.The defendant intended to deprive the owner of the property
Explanation: Theft under Texas law (Sec. 31.03) requires: (1) unlawful appropriation of property, (2) with intent to deprive the owner, and (3) without effective consent. The use of force distinguishes theft from robbery (Sec. 29.02). Theft is a non-violent property offense; adding force elevates it to robbery.
3An officer responds to a disturbance and finds a person intentionally causing bodily injury to their spouse. Under the Texas Penal Code, what is the most appropriate offense classification?
A.Class C misdemeanor assault
B.Class A misdemeanor assault
C.Third-degree felony assault - Family Violence
D.Second-degree felony aggravated assault
Explanation: Under Texas Penal Code Section 22.01(b), assault causing bodily injury to a family member (spouse, former spouse, relative by blood or marriage, current or former dating partner, or co-parent) is a third-degree felony. Simple assault without family violence or with only offensive contact would be a misdemeanor.
4A suspect enters a habitation without consent and attempts to commit a theft. No one is present in the habitation. What offense has been committed under Texas Penal Code?
A.Criminal trespass - Class B misdemeanor
B.Burglary of a habitation - Second-degree felony
C.Burglary of a building - State jail felony
D.Robbery - Second-degree felony
Explanation: Under Texas Penal Code Section 30.02, burglary of a habitation is a second-degree felony when committed without the intent to commit a felony against a person (assault, etc.). If the intent was to commit a felony against a person, it becomes a first-degree felony. The key element is entering a habitation with intent to commit any felony or theft.
5What is the minimum age at which a child can be charged as an adult with a capital felony in Texas?
A.10 years old
B.14 years old
C.17 years old
D.There is no minimum age
Explanation: Under Texas Family Code Section 54.02, a juvenile court may waive its jurisdiction for children 14 years or older accused of capital felonies or aggravated controlled substance felonies. For other felonies, the minimum age is typically 15. This allows certification as an adult for prosecution in criminal court.
6Under the Texas Penal Code, what distinguishes murder from capital murder?
A.Capital murder always involves premeditation
B.Capital murder includes specific aggravating circumstances such as killing a peace officer, multiple victims, murder for remuneration, or murder during another felony
C.Capital murder is always a first-degree felony
D.There is no distinction; they are the same offense
Explanation: Texas Penal Code Section 19.03 defines capital murder by specific aggravating factors including: killing a peace officer or firefighter in the line of duty, murder for remuneration, murder during escape, murder of multiple persons, murder of a child under 10, or murder while committing other specified felonies. These circumstances elevate the offense from first-degree murder to capital murder.
7An officer observes a driver operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. What is the minimum offense level for this conduct under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04?
A.Class B misdemeanor
B.Class A misdemeanor
C.State jail felony
D.Third-degree felony
Explanation: Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) under Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor for a second offense and a third-degree felony for a third or subsequent offense. If the driver has an open container, it remains a Class B but carries a minimum 6-day jail term.
8Which of the following constitutes the offense of "official oppression" under Texas Penal Code Section 39.03?
A.A peace officer accepting a free meal from a restaurant owner
B.A public servant intentionally subjecting another to sexual harassment, arrest without legal basis, or illegal search/seizure
C.A peace officer working an extra job while off-duty
D.A public servant accepting a campaign contribution
Explanation: Official oppression (Sec. 39.03) occurs when a public servant, acting under color of office, intentionally: (1) subjects another to sexual harassment, (2) arrests someone without legal basis, (3) conducts an illegal search/seizure, or (4) denies or impedes another in their rights, privileges, or immunities. This is a Class A misdemeanor.
9Under Texas Penal Code Section 1.07, what is the definition of "bodily injury"?
A.Any physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition
B.Only visible wounds or broken bones
C.Any injury requiring hospitalization
D.Only injuries that create a substantial risk of death
Explanation: Texas Penal Code Section 1.07(a)(8) defines "bodily injury" as physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition. This broad definition means even minor pain or temporary impairment qualifies as bodily injury, distinguishing it from "serious bodily injury" which involves substantial risk of death, protracted impairment, or disfigurement.
10A suspect threatens to cause imminent bodily injury to another person but does not actually cause any injury. Under the Texas Penal Code, what offense has occurred?
A.No offense has occurred since there was no actual injury
B.Assault by threat - Class C misdemeanor
C.Terroristic threat - Third-degree felony
D.Aggravated assault - Second-degree felony
Explanation: Under Texas Penal Code Section 22.01(a)(2), a person commits assault if they intentionally or knowingly threaten another with imminent bodily injury. This is a Class C misdemeanor. If the threat causes fear of serious bodily injury or death, it may be elevated to terroristic threat (Sec. 22.07), a Class B misdemeanor or higher depending on the target.

About the TCOLE Exam

The TCOLE licensing exam is required for all Texas peace officer candidates. It covers Texas criminal law, code of criminal procedure, traffic law, use of force, family violence, and professional responsibilities.

Exam sponsor: Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

250 questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam / Certification Fees

Set by local authorized test site

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Provider-level reports only. TCOLE publishes provider-level basic licensing pass-rate reports, not one single statewide pass-rate figure. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

BPOC 56 hrs

Professional Police Practices and Licensing Rules

Professionalism, ethics, professional policing, wellness, TCOLE rules, multiculturalism, and racial profiling

BPOC 125 hrs

Texas Legal Core

Constitutional law, Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, arrest, search, seizure, asset forfeiture, identity crimes, consular notification, and civil process

BPOC 51 hrs

Special Regulations, Victims, Juveniles, and Human Trafficking

Controlled substances, Alcoholic Beverage Code, sexual assault and family violence, missing and exploited children, victims of crime, human trafficking, and juvenile offenders

BPOC 98 hrs

Traffic, Crash Investigation, and Intoxicated Driver

Traffic Code, crash investigation, traffic incident management, intoxicated driver investigation, and SFST concepts

BPOC 152 hrs

Communication, Patrol, Driving, and Public Interaction

Written and verbal communication, Spanish, professional police driving, patrol skills, radio communication, TCIC/TLETS, civilian interaction, deaf and hard-of-hearing interaction, and canine encounters

BPOC 252 hrs

Force, Arrest, Investigations, Firearms, and Emergency Response

De-escalation, force options, crisis intervention, TBI, arrest and control, criminal investigations, emergency medical assistance, firearms, HazMat/ICS, and ALERRT active shooter response

Preparing for the TCOLE Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 250 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: Set by local authorized test site Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 200 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

TCOLE: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master Texas Penal Code elements for major offenses
2Study CCP search and seizure rules and exceptions
3Know use of force continuum and deadly force justification under Texas law
4Review DWI/DUI laws: implied consent, ALR, per se limits
5Practice with 250-question full-length tests for stamina

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TCOLE passing score?

The general TCOLE minimum passing percentage is 70 unless another rule provides otherwise. For the peace officer licensing exam, the 2025 Proctor Manual lists 250 questions and 180 minutes, so candidates often think of the target as at least 175 correct answers out of 250.

How hard is the TCOLE exam?

TCOLE does not publish one single statewide pass-rate figure for all candidates in the exam metadata sources used here. The exam is challenging because it blends Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, arrest/search/seizure, traffic, patrol, investigations, force options, communications, and emergency-response judgment.

What do I need before taking it?

The normal initial route is successful completion of the current TCOLE-approved Basic Peace Officer Course 736, plus Rule 217.1 minimum standards such as age/education eligibility, fingerprinting and background review, criminal-history standards, motor-vehicle and firearms eligibility, and medical and psychological declarations.

How many attempts do I get?

Rule 219.1 allows three attempts, and all attempts must be completed within 180 days from the licensing-course completion date. If you fail all three attempts, do not complete them within the 180-day window, or are dismissed for cheating, you must repeat the basic licensing course for the license sought.