Overview
POMEM (Polis Meslek Eğitim Merkezleri, Police Vocational Training Centres) are training centres of Turkey's Police Academy (Polis Akademisi Başkanlığı). They train university graduates to become police officers. Candidates who pass the POMEM entrance stages, complete the training and succeed at the end of it are appointed as police officers (polis memuru).
Entry is set by the Police Vocational Training Centres Entrance Regulation and an intake notice for each term. The facts below come from the regulation and the notice for the 33rd term, published on 31 December 2025.
Who can apply
For the 33rd term, the main conditions were:
Turkish citizenship.
A bachelor's (lisans) or associate (önlisans) degree, or a foreign degree recognised as equivalent by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
A KPSS score at or above the minimum. For bachelor's graduates, at least 60.00 in the P3 score type from the 2024 or 2025 KPSS. For associate graduates, at least 65.00 in the P93 score type from the 2024 KPSS. Spouses and children of martyrs and disabled veterans need at least 80% of these minimums (48.00 and 52.00).
Not yet 30 years old on 1 January of the exam year, meaning born on or after 1 January 1996 for this term.
A height of at least 162 cm for women and 167 cm for men, and a body mass index between 18 and 27 inclusive.
Meeting the health regulation, with no legal bar to carrying a weapon, no disqualifying criminal record, no political party membership, and a positive security investigation.
Exam pattern
Candidates are first ranked by KPSS score, separately for men and women. Up to ten times the number of places in each group are called to apply in person. The stages are then:
| Stage | What happens | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-health check | A doctor and two officers check candidates against the health regulation | Pass or fail |
| Physical fitness test | Practical test of physical ability, with different criteria for men and women set by the Academy | 60 out of 100 |
| Interview | A five-member panel, including a psychologist or guidance counsellor | 70 out of 100 |
Interview. Each candidate draws a card with a question, gets time to think, then gives a short presentation and answers the panel's follow-up questions. The panel marks five criteria worth 20 points each: knowledge of the topic, understanding what is asked, self-confidence, ability to express ideas, and use of body language. The psychologist member also assesses psychological suitability, such as emotional stability, responsibility and motivation for police work, and shares this with the panel.
Commission decisions on the stages cannot be appealed.
Marking and results
The POMEM entry score is calculated as:
25% of the KPSS score
25% of the physical fitness test score
50% of the interview score
If two candidates tie, the higher KPSS score wins, then the interview score, then the physical test score, and finally the younger candidate. The Academy publishes separate lists of principal, reserve and unsuccessful candidates for bachelor's and associate graduates, men, women, and families of martyrs and disabled veterans. The reserve list is the same size as the principal list.
Important dates
For the 33rd term, the pre-application ran from 31 December 2025 to 20 January 2026 (17:00). The Police Academy published the second reserve placement results on 29 September 2026. Dates and venues for each stage are announced only on pa.edu.tr; candidates receive no post or other notice.
Fees
The pre-application is free. Candidates called to the exam stages pay an exam fee, with the amount and account details announced on pa.edu.tr for each term. Spouses and children of martyrs and disabled veterans do not pay.
How to apply
Make the pre-application online on the Academy's application system (ais.pa.edu.tr), logging in with e-Devlet.
If your KPSS rank puts you within the call list, pay the exam fee and attend in person on your assigned date.
Pass the pre-health check, the physical fitness test and the interview.
If you are on the principal list, complete temporary registration at your POMEM, including a health board report.
Places
The 33rd term planned 10,000 places: 6,800 men and 1,200 women with bachelor's degrees, and 1,700 men and 300 women with associate degrees.
Preparation tips
Raise your KPSS score: it decides who is called and counts for 25% of the final score.
Train for the physical test well in advance; you need at least 60 out of 100.
Practise short spoken presentations on general topics, since the interview carries half of the final score.
Check pa.edu.tr regularly: the online notice is the only official notification.
Is there a written exam for POMEM?
No. The regulation sets two exam stages, a physical fitness test and an interview, after a pre-health check. The KPSS score is used for the call list and counts toward the final score.
What is the age limit for POMEM?
For the 33rd term, candidates had to be under 30 on 1 January of the exam year, meaning born on or after 1 January 1996.
How is the final POMEM score worked out?
It is 25% of your KPSS score, 25% of your physical fitness score and 50% of your interview score.