PNPACAT 2026 Application Process: Schedule and Requirements

The Philippine National Police Academy is the premier public safety institution that hones the future leaders of the PNP, BJMP, and BFP. Created by Section 19 of Presidential Decree 1184, it was established for the training and education of the members of the tri-bureau services of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Admitted cadets will undergo the PNPA Cadetship Program, a government-sponsored 4-year tertiary education course. Upon entry to the Academy, the PNPA cadets will receive monthly pay and allowances for their training and education expenses. After graduation, they will be granted a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety (BSPS) degree. Moreover, graduates are automatically appointed as Police Lieutenants of the PNP, Jail Inspectors of the BJMP, or Fire Inspectors of the BFP.

PNPACAT 2025 Schedule

Online applications for the 2026 Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Cadet Admission Test are now open. Applications will be accepted from June 1 to September 30, 2026.

The PNPA has likewise announced that the admission test will be conducted on November 9, 2026.

Applicants may refer to the guide in this article for detailed instructions on how to apply.

How to Apply

Before starting your application for the 2026 PNPA Cadet Admission Test, prepare clear scanned copies of the following requirements in JPG, JPEG, or PNG format:

1. PSA Birth Certificate
2. Passport-sized or 2×2 ID picture with a name tag
3. Latest Form 137 or Form 138 with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 85%
4. Active and verified PNPA-CAT-OAS account

Once all requirements are ready, visit the PNPA Cadet Admission Test Online Application System (PNPA-CAT-OAS) and complete the online application form. Carefully review all information before submission to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to use a desktop or laptop computer when applying for a smoother experience. Those using mobile phones should open the website in an external browser instead of an in-app browser to avoid lag and other issues caused by heavy website traffic.

To begin your application, visit www.pnpacatoas.com and follow the instructions provided on the portal.

Applicants who encounter difficulties completing the online registration process may still submit their requirements through alternative methods. Those who live near the PNPA campus in Silang, Cavite may personally visit the academy and submit their documents. Alternatively, applicants may send their requirements via courier service or through email to the Registrar’s Office at pnparegistraroffice@gmail.com for processing.

Initial Requirements

We advise our readers to read this part. Please do not submit your application if you are not qualified; you’ll just waste your time. To be able to take the PNPACAT, an aspiring cadet must possess the following criteria, listed below:

Unlike the previous PNPACAT, those senior high school graduates with Highest Honors as well as college graduates with Latin awards are no longer exempted from taking the PNPACAT.

• The interested applicant must be a natural-born Filipino citizen;
• Must not be more than 22 years old or less than 18 years old upon admission. To be eligible for admission, applicants must be born between May 2, 2004 and May 1, 2009, inclusive. Those born on or before May 1, 2004 or on or after May 2, 2009 do not meet the age requirement.
• Single and without a child to support;
• At least a Senior High School (SHS) Graduate upon admission with General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 85% or higher;
• Pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 11549, male and female aspirants of 5’2” and5’0 in height, respectively, may now apply for the PNPACAT 2026. There is no need for a height waiver.
• With a weight that corresponds to the applicant’s height, gender, and age in reference to Body Mass Index (BMI);
• Physically and mentally fit to undergo rigorous training;
• With good moral character (no criminal, administrative, or civil derogatory record);
• With no pending complaint and/or case in court involving moral turpitude or other cases against the State;
• Not a former cadet of PNPA or other service academies (PMA, PMMA, MAAP); and
• Never been dismissed from any private employment or government position for a cause;

Disqualifications

Failure to meet just one of these initial requirements means disqualification from taking the PNPACAT and admission to the PNPA. Likewise, applicants who have any of the medical or dental conditions listed below are also disqualified:

• Under height and overweight or obese;
• Defective Visual Perception (e.g. color blindness, near-sightedness or farsightedness with corrective eyeglasses or lenses, nystagmus);
• Any physical deformities like bow-leggedness, missing or extra fingers/toes, and other birth defects;
• Hearing problems due to a perforated eardrum;
• Chronic sinusitis, bleeding tendencies, hemorrhoids, hernias (if not treated), varicocele, extensive skin disorders;
• History of heart disease, hypertension, asthma, active PTB, kidney and liver diseases, epileptic seizure disorders, major operations; communicable diseases (such as AIDS, Hepatitis, VD, etc.);
• Full dentures, upper and lower, cleft lip and palate, malocclusion, deformities of the face, open bite, tongue-tied, missing of four (4) anterior or front teeth, and missing of six (6) posterior/molar teeth;
• Tattoos or other brotherhood marks;
• Ear piercing for males and multiple ear piercings for females;
• For Females:  Goiter; a history of pregnancy; the presence of breast mass; painful menstruation; and
• Any other similar defects that may affect the performance of the cadet in the program.

Next Steps

Successful examinees who pass the PNPACAT shall qualify for the next stage of screening, which is as follows:

1. Physical Agility Test:

   EXERCISES	MALE	FEMALE
   Pull-ups	3	N/A
   Full Arms Hanging	N/A	45 seconds
   2-Minute Push-Ups	25	25
   2-Minute Sit-Ups	40	40
   100-Meter Dash	18 seconds	20 seconds
   3-Km Run	24 minutes	27 minutes

2. Psychological and Psychiatric Examination (PPE);
3. Physical, Medical, and Dental Examination (PMDE); and,
4. Panel Interview.

The applicant must pass the early stages of the screening, as the said testing is sequential. Applicants who fail at an earlier stage will not be allowed to proceed to the next step. Those who managed to pass all stages of admission will be appointed as PNPA cadets no later than May 1, 2027, as members of the PNPA Class of 2031.