NPOST · cost, checked Oct 21, 2026
What the NPOST costs, test site by test site
There is no national NPOST price: each test site or agency sets its own fee. As of Oct 2026, Utah test sites listed $40–$60, and the Iowa law enforcement academy lists $100 per sitting. Below: the fees we found, each with its source, plus the study guide and what a retake or a score transfer costs.
- $40–$60Utah test sites
- $100Iowa academy (ILEA)
- Stanard guide, about $5study guide from the test owner
NPOST costs, sourced
| Fact | Detail | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test fee | Set by the test site or agency; there is no national priceUtah sites listed $40 to $60; the Iowa academy lists $100 for a POST administration and $20 to transfer a prior scoreas of Oct 21, 2026 · site fees change, check with the test site | City of West Jordan: NPOST testing · Weber State University Testing Center: NPOST · Iowa Law Enforcement Academy: fees (cognitive testing) | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Prep from the test owner | Stanard study guide with sample items, sold online for about $5as of Oct 21, 2026 · price may change | Salt Lake City Police Department: NPOST FAQ · City of West Jordan: NPOST testing | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Retake rule | Set by the agency or test siteUtah sites: 60 days before retaking the same version (A, B or C); an alternate version can be taken sooner | Salt Lake City Police Department: NPOST FAQ | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Score valid for | Set by the agencyIowa: 12 months from the test date; Salt Lake City: results do not expire | Iowa Law Enforcement Academy: hiring steps · Salt Lake City Police Department: NPOST FAQ | Oct 21, 2026 |
Fees by state and agency
| Department | State | Written test | Test fee | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | IA |
| $100 at ILEA | Iowa Admin. Code r. 501—2.2 · Iowa Law Enforcement Academy: Fees | Oct 21, 2026 |
| West Jordan Police Department | UT |
| $40–$60 | City of West Jordan: NPOST testing | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Utah Highway Patrol | UT |
| Varies by site | Join UHP: NPOST | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Salt Lake City Police Department | UT |
| Varies by site | SLCPD: Utah NPOST | Oct 21, 2026 |
Why the price differs
The fee belongs to the sitting, not to the test: each test site prices its own. That is how the same test costs $40–$60 at Utah sites and $100 at the Iowa academy.
- Utah: departments such as the Utah Highway Patrol and Salt Lake City list approved test sites rather than a price. West Jordan’s list shows $40–$60 across its sites.
- Iowa: the academy’s fee schedule lists $100 to give the POST and $20 to transfer a prior score. Under Iowa’s rule the agency that tests you pays the POST cost, so ask the department before you pay anything.
Study material
The test owner sells its study guide online for about $5 (as of Oct 2026); it walks through each section with sample items. Our practice test and the four section pages cost nothing and need no sign-up; the study guide puts them in order.
Retakes and score transfers
- Retake: another sitting at the test site, with its own fee; in Iowa the testing agency pays it. The wait is up to the site or agency: Salt Lake City’s rule is 60 days on the same version, at most twice a year per version.
- Transfer (Iowa): the academy charges to transfer a prior score instead of retesting (see the table above). Iowa counts a score for 12 months.
- Iowa DPS: no retest, so a retake there is not an option you can buy.
Ask before you book
A department that uses the test tells you which site to use. Ask at the same time whether it pays the fee: in Iowa the agency testing you pays by rule, and some agencies give the test themselves as a hiring step.
- NPOST What the four sections test, who uses it and who sets the pass mark
- NPOST practice test Questions from all four sections, every option explained
- NPOST exam facts Format, passing score, retakes, results and score validity, sourced
- NPOST agencies States and departments that use the NPOST, with each one’s pass mark and retake rule
- NPOST study guide What each section asks, a study order built on your weak spot, the test owner’s guide
NPOST cost, quick answers
How much does the NPOST cost?
There is no national price. As of Oct 2026, Utah sites listed $40–$60; the Iowa academy lists $100. Your department tells you which site to use, and that site sets the fee.
How much is the NPOST study guide?
From the test owner, about $5 online as of Oct 2026. Prices change, so check on the day you buy.
Do I pay again to retake the NPOST?
Where you pay the fee yourself, yes: a retake is a new sitting at the site’s price. In Iowa the agency that tests you pays. Check the wait first: 60 days (same version) at Salt Lake City, unless you take another version.
Can I transfer an NPOST score in Iowa?
Yes. The Iowa academy lists $20 to transfer a prior score, and a score counts for 12 months. Which agencies use the test: who uses the NPOST.