The system of access to each of the hierarchical scales and police ranks defined by this Law shall be as follows:
Senior officer scale Entry to the senior officer roster (escalafón) shall be regulated in accordance with the requirement of possessing a university degree with a minimum title of diplomado in a career related to the performance of police functions.
Furthermore, officials who have a high school diploma (bachillerato de enseñanza media) and demonstrate having worked in police functions for a minimum period of fifteen years may also enter said roster.
(Thus amended the preceding paragraph in accordance with the partial annulment ordered by resolution of the Sala Constitucional No. 4368 of May 21, 2003).
Internally, promotion from the rank of commander (comandante) up to commissioner (comisario) shall be regulated by the corresponding regulations under the internal competition procedure (concurso interno) and respecting the criteria of training, time of service, and other merits.
Executive officer scale Access to the rank of deputy superintendent (subintendente) is established through the open competition procedure (concurso de oposición), to which both members of the basic scale and persons outside the police institution may apply, provided that, in both cases, they meet the following requirements:
1. Having obtained the secondary education diploma (bachillerato de educación secundaria) granted by the Ministry of Education.
2. Having passed the course for executive officers (oficiales ejecutivos) given by the Academia Nacional de Policía or the specialized training school of each police body.
Persons outside the police institution, who meet the regulatory requirements established for this purpose, shall have access to the course for executive officers of the Academia Nacional de Policía or of the specialized training schools of each police body. Internally, promotion from the rank of deputy superintendent (subintendente) up to captain (capitán), shall be regulated by the corresponding regulations under the internal competition procedure, respecting the criteria of training, time of service, and other merits related to excellence in the provision of police services.
For purposes of entry to the executive officer scale, the Academia Nacional de Policía or the specialized training schools of each police body may validate studies undertaken in police academies of other countries, provided that the programs are consistent with the needs of the Costa Rican police.
- c)Basic scale To access the rank of officer (agente), the applicant must meet the requirements concerning entry into the police forces set forth in Article 59 of this Law and its Regulations.
Internally, promotion from the rank of officer (agente) to police sergeant (sargento de policía) shall be regulated by the corresponding regulations, respecting the internal competition procedure, the criteria of training, time of service, and other merits related to excellence in the provision of police services.
In any case, promotions from one rank to another shall be carried out in a stepped manner and only when there is a vacant position at a higher level, always with the requirements determined in this Law.
(Thus added by Article 2 of the Law for the Strengthening of the Civilian Police No. 8096 of March 15, 2001) (Thus renumbered by Article 1 of the Law on the Creation of the School and Childhood Police, No. 8449 of June 14, 2005, which transferred it from former Article 57 to current Article 63) (Thus modified in its numbering by Article 2 of the law Creation of the Air Surveillance Service Directorate as a police body attached to the Ministry of Public Security, No. 10061 of November 15, 2021, which transferred it from former Article 63 to 67)