Complete Coursework & Field Training
The coursework involved in a program that leads to work as a police officer can vary depending upon the institution and the degree level. For instance, those in a training academy will dive right into the nitty-gritty of everyday police work and not touch on general education requirements, such as you would find in an associate degree program. In both the associate and the bachelors program, students will encounter not only general education courses and several possible electives, but they will also focus on the core courses for police officers, such as those in criminal justice, ethics, corrections systems, communication, and more. Heres a good idea of courses you might encounter, either in the core curriculum of the degree program or at the police academy:
- Patrol Procedures
Step 5
Can I Become A Police Officer If Ive Smoked Marijuana
There was once a time when a person with a history of marijuana use was automatically disqualified from the hiring pool if they set out to become a police officer. It just didnt make sense to put former stoners in the big blue suit and unleash them into the streets to crack the skulls of their previous drug dealers. In a lot of ways, this is still the status quo.
Most police forces are still doing their best to avoid recruits that have a history of cannabis consumption. But in some parts of the country, law enforcement agencies are taking a more lenient stance on past drug use. Its either that or watch lawlessness unfold while good men and women remain unemployed.
Utah is one of the latest states to change the rules to some degree regarding law enforcement applicants that have smoked weed. Although candidates are still required to reveal any past marijuana use, the information they divulge during the hiring process might not weaken their chances at getting the job.
But Utahs police force is still not ready to give the average high timer a badge and a gun.
All of these changes are taking place as a result of Americas increasing cop shortage. All across the country applications to become a police officer are down.
Step : Post Application Physical Examination And Fingerprints
Once a background investigation is complete, register on the Georgia POST website as a new user so you can begin your online application. It is essential that you complete this application correctly or your admittance to the Basic Training Course will be delayed. There are several attachments to the application as well as a requirement for a physical examination and a requirement that you are fingerprinted. You should go to Georgia Applicants Processing Service to be fingerprinted. Physical examinations generally cost about $30 and the fee to be fingerprinted is roughly $53. If you have any questions, contact your chosen academy for assistance.
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Age Has Less Relevance Than You Think
When you apply to be part of the police force, most departments will look at other factors first, before your age. How physically capable you are is much more important as they want to make sure you can adequately perform the tasks required. If you have good fitness and can prove that youre capable of physically exerting yourself than age will likely be overlooked. Part of being in law enforcement means you need to be in great shape so you can keep up with anything that gets thrown at you while on duty.
Firstly, its a good idea to have a look at the areas/jurisdictions youd like to be employed in. Do a bit of research to ensure they dont have a maximum age limit prior to making an application. A few of the larger police forces, like the NYSP have some restrictions on age and so does the federal government. But the US has a ton of police forces across the country and you will definitely be able to locate one near you that will employ officers regardless of age. As long as you fit the rest of the specifications than you shouldnt have too many issues getting accepted.
How Important Is Accreditation
Accreditation refers to an outside organization reviewing a particular school or program to ensure it meets certain standards of quality. Accreditation is important for police training programs because it serves as a mark of quality graduates who complete their education and training can be confident that what they have earned will be accepted by future employers and peers. The specific entities that offer accreditation will vary depending on the program. For instance, many associate or bachelors degree programs will not be accredited at the program level, but the school offering the degree will be accredited. This will usually be a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the US Department of Education.
As for the accreditation of police training academies, the most prominent is the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA.
Step 3
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How Old Can You Be To Go Into Law Enforcement
Becoming a law enforcement officer is often the dream career of many regardless of their age. A lot of people, however, do ask themselves if they are too young or too old to go into law enforcement. There are minimum age limits set by each state, and some states set a maximum age as well for going into law enforcement. There is a listing of the police officer requirements for each state. When it comes to actually getting hired by an agency, as does not matter as much as how well the applicant is prepared for the job, and the competitive selection process.
Mastering the Police Interview quite often turns out to be the real determining factor for the successful candidate. If you are able to handle your oral interview well, you can present your age as an advantage, regardless of the actual number. Younger candidates have the privilege of being open to learn and adopt the habits of the agency they apply for, while older applicants bring a lot of life experience with themselves.
Yet, if you are still wondering what is the best age to apply for a law enforcement officer, below you will find more details about the minimum and maximum age requirements, as well as some useful tips on how to prepare for the job while still in your teen years.
What Qualifications Do I Need To Become A Police Officer
The minimum education requirement for joining the police is a Level 3 Qualification. This is defined as two A levels, but there other qualifications that are equivalent especially if you have a qualification that was awarded outside of England or Wales, you can find more information on this here.
Some forces may have additional entry requirements, depending on the entry route you take to join the police, and you should always check the recruitment pages on your preferred forces website for full details.
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Bachelors Degree In Law Enforcement
A law enforcement degree at the bachelors level typically takes four years to complete and can include many different topics or subjects. There are prototypical degrees such as criminal justice, criminology and law enforcement studies. But there are other majors that can hold police officers in good stead. For example, graduates with a degree in accounting are excellent candidates for a career in white collar crime investigations, while computer science majors can have an advantage if theyre interested in pursuing a career in computer forensics or cyber crimes.
Those in a bachelors degree program in a law-related field can expect to find courses like these:
Police Ethics
Maximum Age Requirements For Law Enforcement Candidates
It may come as a surprise that most agencies do not a maximum age requirement for their candidates. It is also interesting that the reason some agencies have a maximum age limit does not have to do with a candidates ability to pass the physical ability test but rather they want to make certain that a newly hired candidate can retire with full benefits. An agency may have a maximum age for someone starting out because that is the latest someone could start with their agency and still retire with full benefits when they reach the threshold for mandatory retirement in that agency.
For states that do have a maximum age limit, the age at which you can start your law enforcement career, It is generally around 34-37 years of age.
Exceptions are made for military veterans. In the New York Police Department, for example, the maximum age to sit the initial exam is 35. If you have had active military service, you can deduct six years from that age or in other words you can apply for the job at the age of 41.
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Are There Voluntary Certifications Available For Police Officers
There are a variety of voluntary certifications you can pursue as a police officer, including:
First Aid and CPR Certification
Police officers are often required to help in emergency situations, which may require them to perform life-saving first aid procedures. With this kind of certification, a police officer will know how to address minor injuries and administer CPR. This certification can be earned before, during or after the police academy.
K-9 Unit Certification
This certification is necessary for officers who work with police dogs on patrol and special cases. They complete specialized training that involves bonding, learning commands and running drills with a police dog.
Specialization certifications
If there is a certain field of law enforcement you’d like to work in, such as narcotics or arson, you could complete the necessary education, training and examinations to earn a certification.
Acquire A Degree Or Academy Training
The requirements for this step will vary substantially depending on the state in which you plan on becoming a police officer. Some states do not require their officers to be college-educated, even if they may prefer it. Other states, like Minnesota, an Associates degree or equivalent training is one of the requirements to become a police officer.
Generally speaking, the training process for aspiring police officers follows two routes:
- Completing training by earning a two- or four-year degree in Criminal Justice or similar field from a Peace Officer Standings and Training -certified college or university, or
- Completing training through a government-approved police academy or training program.
Since police officer requirements differ, youll want to be sure to check with the agency that sets the standards for law enforcement training and licensure in your area. Some also have arrangements for military reciprocity, allowing candidates who served in the military to follow a different process in acknowledgement of the training they already have.
Whichever path you take, your training will include classroom instruction in state and local laws, covering topics like constitutional law, civil rights and police ethics. Recruits also receive training and supervised experience in areas such as patrol, traffic control, firearm use, self-defense, first aid and emergency response.
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Police Training Academy Standards
All candidates seeking certification must undergo basic police training. In Wisconsin this can be done prior to being hired by an agency, at your own cost, or it can be done after you are hired at the cost of the hiring agency. If you undergo the training before being hired by an agency, you have three years from the completion of the training to obtain a job. After that further training will be required.
The training curriculum, established by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board consists of 520 hours over 13 weeks for full-time students. Training can also be done part-time in a series of seven units taught over 12 to 18 months. You can find the curriculum Here.
The training is offered as a number of technical colleges certified by LESB. You can find a list of these schools here.
Training Institutions For Police Officers
Now that you know what options there are for becoming a police officer, its important to know where they are offered. There are many schools that exist to help you move into the law enforcement career of your choice. Here are the options:
Vocational/trade schools
These post-high school institutions focus their programs and curriculums on skill-oriented or hands-on training. This training can come in the form of what effectively amounts to an in-house police academy. Vocational and trade schools can provide the fastest way to obtain the training necessary to become a police officer and allow students to receive police academy training without attending the official police academy. Its also fairly affordable compared to earning a college degree. Keep in mind that graduation doesnt guarantee a job in law enforcement and may not result in an academic credential that provides opportunities for professional advancement.
Best for? Those confident in obtaining a job offer after graduation and want to serve as a police officer as quickly as possible.
Community colleges
Best for? Students who would like to earn a college degree along with their law enforcement training.
Military
Best for? Those who love serving their country or community will benefit from the rewarding experience that can come from military service.
Four-year schools
Best for? Aspiring police officers who want an extra way to stand out from the pack of applicants, as well as those looking for federal work.
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Successfully Pass A Background Check
You can expect any law enforcement agency youre applying for to conduct a number of checks into your background, including criminal history and even credit history. While this isnt literally the first step to becoming a police officer, it is the first one youll need to consider before you get too invested in the process. If you have concerns about how your background might impact your candidacy, you may want to consult a police academy admissions representative about it.
Your credit history may be analyzed because it gives potential employers an idea of your level of responsibility and potential problems like gambling-related debts. Police departments look into applicants history of criminal activity, employment, residency and academic records as well.
Basically, the police department is going to get deep into your business, says Adam Plantinga, and 17-year veteran sergeant with the San Francisco Police Department. Dont leave anything out on your background packet. If you omit something, even inadvertently, and it comes to light, you will likely be eliminated as a candidate. Departments are looking for responsible people who play by the rules.
Things like felonies and gross misdemeanors could disqualify you from becoming a police officer, but less serious offenses could also be problematicit really depends on the department and its policies.
The Power Of Life Experience
Within any industry, general life experience is worth a lot. Young cops starting out come with little to no life experience and lets be realistic, you definitely benefit from it when working in law enforcement. Throughout the majority of the US you must be between 19 and 21 to become certified as a police officer. At this age, most rookies are unaware of the problems happening in the area on a daily basis, let alone know how to deal with them.
With age comes life experience. This will hugely benefit you in your role as an officer and law enforcement agencies know this.
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Become A Police Officer
Known for its parks, paths, and picturesque Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina is a small city with a vibrant atmosphere. At the Greenville Police Department, we pride ourselves on our relationships with residents and visitors that highlight our vision of becoming the most effective community-focused police agency in America. Come join a department with a family atmosphere and that Southern hospitality youve been searching for.
To be considered for employment, all applicants must, at a minimum:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Be a United States citizen
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Have or be able to obtain a valid South Carolina drivers license
- Have not had a drivers license suspension during the last 5 years for DUI leaving the scene of an accident reckless homicide or involuntary manslaughter
- Have never been convicted of a felony or domestic violence
- Have never been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude or a misdemeanor carrying a possible sentence of more than 1 year
- Have not defaulted on a government or student loan
Steps in the hiring process include:
- All applicants must submit an application through the City of Greenvilles jobs portal online. Due to the large number of applications we receive, the application for Police Officer is typically only open for 3-4 weeks at a time, and is posted quarterly.
View The Full Video Transcript
Sunny: If we want to make progress, if we want to represent our community, we have to be in there.
We have to be in a position where we can allow organisations to understand us.
My name is Sundeep Kaur Cheema. I am a custody sergeant for West Midlands Police.
I am a Sikh, and one of the fundamental principles is serving others. As a Sikh officer, I just feel that complements my role because those values and my morals and the morals that have been instilled within me over the years, through grandparents as well, but particularly faith is just a complementary feature to policing.
One of they key reasons why I wanted to join policing is because I hadnt seen any other Asian officers. Theres nobody that I felt was representing our community. My cousin who is also a sergeant with West Mids, he was already a police officer, so Id spoken to him and he inspired me to join.
As a custody sergeant, my main responsibility is looking after the welfare and needs of any detained person that comes into custody.
Ive grown up within a store, so my parents are independent retailer. Ive spent all my life, my childhood, within the business environment, serving the community. You know I know no different. So again, when it comes to policing this is quite a natural transition for me.
Sonia:
Im Sonia. Ive been friends with Sundeep for over 20 years now.
Sunny:Anybody that has any reservations about joining the police you can be who you are, and do it with pride and not compromise yourself.
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