A Career In Law Enforcement
The Law Enforcement Academy gives you the training you need to pass the Florida Department of Law Enforcement State Officer Certification Examination and become a police officer.
SPC’s Southeastern Public Safety Institute is an approved FDLE training center and uses the curriculum of the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission .
This academic program prepares you for the following careers. All job data is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Likely Documents You’ll Have To Submit
- BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP
- HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR ASSOCIATES DEGREE. OR TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE CREDITS.A college transcript that verifies the number of earned college credits must be submitted.
- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FORM 214 stating Character of Service .
- CURRENT VETERANS SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY RATING .
- VALID FLORIDA DRIVERS LICENSE.
- STATE OF FLORIDA CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR STATE OF FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT BASIC RECRUIT TRAINING CERTIFICATE AND FLORIDA DEPT. OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION RESULTS.
Police Training Academy Courses
Applying As A Tampa Police Department Police Officer
Job Description
Employees entering the Police class are required to complete a training period. Through this period, they will learn the responsibilities of protecting property and life, while also completing moderately difficult tasks regarding these.
After training, employees will perform police responsibilities related to the enforcement of state, local, and federal laws. Among these tasks would be accepting reports of public information, logging public complaints, and patrolling assigned areas by vehicle or on foot.
The police employee will be supervised by a police supervisor or sergeant, but will still be expected to be able to independently make decisions and exercise self-control, courtesy, and tact in all aspects of their duties.
Employees must also be ready for calm and swift decision-making, especially in dangerous or emergency situations. Other positions vary from field instructors to receiving additional training as pre-requisite to a special assignment or promotion.
As an instructor, they will supervise and train other officers. Many of the positions at hand will require night shifts, weekend shifts, and holiday rotations from the employee. The employees progress will be tracked through the submitted reports, results, and observations.
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Police And Sheriff’s Patrol Officers
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
In-state residents: $5,000Out-of-state residents: $11,327.90Tuition is subject to change. In-state tuition rates only apply to those who can prove Florida residency for at least 12 consecutive months. As part of the admission process, you pay $250 for a background check. Uniforms cost approximately $275.
Covering your tuition
As a Law Enforcement Academy student, you are eligible for financial aid and can apply Florida Prepaid toward your tuition. You must pay your fees up front.
Assistance for veterans
Financial assistance is available to veterans who qualify. Contact the Veterans Services Office at 727-341-4271 for more information.
Law Enforcement Academy schedule and length
22 weeks7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.Monday through Friday
How To Become A Police Officer In Tampa
Located in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, Tampa, Florida has many attractions and natural resources. The city has 369,075 residents and lower violent and property crime rates than the average for similarly-sized cities and the US overall.1,2 To keep the city safe, the Tampa Police Department employs approximately 951 sworn officers and 261 civilian support staff.3 Continue reading to learn more about the application, selection, and training process required to join the Tampa Police Department.
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Minimum Education And Work Experience Requirements:
Associates Degree and or 2 completed years of college at a university or accredited college
A high school diploma with at least three years of experience in law enforcement or at a medium or large department in corrections
A high school diploma with at least three years of active and full-time military experience
A high school diploma with at least five years of Tampa Police Department Reserve Force experience
Any combination of experience in related work or TPD Reserve Force preceded by a college education.
Documents for Application:
Certificate of Compliance given by State of Florida for a Law Enforcement Officer
If the applicant is currently enrolled in a Justice Standards-approved Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Training Program, the applicant must submit the following:
- Letter of Good Standing written by or authorized by the academy director. The document must indicate the predicted completion and graduation date of the FBAT or Florida Basic Abilities Test as well as the FDLE PAT or Physical Abilities Test. The applicant must attain a passing score in both tests.
- Military Discharge or DD214
- Birth Certificate
- College Transcript or High School Diploma
- Valid Drivers License issued by Florida State
Please keep in mind that applicants cannot finish their application as Police Officer unless they comply with all of the required documents. All documents must be submitted to the City of Tampa Employment Services Office.
Certifications or Licenses
How Long Does It Take To Become A Police Officer
When choosing to embark on any career, its certainly helpful to know how long the educational process will take. For those wanting to work as a police officer, there is no clear-cut answer to the question of how long training and education will take. It really depends on your long-term career goals, as well as which path you choose to get there. Here are some of the most common timelines you might encounter when looking at becoming a police officer.
Nowthat you have a rough idea of how long each educational pathwayusually takes before being able to serve as a law enforcementofficer, lets talk about what to expect from each specific path.
Step 2
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Civilian Volunteers Assisting Police
We are only as strong as our relationship with the community! Together we have made great strides reducing crime and improving the quality of life in our community. The next step in that fight is asking you to join our department as an official TPD volunteer. We need your help in the district office closest to your home. You will get a behind the scenes look at how officers do their job and you will play an important role in helping us make our city safer.
Is Becoming A Police Officer In Your Future
While the steps to becoming a police officer may seem lengthy, completing them is absolutely necessary if you want to achieve the fulfilling career youve set your sights on. And a good law enforcement program will help you navigate the process.
Now that youre familiar with the process of how to become a police officer, you may be curious if you have what it takes to excel on the job. Learn more in our article, Often Overlooked Qualities of a Great Police Officer.
If youre already set on becoming a police officer, visit our Law Enforcement degree page to learn how we can help you take the next step toward becoming a police officer in Minnesota.
The Law Enforcement programs at Rasmussen University are not aligned to the standards of any professional licensing body other than the MN POST and are not intended to satisfy professional licensure requirements of any professional licensing agency in any other state.Editors note: This article was originally published in June 2016. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2020. Insight from Shetler and Plantinga remain from the original.
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Attend A Police Academy
Most police hiring programs will include a police academy component for prospective officers who have passed the previous hiring steps. Most law enforcement departments have their own academy, which recruits are required to attend for a period of 12 to 24 weeks before going out into the field. Recruits will usually draw a salary during this period. Academy courses may cover topics such as criminal law, community policing, firearms training, and investigation and defensive tactics.
Salary Benefits And Jobs Outlook
Law enforcement officers with the Tampa Police Department earn a starting salary of $55,140 per year and receive vacation, sick leave, full medical benefits, paid holidays, and are enrolled in the citys pension plan.4 With annual step increases, patrol officers can earn a base salary of up to $89,544 per year.4
Cops in the Tampa metropolitan area earn an average annual salary of $55,890.5 Projections estimate that job growth for police and sheriffs patrol officers in Florida will be 12.9% through 2026, representing an average annual increase of 528 officer jobs added to police forces statewide.6 The exact number of new law enforcement officers hired largely depends on the citys budget and the number of police officers who retire during the year. To view open listings for police officers in Tampa, visit our jobs board page.
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Florida Trooper Or Highway Patrol Requirements
The Florida State Patrol operates under the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The Florida Highway Patrol has an authorized force of 1,946 sworn and 529 non-sworn employees.3 To become a state patrol officer in Florida, candidates must meet state requirements and:
- Not have a history of repeated traffic violations
- Not be more than 20 pounds over recommended weight
- Be willing to relocate to any duty station in Florida
The Florida trooper educational requirements state that all candidates must hold a high school diploma. However, candidates who hold an associate degree or higher are often given employment preference. The FHP also awards preference to military veterans.
Entry-level Florida state troopers earn a starting salary of $38,034 per year, with adjustments for higher cost of living area assignments.3 Troopers are eligible to apply for promotion after five years of service.
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This program is designed to help entry-level law enforcement officers prepare for their roles in the field. It teaches practical skills and runs simulated activities that are complementary to lessons learned in the classroom. The curriculum includes studies such as legal concepts, patrolling skills, arrest procedures, responding to disturbances, resolving vehicle incidents, directing traffic, crime scene and courtroom procedures, explosives, first aid, and more.
The Basic Recruitment Training Program is an in-person course only and cannot be taken online. Candidates may be exempt from taking this training program if they have served as a sworn-in law enforcement officer in another state for a minimum of one year or as a special operations officer in the armed forces for a minimum of five years with no dishonorable discharge.
There is a fee of $100 for taking the SOCE. If a candidate fails three times, they must re-enroll and complete the Basic Recruit Training Program again before attempting the State Officer Certification Exam again.
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How To Become A Police Officer In Florida 6 Steps
Starting a career as a law enforcement officer in the Sunshine State comes with many benefits: a flexible schedule, spending account, generous medical, dental, and vision coverage, top-notch retirement plans, paid sick leave, holiday bonus pay, and more.
In this article, you will find a detailed outline of the steps required to become a police officer, or law enforcement officer, with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement .
Tampa Police Officer Requirements
The Tampa Police Department is continually recruiting for qualified officers. To join the TPD as a sworn law enforcement officer, candidates must:
- Be 21 years of age
- Be a US citizen
- Possess a valid Florida drivers license
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Hold an associates degree or meet another acceptable combination of education and experience
- Not have any tattoos that would be visible wearing the standard long-sleeve uniform
- Already be certified as a law enforcement officer in Florida or be currently enrolled in a basic training program approved by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission*
*Candidates must graduate from the basic training program within 30 days of submitting their application to TPD. There is no salary or stipend given to recruits while they complete the basic training program, but the department offers 12 to 15 scholarships per year. The scholarship process opens on March 1 every year.
If an applicant meets all of the above qualifications, after applying to the department he or she will have to pass a physical abilities test and undergo polygraph, psychological, and medical examinations as well as a background check. From start to finish, the TPD hiring process takes about three to six months. Accepted officers will complete four weeks of field training with the department before being assigned to patrol.
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Pass The State Officer Certification Examination
Before prospective police officers can be sworn in, they must successfully pass the state officer certification examination . The state certification exam is 200 questions long and candidates must achieve a passing score of 80% to advance.
There is a fee of $100 for taking the SOCE. If a candidate fails three times, they must re-enroll and complete the Basic Recruit Training Program again before attempting the State Officer Certification Exam again.
Tampa Police Department Information
The Tampa Police Department has three patrol districts, each with its own District Latent Investigation Squad , rapid offender control officers , a crime prevention unit that works with community and business leaders, and school resource officers assigned to schools within the district. The departments budget provides funding for patrol, operations, and other specialty areas in the TPD which include the Criminal Investigations Unit, Major Crimes Bureau, and Special Support Division.
The TPD Citizens Police Academy provides operational and procedural information regarding the police department to citizens. Through the Academy, citizens can ride-along with police officers, interact with the K-9 team, and learn about the daily duties of cops. Applicants must submit to a criminal background check. Citizens interested in volunteering with the TPD can also apply to the Civilian Volunteers Assisting Police program.
For youth, the TPD offers organized sports, after-school care, and summer programs through the Police Athletic League . College students ages 18 and older can apply to the College Intern Program. The four-month program provides law enforcement experience to undergraduate or graduate college students and exposes them to the different units and bureaus of the department.
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Florida Sheriff Deputy Requirements
Florida has 66 sheriffs, one for each of the states counties, except for Miami-Dade County, which has a countywide combined police and sheriffs department.* In Florida, sheriffs serve four-year terms. Requirements to become a sheriffs deputy in Florida can vary from county to county. The generally held requirements are that candidates must:
- Be at least 18 to work as a deputy
- Be a US citizen
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Possess a valid Florida drivers license
- Pass a background investigation
- Pass the vision, medical, psychological, and fitness evaluations and a polygraph test
*In a 2018 referendum, the state constitution was changed to require Miami-Dade County to reinstate the office and elect a sheriff in 2024.
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Tampa Police Requirements:
- Must be a United States citizen
- Must have a clean criminal record
- Must have a valid FL Driver’s License
- Must Have high school diploma or GED
- Must Be in good mental and physical condition
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Must pass all stages of the hiring process
- Must Be someone of good moral character
Disqualification factors to be aware of:
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Picking The Right Program
Once you know which program level you want to pursue, its time to figure out which one best suits your needs. When researching the schools that make it onto your all-important shortlist, keep the following questions in mind:
- Is the school regionally accredited?
- Can you afford the tuition?
- Does the timeline fit with your future goals?
- Does the program have a high success rate?
- Does the program provide POST exam prep?
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Field Training And Evaluation Program Background
The Tampa Police Department Field Training & Evaluation Program was modeled after the original program created by the San Jose Police Department. The goals set forth are to give systematic, consistent and standardized training to all of the Probationary Officers , who complete the sixteen week course. The ultimate goal of the program is to have the probationary officer capable of working by themselves as a one-person unit at the completion of their sixteen week program.
After completion of the Police Academy and upon appointment by the Tampa Police Department, the Probationary Officers first six weeks will be in Holdover for classroom orientation and scenario based training. Next, the Probationary Officer is assigned to a Field Training Squad within a Patrol Division. The members of the Training Squads are Field Training Officers who have volunteered to train new officers in conjunction with their normal police duties. To become an FTO, officers must complete a state accredited forty-hour field training officer course, before being allowed to train. The Tampa Police Department currently has eight training squads allotted to the patrol divisions.
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