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.
Sociology And Anthropology Degrees
Sociology and anthropology will help police officers understand more about the communities they serve. Every community has its own culture, history, baggage, and even language. The study of cultures, how they form, and how they react given a variety of circumstances and experiences can be invaluable to police officers seeking to work closely with the community.
In the sociology program at ASU students study the most important contemporary social issues, and their historical and political roots. Students will learn to utilize research methods and statistics to critically analyze information about social groups in any given cultural context.
Tuition: $14,400
Sociology students at FHSU will have the ability to create a sociology program that fits their specific needs. Thus students pursuing a career in law enforcement can focus their studies on aspects of sociology that will help them serve and protect their communities.
Tuition: $12,821
Individuals working as police officers may notice what they believe to be trends in their local communities. Police officers also have access to vast quantities of data. The sociology degree from the University of Wisconsin trains students to conduct research and interpret statistics with the goal of identifying problems and proposing solutions.
Tuition: $15,151
Tuition: $18,132
Tuition: $12,195
Is Studying Criminal Justice Hard
Criminal Justice is a Challenging, Yet Rewarding Career If you are asking Is criminal justice hard?, you probably already know that it is a demanding field in many ways. The career of policing is challenging, but that is why so many officers love what they do. No two days on the force are the same.
Recommended Reading: Can Police Locate You By Cell Phone
How To Become A Police Officer: 4 Steps To The Best Job Outlook
Its hard to image our society without police officers.
Under-appreciated even in the most appreciative communities, police officers are the stewards of justice, peace, and safety all over the country. They may not be perfect, and their public images may not be flawless, but police officers and other law enforcement officials are vital to this county.
You can be one of the proud police officers who protect the peace and safety of our communities, but it takes the right attitude, fortitude, and education to make it a reality.
To make the right decision for your future, you probably have a lot of questions. This article walks you through each of the 4 steps needed to become a police officer, so you can make the right choice and hit the ground running in your new career.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: | | | |
Education & Training For A Police Officer
To become a police officer you usually have to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, or complete Year 10 plus a trade certificate. Tertiary qualifications may add to your competitiveness and, wherever possible, the AFP seeks to recruit graduates from a wide range of disciplines, not limited to law, justice or criminology studies.To get into the degree courses you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Institutions have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.Successful applicants complete 24 weeks of training at the AFP College in Barton, ACT. Recruits complete a further 12 months of on-the-job training.
Read Also: Are You Supposed To Call The Police After An Accident
Police Officer Salaries In Bc
The annual provincial median salary for police officers in B.C. is $83,200. The provincial hourly rate ranges from $26.45-$54.00/hr with a median hourly wage of $40.00/hr.
Lets take a look at the salaries in the top three regions with the highest number of expected job openings.
The starting salary at the Vancouver Police Department is $70,154/year with an incremental increase to $90,198 after 3 years. Paid vacation, medical and dental benefits, and a BC Municipal Pension Plan membership is included in benefits at this police force.
The starting salary at the Victoria Police Department is $70,158/year. By the third year, the annual salary increases to $80,180. Benefits include subsidies for continuing education, basic and extended health plans, dental and vision care, Group Life Insurance, and maternity and parental leave.
In Thompson-Okanagan, the starting salary on the federal police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is $53,144/year. By the third year, you can expect to earn $86,110. Benefits include medical, dental, and family health plans, group life insurance, continuing education subsidies, and maternity and parental allowance.
Note: The police officer salary at the RCMP is significantly lower than the municipal standard.
Job Outlook For Bc Police Officers
Currently, police officers in B.C. are considered to be a high opportunity occupation. According to the B.C. Labour Market Outlook, there is an expected employment growth rate of 0.6% from 2019-2024 and over 3000 job openings forecasted up to 2022.
WorkBC states that 86.1% of those job opportunities will be made available due to current police officers retiring and 13.9% are due to economic growth.
Read Also: Can You Get A Police Report Online
Police Officer License And Certifications
Obviously, the main license required by a police officer is to be one. To become a police officer, you first need a minimum of an associates degree or at least 2 years of college education. After this, you need to fill out an application form to get admitted into the long admission process. This consists of physical, mental, emotional …
Best College Degree For Police Officer
Police officers need a broad range of skills to thrive and excel in these careers. From solid communication to a strong understanding of human behavior, police officers will find a lot of value from an associates or bachelors degree in many different fields. The best major for you will be one you have a unique interest in and one that you would like to apply in your career as a police officer.
Also Check: Where Can I Get A Copy Of A Police Report
Earning A Degree To Be A Cop
Part of what makes the preparation for a police officer job such a puzzle is that there arent any definite answers. Educational requirements for police officers vary from state to state and from police department to police department, as well as across different law enforcement jobs. There is no one specific course or program of study that is meant as a major for police officers.
However, there are some degree paths that are more relevant than others to the work of law enforcement officers. Many aspiring police officers choose to major in criminal justice, police science, political science, public administration, paralegal studies and homeland security or emergency management. These programs of study give you practical skills or foundational knowledge or both to help you be a better police officer.
For example, going to college for one of these majors may help you develop qualities like communication skills, perceptiveness, the problem-solving skills that lead to good judgment, empathy for others and leadership skills, which the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported are among the most important characteristics for police officers. You might also learn the fundamentals of the most important knowledge areas for police officers, which O*NET identifies as public safety and security, law and government and psychology, among others.
What Will I Learn In A Police Officer Degree Program
While we cant speak for every program in Canada, Lauriers policing degree students can expect to learn the following:
- How to recognize and deal with trauma. Youll be able to identify the signs of trauma in yourself, your colleagues, and the community. You will also learn how to process and react to trauma
- Criminological and psychological theories. Youll learn to apply the foundations of good police and detective work
- The major debates in policing and justice today. Understanding different perspectives on these issues will help you become a better police officer
- Leadership, critical thinking, research, and conflict resolution skills and
- How to understand and appreciate the justice system of Canadas Indigenous people, and what your role as a law enforcement officer in their communities entails.
Also Check: How Can I Find A Police Officer By Name
How Can I Get A Job As A Police Officer
Take a look at Professional Policing degrees, including student satisfaction stats, entry requirements and what they involve. These courses will often have strong links with their local police forces. That said, there is no guarantee of a job at the end of a Professional Policing degree. Search for a degree course and narrow down your options.
Law Enforcement & Police Jobs for People Without a Degree. It is possible to pursue a law enforcement career without earning a degree. There are many career options that only require academy training or a high school diploma.
High School You will need a high school diploma or GED to become a police officer. However, that doesnt mean you can afford to coast through school. If you know you want to be a cop, consider taking electives that will prepare you for a career in criminal justice.
Faq: Do You Need A Degree To Be A Cop
Being a police officer is a worthwhile and impactful job that serves the community. Experience and skills are key to a role as a police officer. They undergo specialized academy training and pass exams to gain employment, though often no formal education is required. In this article, we explore the career of a police officer, including their duties, experience, skills and how to become one to help you decide if this is the right career for you.
You May Like: Can I Sue The Police Department
How To Become A K9 Officer
The first step is becoming a police officer, as you may need to work as a patrol officer for two years before taking on a canine handler job. While many police departments may not require their police officers to have an associate degree or bachelors degree in criminal justice, most departments do have this requirement for their K9 handlers.
The Level Of Degree Needed To Be A Police Officer
Of police officer jobs that require more than a high school diploma, the degree level expected usually fits into one of the following categories:
- An associates degree or the equivalent amount of college credits . An associates degree is an undergraduate course of study typically completed at a community college or junior college. Full-time students can typically complete an associates degree in two years.
- A bachelors or baccalaureate degree or the equivalent amount of college credits . Bachelors degrees are usually offered by four-year institutions and provide a more comprehensive undergraduate education that includes upper-division coursework.
- A masters degree or graduate certificate. Graduate-level study is more advanced and, often, more specialized than undergraduate coursework.
A 2017 report by the National Police Foundation found that an associates degree was the most common level of education for this career field, accounting for the highest level of education of 51.8 percent of sworn police officers in America. Just over 30 percent of cops reported having a bachelors degree, while more than 5 percent of officers had gone to graduate school. If you opt out of going to college entirely, your career prospects in law enforcement will be limited, and you will have to compete for jobs against candidates who are, for the most part, more highly educated than you are.
Also Check: What Is The Best Local Police Scanner App
Becoming A Police Officer
How do you go about becoming a police officer? Some departments require no more than a high school diploma or a GED, and then successful completion of their training program. But increasingly, officers are being required to successfully complete a certain number of semester hours from an accredited college with a minimum GPA.
While some future police officers take courses in pre-law, most seek an associate’s degree in criminal justice. As with most fields, higher education can make a difference in the criminal justice field when it comes to attaining advancement and higher pay. You may not always want to work as a patrol officer, so an investment in college can pay off in the future in the form of promotions and higher salaries.
Police Officer Preparation Beyond The Degree
Before an officer officially joins the police force and regardless of their college major and level of education they go through intense training at one of the many police academies. Police academy training programs can take anywhere from 12 to 24 weeks, so new officers should plan to spend months training for their role in law enforcement. Training in a police academy typically involves learning about local ordinances, constitutional law and civil rights, as well as the skills to investigate accidents and crimes. Everything aspect of police work, from traffic control to self-defense, is taught in the training academy to make sure that new officers are prepared for work on the job. Being a cop is tough, so for training to be valuable, it must be comprehensive and challenging, too.
If you have a good education, earn great grades and pass the police academy training program, you will likely find success in getting hired as a police officer, no matter what major you choose. Being familiar with the law and the criminal justice system prior to applying to work as a police officer can certainly hold value, but choosing a specific major isnt a prerequisite to the academy training program where you will learn the fundamentals of police work.
Read Also: How To Be A Police Officer In Virginia
What Do Police Look For In A Background Check
The background exam is a very thorough investigation of the applicants past. It is common for the hiring parties to speak to colleagues, family members, neighbours, landlords, as well as present and past employers. This helps to determine whether you have a track record of high ethical standards in all areas of your life. You will be required to provide your criminal record, driving record, credit history, and history of alcohol and drug use. Additionally, you will need to pass a polygraph exam that shows whether you have been dishonest or deceitful in answering any of the questions throughout the application process.
When applying to police agencies, you will be disqualified if*:
- You have matters pending at a criminal court
- You participated in any indictable offenses. These offenses are the mostserious of criminal activities, which include murder, sexual assault, and terrorist activities.
- You have a criminal conviction that has not been pardone.
- You participated in less serious criminal behaviour or activity within one year of applying. These activities are referred to as summary conviction offenses under the Criminal Code. They include illicit drug use, theft, and impaired driving.
- You have been dishonourably discharged or dismissed from any other law enforcement organization
- You have a pending or current personal bankruptcy
Detailed Discussion Of Degree Programs For Police Officers
The more officers know about the world around them and the communities they serve, the better equipped they are for success in their career. There is also the issue of advancement. Officers with degrees may be preferred for advancement, especially if those degrees have provided them with knowledge that helps them execute their duties.
This article examines five different kinds of degrees that can be beneficial to law enforcement officers. The programs listed here are all online programs, but analogs of these programs can likely be found at local universities. One of the benefits of online programs for working police officers, is that they can earn their degree while working in the field because of the flexibility offered by the online format. This means officers no longer have to sacrifice years on the job to earn their degree.
You May Like: Can You File A Fraud Police Report Online
Requirements To Become A Police Officer: Education
Do you need a degree to be a police officer? Police officer college requirements typically ask for some post-secondary education, if not a full degree. While specific subjects needed to become a police officer are rarely listed, reading, writing, and mathematics competency at a college level are often what departments are looking for.
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.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Into The Police Department