What Education Do You Need To Become A Police Officer

Pay Attention To Established Detectives

As a police officer, youll often work closely with police detectives, and if you want to be one of them, its wise to pay attention to what they do, Carlin says. Often, experience teaches detectives how to tactfully deliver bad news, communicate with firmness and sensitivity in tragic-but-timely investigations and read body language to successfully interrogate suspects.

Police officers are trained to perform all of the above skills, but police detectives have the benefit of years of experience to master them. Pay close attention to the way they operate when the opportunity presents itself.

Ready To Start Working Your Way To A Police Detective Badge

Your dream police detective career wont happen overnight, but you likely didnt expect it to. Detectives do some seriously crucial work in society. They need to be well trained and good at solving crimes. Now that you know how to become a police detective, youre a little closer to cracking some of those cases yourself!

You know whatll be expected of you, you understand youll need extra training and youre ready to wait until a department needs your skills as a detective. If youre ready to tackle the first step toward becoming a police detectiveeducation, then learn more about Rasmussen Colleges Criminal Justice degree programs and how they can help make you a more well-rounded candidate for law enforcement positions.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, . EDITORS NOTE: This article was originally published in 2015. It has since been updated. Insights from Carlin remain from the original article.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Police Officer

The life of a police officer is a high-demand career, requiring the upmost integrity, a broad assortment of mental and physical skills, and a steadfast commitment to the protection of your community or the nation as a whole. As such, vigorous training is needed for this noble profession.

But first, you have to meet some of the most basic requirements, including

• U.S. citizen
• 18 years of age
• Valid drivers license
• Clean criminal record*

*It is possible to be hired as a police officer if your record only has minor offenses in the distant past. Felonies will disqualify you from entry as a police officer.

Additionally, an entrance exam testing basic comprehension skills is typically required to be accepted as a police recruit and enter the training academy. View a study guide to get an idea of what type of questions may be asked.

You May Like: How To Get Police Records Online

How To Become An Ontario Provincial Police Officer

Interested in joining the Ontario Provincial Police? Here are just a few of the minimum qualifications needed to beat out the competition:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have an Ontario Secondary School program diploma , or equivalent
• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Must have a value Class G license with no more than six demerit points.
• Must not have a criminal record
• Must be certified in standard first aid and CPR
• Must pass medical, psychological, security, and financial assessment tests

Another must for the OPP? Being in top physical condition and having a willingness to serve. The latter is one to consider as detachments range from being located in large urban areas to small, isolated settings. When applying, you must pick your top six locations.

If you become a successful hire, the Constable Selection System requires a medical assessment be completed. This includes meeting the hearing and vision standards.

Check out this self-assessment tool to see where you stand.

Associate Of Science Or Associate Of Arts

Following close behind the postsecondary certificate, according to O*NET OnLine, the second-most common degree recommended for cops is an associate degree, with 24% of respondents recommending this degree.4 An associate degree is a two-year degree that can be found as an Associate of Science , Associate of Applied Science , or an Associate of Arts , comprising about 60 credit hours of coursework. Degrees focusing on law enforcement, police science, criminal justice, or related fields like homeland security or forensic science provide the most useful training for prospective or current police officers. An associate degree in law enforcement may include courses such as Community Relations, Firearms, Criminal Procedures, Loss Prevention, and Forensic Investigation.

Don’t Miss: Can I Sue The Police For Not Investigating

Sponsored Online Law Enforcement Degrees

Criminal Justice & Criminology

Another degree field that will be helpful is criminology. This field of study takes a broad-range, science-based approach to crime, looking at crime statistics in relation to frequency, causes, demographics, and more. This is an academic discipline heavily rooted in science , so a curious mind and an aptitude for numbers is helpful. When complete, this degree is useful for career advancement, as it can be applied to the big-picture issues that law enforcement leaders need to tackle.

Although sharing many similarities to criminology, criminal justice focuses on navigating the societal systems that have been set up to stop crime, punish criminals, and reduce future instances. Basically, a criminal justice degree gives you a thorough understanding of law enforcement, the court system, and corrections. Once again, this degree is extremely useful for future advancement, as it gives a strong understanding of the overall crime-prevention efforts in the United States. Its beneficial for people who want to shift horizontally in law enforcement, moving into areas such as victim support or rehabilitation.

How To Become A Police Officer In North Carolina

North Carolina is a scenic state with temperate weather and a low cost of living, about 4% lower than the US average.1 The state also has a relatively low unemployment rate, at 3.9%.1 North Carolina offers police officers a variety of career paths and many opportunities for advancement. While each police department will have its own standards in terms of requirements and prerequisites, there are some statewide requirements that all law enforcement officers in the state must meet. Continue reading for an overview of police requirements in North Carolina as well as select department-specific requirements.

Read Also: How Many Police Officers In America

Start Your Journey To Becoming A Police Officer Today

For those interested in how to become a police officer, the career path includes dedication to acquiring the necessary experience and skills, and commitment to earning the appropriate credentials. Achieving a bachelors degree could be an important step.

Learn more about and how it can equip students to serve their communities as police officers.

Recommended Readings

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?

Recommended Reading: Do You Need A Police Report For A Car Accident

North Carolina Trooper Or Highway Patrol Requirements

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol employs over 1,600 troopers who cover at least 78,000 miles of roadways in North Carolina.2 In order to apply to become a North Carolina state trooper, candidates must meet statewide standards and:

• Be at least 21 years old and 39 or younger when starting Patrol Basic school
• Have no felony offenses or serious misdemeanor convictions
• Have a good driving record
• Be willing to work and live in any area of the state of North Carolina
• Have 20/20 vision in each eye, or uncorrected vision of no more than 20/100 in each eye corrected to 20/20
• Pass the Cooper Fitness Test with a score of at least 50% for age and gender
• Pass the standardized test with at least a 10th grade reading level

The starting salary for North Carolina highway patrol officers is $37,323 per year fully sworn troopers earn between $44,000 and $64,202 per year depending on longevity and other qualifications.2

Police Now Graduate Schemes

Police Now is an independent charity with a mission to transform communities by recruiting, developing and inspiring diverse leaders in policing.

The organisation works in partnership with police forces to attract, recruit and train outstanding graduates with leadership potential to be inspirational detectives and police officers through their award-winning national graduate programmes.

Equipping participants with core policing skills, Police Now’s two-year national graduate programmes help to develop leadership, communication and problem-solving skills that will serve graduates, and the wider community, for a lifetime.

The two graduate programmes are:

• National Graduate Leadership Programme which trains and develops graduates to become leaders in neighbourhood policing. Participants are placed in some of the most challenging communities in England and Wales, getting to know the issues up close and developing innovative ideas and techniques to tackle the challenges residents are facing.
• National Detective Programme which is designed to equip graduates with the core policing skills required in modern investigative work. Throughout the programme, participants play an important part in solving crimes while developing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Both programmes involve the completion of a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice with the University of Huddersfield.

To be eligible for Police Now’s national graduate programmes, you must:

You May Like: Can I Get A Background Check At Any Police Station

How Long Is Police Academy

One of the most important steps, as well as possibly the most challenging, in your path to becoming a police officer is training at a police academy. Each state will have different requirements for the specifics of a police academy, but recruits will typically spend about 800 hours in training before graduation. In general, the academy will take about six months to complete.

Step : Interview With The Academy Manager

After completing the above steps, your chosen academy will contact you to schedule an appointment for an interview with the Academy Manager. This should be considered a formal interview, so please dress accordingly. The Academy Manager will determine the candidates demeanor and suitability to become a certified Peace Officer in the State of Georgia.

Also Check: How To Locate A Police Officer By Name

Eclectic Nature Of The Job

For those who are averse to monotonous professions, life as a law enforcement officer may provide the desired variety. Because the needs of communities vary, and the specific directives of a police department may shift over time, police officers may find that no two days are alike. As the Houston Chronicle notes, the daily responsibilities of a police officer may involve directing traffic, patrolling a neighborhood, responding to calls from concerned citizens, making an arrest or even testifying in a legal proceeding.

The Chance To Be Active

While working as a police officer does come with administrative requirements, including the need to fill out paperwork promptly, the job provides many opportunities to be up and about and physically active. Examples include patrolling a neighborhood, pursuing a suspected criminal, or simply making the rounds while offering security at a public event.

Don’t Miss: Where To View Police Reports Online

Policing Jobs And Salaries

Graduation from a police program prepares you for work in a number of fields, including :

• Private investigation
• Customs

Note: For each of these positions, further testing will likely be required. Police officer applicants may be required to show proof of completion of the Ontario Chiefs of Police Certificate examination.

Starting salaries in the policing field are in the low $30,000s per year, but tend to rise after your first-year probationary period. From there, your salary will increase with experience.

Police Officer Job Growth

Police officers are a vital component to maintaining a peaceful society. While still subject to cost cutting like any other private sector industry, the demand for police officers remains relatively steady for the foreseeable future. For more detailed job growth information, please see the below chart.

Recommended Reading: When To Report Accident To Police

What Classes To Take In College To Become A Police Officer

Becoming a police officer is a noble goal. As a police officer, you help to protect and serve your community and make a difference in the lives of the people around you. It doesnt hurt that you have the potential to earn a good salary, have great retirement benefits and health insurance for yourself and your family either. So, just how do you go about becoming a police officer? Here are some tips for you to get started.

Employers That Recruited In The Last 2 Years

• Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

Interest in analyzing information to investigate crimes and accidents

DIRECTIVE

Interest in driving when patrolling assigned areas to maintain public safety and order and in enforcing laws and regulations and arresting criminal suspects may supervise and co-ordinate the work of other police officers

SOCIAL

Interest in speaking to the public when participating in crime prevention, public information and safety programs

The interest code helps you figure out if youd like to work in a particular occupation. Its based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory , which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means its a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

In their daily work, police officers perform diverse duties ranging from patrolling communities, enforcing the law and apprehending criminals to promoting traffic safety and responding to domestic disputes. Police work does not always involve a physical act of protection or the apprehension of a law breaker. It also involves activities related to:

• Responding to dispatched calls for service
• Crime prevention
• Working with community groups to identify and solve policing problems of mutual concern
• Writing reports

Opportunities within various police agencies may include:

• Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

You May Like: How To See Police On Google Maps

Certificate In Law Enforcement

A certificate in criminal justice or criminology is an opportunity for individuals to gain specific instruction in an area of law enforcement. Since a certificate consists of a few classes and can be completed in a few months, the certificate can also provide an opportunity to get started on an associate degree without having to commit to the two years just yet. Certificates are also great in that some department require applicants to have some college credits, but do not require a full degree. Some of the courses available in a criminology or criminal justice certificate program are listed below:

Criminology

Preparing For A Police Officer Career: Find The Right Environment

When an aspiring police officer chooses to go to school to obtain formal education, a world of possibilities opens up. Here are some of the potential places where the certificate or degree can be earned.

Vocational/Trade School

Some vocational or trade schools have certificate programs that may count towards college credit, such as for a future associate or bachelors degree. Some might offer associate degrees. Vocational or trade schools can provide a way to save money on college costs while receiving necessary college course instruction.

Military

Military experience is well regarded by law enforcement agencies and police departments. Familiarity with firearms, mental toughness, physical conditioning, discipline and an understanding of command structure and culture are all benefits that come with hiring a recruit with military experience.

Community College

Community colleges provide multiple options for students who want to become police officers. Students can complete their associate degree in two years or a certificate in a few months. As an added bonus, many community colleges allow credits earned in a certificate program to go towards an associate degree.

Law Enforcement School

4-year schools

Departments that require a bachelors degree are often found at the federal level. However, even if a four-year degree isnt required, getting a bachelors degree can be a prudent decision: it can increase the chances of getting hired and promoted.

You May Like: How To Be A Police Officer In Gta

Lauriers Online Bachelor Of Criminology And Policing Degree

Our online Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Policing prepares you for a career in criminology and justice. Focusing on practical techniques and real-world experience, it delivers an engaging curriculum designed to improve your critical thinking and analytical skills. The fully online and asynchronous criminology courses provide you with a broader view of public safety through a combined focus on criminology and policing. This degree can help enhance the career and earning potential of an individual who wants to pursue a career in criminology and policing.

Now is the time to kick-start your career as a police officer in Toronto. Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Policing or Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Policing today:

• for details on curriculum, tuition and more

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.

You May Like: How To Look Up My Police Report