how to become a police officer

For starters, you may want to get your foot in the door working as a state or local police officer. There are many different types of police academies. But usually these training programs can only be pursued after completion of high school education. *Note: Although this guide uses the terms “police,” “police officer,” and “cop” exclusively, the process described here as characteristic of municipal departments is fairly typical of county sheriffs’ offices and state agencies as well. Departments are highly concerned with an applicant’s integrity and overall reliability, so they must know about attendance, punctuality, and discipline, just to name a few key characteristics. When just starting out on the force, you can expect to make around $52,000 a year. A:We regret to inform that our website is for schools and universities in the United States. There are a number of institutions offering this course online. What is the first step to becoming a police officer? Can you give me information about their work schedules? The psychological and physical tests often occur at or about the same time in the process and typically very near the end due to the expense involved. In addition to this, you must successfully complete a training program at a police department's or state's police academy. Learn how to become a phlebotomist in your state. Students are also highlighted on concepts of decision analysis. Try again! Police Officers can work in any of the respective departments, depending on their qualification and experience. Will being in the military give you a better chance at becoming a police officer? It's an alternative process known as self-sponsorship, which means you pay your own way through the training and hope to get hired after you graduate. Police Officers that work in municipality offices typically enjoy their jobs more than other officers, such as prison guards. State departments have stringent conditions for prospective applicants like a bachelor's degree and back ground tests. While some employers might praise you for taking initiative, others may not be willing to take you at your word. The academic requirements depend on the position that you are seeking. Taking even a small number of college courses in a field related to law enforcement will increase your chances of being promoted to a position like Detective after you've been in the department for a few years. How to Become a Police Officer. Guess again! What does a police officer do? And most police agencies view military experience as a major plus. Delete any posts, comments, shares, likes, retweets, or biographical information that could possibly be construed as foolish, controversial, immature, or demeaning to any particular group of people. This includes a hands on examination of the scores of reports that are used by the police officers in Illinois. After earning a bachelor degree, the next step would be to enroll in a police academy and acquire professional training. You can get access to numerous resources and a complete list through our widget. Aside from the ongoing training that departments and licensing commissions require, an officer will literally learn something new every day. Most misdemeanors, drunk driving, and excessive traffic citations or accidents will probably sabotage an application, too. If you have a driver's license and high school diploma or GED, choose a police academy that's conveniently located for you and go through the screening test. At the very least, any of the above options will give a person enough of a taste of police work to know whether or not it is a viable career option for him or her. Q:Is there any specific school to be a cop? ", By Luke Redd | Last Updated June 26, 2020. Pay special attention to the legibility of your handwriting if you aren't using a computer to type your answers. Police Officers are brave, sometimes the first people on the scene, and should have a good physical build and ability to run, lift, and be quick both mentally and physically. Be an exemplary employee at your current job. And you'll have to agree to having aspects of your life closely examined, such as your past employment, credit history, and any interactions with the justice system. Above all else, you need to be driven by the selfless desire to serve and protect the people in your community. Visit the official website of your state's police department for more details. The first screening tool at this stage is usually a written test, sometimes referred to as a police officer selection test, police entrance exam, or basic abilities test. Click on your state below to find out more about state trooper, sheriff’s deputy, and police requirements in that state. Because you can see bad things on the streets, and you need to be prepared to see anything horrifying. there are also some states that allow students to enroll into the police academy after completing their high school diploma or an equivalent GED qualification. Correct! Physical fitness plays a strong role in academy training, so staying in shape during the hiring process will serve you well. Q:What are the chances to becoming a cop if I don't even have a high school diploma? Be honest. A:It is quite common to get to read about the course on the American Constitution Law while going through articles like what are the steps to become a Police Officer. You must be a citizen of the United States and you should at least be twenty one years of age. Once you're admitted into the academy, you'll go through 6 months of training and then be given exams to test your competency. Those that do, however, want to assess a candidate’s suitability for a job as a police officer.. PhD in Homeland Security is the highest level of degree offered. Your browser does not support JavaScript,Please enable Javascript,otherwise many Therefore, when a police department is conducting a background investigation of a prospective officer, the investigator will often go out to each former employer, sit down with the applicant’s personnel file, and then proceed to go through the file with a fine-toothed comb. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Become-a-Police-Officer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Police-Officer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Become-a-Police-Officer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid27662-v4-728px-Become-a-Police-Officer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"