Although a career in the police force can be extremely demanding, it does have many rewards. Having a career in this field will enable you to serve your community and protect the society from criminal activities. If you are passionate about this cause and think that you can handle the stress associated with this job, then you should apply for this position. The article below outlines how to become a police officer in Montana.

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Requirements to Become a Police Officer in Montana

In order to be eligible to apply, the interested candidate needs to fulfill the following criteria:

  • Should be a citizen of the United States
  • Should be at least 18 years of age
  • Should have a High School Diploma or a GED
  • Should have a good moral character and must not have any past criminal history
  • Should be fingerprinted
  • Should have a valid driver’s license
  • Should meet any other requirements set out by the POST council

How Long Does It Take to Become a Police Officer in Montana?

The first step is to apply for a written and physical abilities test conducted by the Montana Law Enforcement Testing Consortium (MLETC). The applicant can only test one time per testing cycle. If he/she fails to clear the written exam or the physical exam, they would not be able to appear for the exam again until the next cycle.

The written exam tests the candidates in several areas such as writing skills, spelling and punctuation, grammar, reading comprehension and arithmetic skills. The physical test assesses the applicant’s physical strength and abilities; he/she is required to complete the Montana Physical Abilities Test (MPAT) within the time limit set by the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. After clearing these tests, shortlisted candidates are placed on the Eligibility List.

This will be followed by a number of stages, including interviews, reference checks, background checks, medical exams, drug screening and a psychological exam. Any misrepresentation or falsification of data on the application form may lead to disqualification. Thus, it is advised to mention accurate and updated information, because all of the data provided is verified during the background investigation.

If the candidate is able to pass all of the above stages, he/she will be handed an offer letter. The selected applicants are then sent to the police training academy for professional training. The recruits are taught courses regarding Firearms Training, Building Search and Report Writing, etc.

Salary of Police Officers in Montana

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers in Montana earned an annual mean wage of $56,230 in May 2018.

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