Police Officer Education & Training Requirements

There are many who aspire about how to become a police officer. It is a job which involves upholding and enforcing laws with the aim of preserving peace and stability in society. Police officers go through extensive training to meet the many demands of the job.The requirements for what it takes to become a police officer often vary from state to state. As such, it is important to do adequate research into the requirements of your particular state or city when beginning the application process. Listed below are the general steps involved in becoming a police officer.

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1. Meet the Minimum Requirements

Minimum requirements may vary from state to state. However, generally the minimum requirements that must be satisfied prior to submitting an application are:

• Candidates must be at least 18 years of age (although some departments expressly require candidates to be 21 years of age or older)
• Applicant must be a citizen of the United States or a Permanent Resident eligible for citizenship.
• Candidates must have a clean record – that means no criminal record or any misdemeanors
• Candidates must be of good moral character
• Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or GED

2. Education and Qualifications

Most police departments require candidates to have at least a high school diploma or GED. Although there is no express requirement for higher education, increased competitiveness may lead to individuals needing something to set them apart and give them an edge in the application process. For this reason, candidates may decide to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.

A certain amount of real world experience is also very helpful. Military experience is particularly desirable.

Candidates are expected to have certain skills such as good communication, interpersonal, problem-solving skills, etc. These are helpful assets. Work experience shows your employer that you’ve been in a situation where you were required to use these skills.

3.Requirements of the Application Process

The application process is rigorous and is intended to weed out those who cannot deal with the pressures and demands of the job. It consists of the following elements:

• Written exam – this is the Civil Service exam or an exam modeled after the format of that exam. Questions vary depending upon where the department is located and are intended to test communication, problem solving, math, and deductive reasoning skills.
• Physical Exam – your fitness levels are tested to determine whether you are in shape or not. Depending on your age and gender, you will be required to perform up to a particular standard in order to qualify for further consideration.
• Drug Test – blood and urine tests are taken to ensure you are clear of any traces of illegal drugs or that you don’t have any drug dependencies.
• Psychological Evaluation – Candidates physiological states are very important due to the fact that police work is highly stressful. This test is carried out to determine whether or not you can deal with stresses and pressures.
• Health Assessment–You must have a clean bill of health. A health care practitioner will assess your vital organs, your eyesight, and your hearing to ensure that all is in order.
• Background Check – to ensure you are of sound moral character, the police department will carry out an extensive background check to make sure that all the information you have provided is accurate and checks out.
• Interview– an interview is conducted with the board and other members of the police force. At the interview, the department will attempt to determine whether you’re a good fit for the team.

4.Training

Once you have cleared the application process, you will receive a formal invitation to commence your training at a police academy. Training at the police academy is very demanding and can last from anywhere between 3 to 6 months. Cadets will undergo physical, hands on, and classroom instruction.

Some of the training’s you will go through are as follows:

• Firearms training
• Self-defense and defensive tactics
• Introduction to the US legal system
• Hostage negotiation
• Elements of report writing
• How to conduct criminal investigations

Once your training at the academy is completed successfully, you will officially be sworn into the police force. You will then be required to undergo field training with a senior officer for a specific length of time. This is to help you apply what you have learned at the academy to the real life scenarios. You will be assigned a variety of tasks by your senior officer and by the department and your performance will be evaluated. Typical elements of field training include:

• Learning patrol procedures
• Interacting with the public
• Writing reports and filing complaints

5.Build your Career

Within the field of law enforcement, there is a lot of potential for career advancement. This however, totally depends on the individual and their performance. For this reason, it is important to carry out all your work and tasks exceptionally well, and maintain good relations with other members of the police force.

After a certain period of period and time, you will be eligible to take advancement exams or you may be recommended for a promotion based on your performance.

Becoming a police officer requires tremendous amount of determination as the process is often long and demanding. Candidates are required to maintain a clean record and be upstanding citizens in order to even be considered. From this point on, candidates can expect to go through extensive and strenuous training in order to meet all the various demands of the job.

What Degree Do You Need To Be A Police Officer

Police officers typically hold a high school diploma or a college degree. However, all police officers are graduates of their department’s training academy. Many police officers are also military veterans with extensive experience in weapon handling. If you want to become a police officers after graduating from college then consider majoring in criminal justice or a related major.

What Subjects are Needed to Become a Police Officer

If you want to become a police officer after graduating from high school or college then consider taking courses in sciences, foreign language, law and criminal justice. Knowledge of a foreign language is an asset in many federal agencies and geographical regions.

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