How to become a Police Officer Or State Trooper

To some it's a calling, to others it's a Job. Becoming a Police Officer is one of the most rewarding and satisfying career paths you can chose.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Most Departments will require at a minimum an associate degree, State certification and a 12+ week police academy. Most federal and state agencies will require a Bachelors degree.

1. Know what you are getting into. You are entering a career with great responsibility and public trust. While the job outlook is above average certain departments will be ultra competitive.

2. Education comes first, the days of standing in line and taking a civil service test are over. Check with your local community college and see if they offer a associate program for criminal justice. Some community colleges also will offer a police academy.

3. More and more 4-year colleges are offering bachelor degrees in criminal justice. For most federal and state jobs this in now a requirement not a bonus. Check out your local paper and look for Police officer job applications, even if your not ready yet it will give you an idea of what they expect from you.

4. Some of the bigger cities will offer cadet programs or summer programs. This is a great way to see if your a fit for the job, and some department will train and give preference to former cadets.

5. Fitness is a huge part of the job, you will arrest people in your career that are bigger and stronger than you, do not give criminals any advantage if this is your career path finish this article and then go workout!

6. Mental fitness is also a huge component of police work, if your already mentally unstable this might not be the career for you. You are going to see things that most people have nightmares about, do things that make others freeze with terror and then have to go home to your family with a smile.

7. The plus side is once you get the badge nothing will ever be the same. You are now part of one of the best fraternities in the world. And this is one of those jobs where you really can make a difference in someones live.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep yourself out of trouble, traffic tickets, misdemeanors and felonies can keep you from getting hired.
• Job experience is a plus, any job employers like to see a certain dedication from their employees. Being unemployed your whole life does not look good
• This is a dangerous job, you deal with the bottom half of the population, protecting the kinder (and normally weaker) half. These people will be counting on you!

[goodselfme]

on 9/28/2009 Good information on becoming a police officer or state trooper.

[waters]

on 9/10/2009 Good article on how to become a police officer. 5* and recommended

[kinderhook]

on 9/10/2009 I have the utmost respect for the men and women who serve as Police Officers and State Troopers. Thanks for this interesting article. 5* & rec

[drenee]

on 9/10/2009 Great article, passing this on to some friends that are searching for jobs