How to Become a Police Officer in Green County, Pennsylvania

There are two types of police officers in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

In Pennsylvania, police officers must undergo ACT 120 certification or state police academy training. ACT 120 lays out several basic requirements of police officers. To become a police officer in Greene County, you can choose to train as a municipal police officer, or as a state trooper. There is no Greene County police department.

Instructions

Becoming a Municipal Officer

1. Apply to an ACT 120 certification program. The Municipal Police Officer's Education and Training Commission offers programs at many state and county community colleges that end in ACT 120 certification. Information on MPOETC certification courses for full-time and part-time students is available at the commission's Web site.

2. Finish the MPOETC program, including certification testing upon completion of the program. Certification includes written tests on the coursework, physical testing and a firearms proficiency test.

3. Register with the Civil Service Commission. Find a law enforcement test offered at a time and location that you can take and apply for that exam. The tests are offered throughout the year and there are eight testing centers in Pennsylvania; in Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Lock Haven, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton.

4. Take the civil service exam specifically related to becoming a police officer. Many ACT 120 certification programs include advice and study help in preparation for the testing. You also may want to check with the school where you took the MPOETC course or another nearby MPOETC course to see if there are any civil service exam study groups. Look for one of the numerous civil service exam guides available in bookstores and online.

Becoming a State Trooper

1. Apply to the state police academy. Get an application at your local state police barracks or online at the state police recruitment site (see Resources).

2. Complete a qualifying exam. The state police will contact you with a qualifying examination notice, including the date, time and location. After the exams are reviewed find out your ranking on their list.

3. Take the physical readiness tests, officially called Physical Readiness Processing. State police may contact you, based upon your ranking, with notification the date, time and location of the testing. On the day of processing, you must submit a completed processing packet that was included in the notification, complete several forms and documents, a polygraph screening booklet, take a urinalysis drug screening test and a series of physical tests.

4. Take a polygraph exam, background investigation, medical exam and psychological exam, in that order. If you pass, state police will contact you with information after each step on how to proceed to the next.

5. Graduate from training. The state police will appoint you to the academy based upon your ranking on their eligibility list. You must finish all the classwork, the physical and practical examination, and then the agency will assign you to a state police barrack or bureau.

Tips & Warnings

• State police reserve the right to disqualify a candidate based on falsification of any documents during the cadet selection procedures, illegal drug use within a prescribed time frame beyond what is considered experimental by state police standards and any criminal arrests or behavior that could reflect poorly on the agency.

References

• Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission
• Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission
• Pennsylvania State Police
• State Police Recruitment