How to Become a Police Officer

Law enforcement offers a variety of career opportunities, many of which are available to candidates without degrees. If joining the police force would make your day, here's how you can prepare for a career in the field of fighting crime.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Take high school and/or continuing education courses in business math/accounting, computer applications and behavioral sciences.

2. Maintain your level of physical fitness. Participation in high school sports will contribute to both your athletic development and your application for appointment to the police department.

3. Consider a period of military service. Two years in the armed forces is excellent mental and physical conditioning for police work.

4. Use common sense. There will be a background check, and a career in law enforcement can quickly be short-circuited by "youthful indiscretions."

5. Take the written civil service exam for police officers. You can obtain information about the exam through your local police department.

6. Pass the physical exam, which typically includes tests of vision, hearing, strength and agility.

7. Pass the lie detector test.

8. Pass the drug test. In addition, should you become a police officer, you may be subject to continued random drug testing during your employment.

9. Have an interview with a senior officer and/or take a personality test to assess your personal characteristics, such as judgment, integrity and responsibility.

Tips & Warnings

• Appointment of state and local police officers, sheriffs and detectives is regulated by the civil service.

Who Can Help:

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[ktssteele]

on 6/15/2009 Police officers with a college background is a good thing, but it does't take a rocket scienctist to detemine the difference between right and wrong. Don't break the law and you won't have a problem with the police! If there are any Clermont, FL police out there, your doing a great job! There's definately a noticeable difference when taking a walk through town. No more undesirables walking the streets or standing on street corners!

[piratepuck35]

on 6/14/2009 I find it particularly disturbing how ignorant some people are in assuming that all law enforcement officials have no degree and are all underachievers. Nothing could be further from the truth, in fact many police officers, even in the lowest levels of law enforcement, have college degrees. I am finishing up a 4 year school just to be eligible for the jobs I want in the field. So before people go assuming how ignorant and under qualified police officers are, just remember how much training and screening they must go through in order to become an officer, extensive polygraph tests, background checks, drug screening, and physical exams are all standard in almost every dept. in America. You may look down upon the profession, but it is something that requires more fortitude and intelligence than most possess and most people dislike the police until they are in need of a cop, in that ...

[centrcourt]

on 4/6/2009 pet10591 - LE officers go through an extensive background, polygraph, psychological examination and oral boards. IF they are chosen, they then go to a Law Enforcement Academy for an average of 26 weeks depending on the department/state requirements. While some agencies do require a university degree or credits, rest assured that anyone abusing their authority is not doing so because they are not educated in Law Enforcement. They may not have been brain-washed in a philosophy class, but they have all the tools they need to be good officers and succeed.

[pet10591]

on 3/4/2009 I find it particularly disturbing that becoming a police officer requires no degree. It just points out the fact that most people who seek law enforcement positions are under qualified and have no right to be "policing" a public that is more aware than they are. It would be interesting to see if a higher education would contribute to more tolerant, less racially prejudiced, and more productive police department. It is a common occurrence now and throughout history that people in power abuse that power, why should these people not have a greater world knowledge and concept of ideas beyond themselves?

[pet10591]

on 3/4/2009 I find it particularly disturbing that becoming a police officer requires no degree. It just points out the fact that most people who seek law enforcement positions are under qualified and have no right to be "policing" a public that is more aware than they are. It would be interesting to see if a higher education would contribute to more tolerant, less racially prejudiced, and more productive police department. It is a common occurrence now and throughout history that people in power abuse that power, why should these people not have a greater world knowledge and concept of ideas beyond themselves?