How To Become A Police Officer

Being a police officer is not like any other job. Entering the police force, therefore, has many requirements that go above and beyond education. If you are thinking about becoming a police officer, you should be aware that it demands responsibility. This is why its requirements are so diverse. It is more like a lifestyle and you need to be ready to respond to situations around the clock.

Requirements

Physical

All prospective cops need to pass the physical agility test. They have to be physically fit, and should not have any medical conditions, which could interfere with their duties as police officers. Meeting hearing and vision standards are also requirements to become a police officer. Age is another factor. In some states, the individual needs to be at least 19 years old before they can apply to become a cop. Check with your local police department to find out the minimum age in your area.

Psychological

Being a cop could be stressful where you will need to respond to life threatening situations. This is why all individuals who want to become police officers need to undergo rigorous psychological tests. These may include written and/or oral tests. Since the police are responsible for upholding the law, applicants are screened for their ethical behavior, and how they respond to situations, which may make them angry or fearful. They are also required to show that they can stay calm and focused during stressful situations.

Citizenship and Residency

Most states may require their police officers to be US citizens or legal residents.

Educational Requirements

The minimum educational qualification required for becoming a cop is a high school diploma. Equivalent qualifications like GED may also suffice. However, each police department has different requirements. This is why it is always a good idea to get in touch with the department you are interested in working for. Individuals interested in becoming police officers are however encouraged to pursue some postsecondary level education to improve their career prospects. Courses in criminal justice, sociology, and psychology could be particularly useful.

These courses could also be taken online.  This allows online students to keep their full-time jobs and study at the same time. Online classes can be scheduled to fit within a student's busy schedule. Students may log in to study at a time or place that is convenient for them.

Some departments, such as the New York Police Department (NYPD), require the applicant to have completed at least sixty college credit hours, or two years of full-time military service, or be a graduate of a police training academy. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is normally acceptable. These requirements, however, may vary from department to department.

The applicant may be asked to take a civil service examination, also called police officer examination. Once the exam is successfully cleared, applicants are required to undergo:

· Physical agility test

· Medical physical test

· Drug/alcohol screening

· Written, psychological and oral exam

· Character and background examination

Applicants may further need to hold a valid driver's license. After clearing all tests, prospective cops have to undergo police training at a police academy. This training is about teaching police procedures and policy, self-defense, using firearms, and first aid.

Training

The training period may last for six months to a year. Along with physical exercises, trainees will also be introduced to civil rights, local ordinances, constitutional law, state laws and police ethics.

Upon completion, graduates may be put on probation for a year and then officially made part of the police force.

Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for police officers was $56,980 in 2012.