Becoming a police officer requires passing a civil service exam, meeting age and physical requirements, and completing a training program. A criminal justice degree is helpful but not always required. The excitement of the job lasts throughout a police officer’s career.
Becoming a new police officer is one of the best ways to get started in an exciting career field. There are many requirements when you want to become a police officer, and they vary from area to area, generally depending on the size of the department and where it is located. Smaller departments usually have less stringent requirements than larger departments, such as those in New York or Los Angeles. The requirements for any district, however, should take no more than a few years to complete.
A career as a new police officer usually begins with an education program. Many colleges offer criminal justice degrees. These degrees provide a fantastic foundation for a career in law enforcement, but aren’t required in many departments. Some larger police forces offer tuition assistance for new police offerings who are willing to enroll with them after the completion of their courses.
Contact the police departments in your area that you may be interested in working as a new police officer to find out what their requirements are. Many have age requirements and do not allow police officers under the age of 21 to join the force. Before being hired, you’ll need to take and pass a civil service exam, which is offered regularly in many areas. This test will test your knowledge and understanding of policing and criminal justice.
After passing the civil service test, you may be tested for physical strength, if the police department is interested in you. New police officers must be in top physical condition to do their job well. This well-being also applies to mental and psychological well-being. Before being hired, the department must be confident that it can handle not only the physical demands of the job, but the mental ones as well.
If you are accepted into the police department, you will be sent through a new police officer training program. The police academy can last anywhere from a few months to a year. Upon graduation, you will be welcomed into the police force as a new police officer and given a badge, gun and uniform.
The first days as a new police officer are exciting. During your first few weeks, you’ll learn a lot about the department, including the regulations and guidelines you need to be aware of. Some larger departments have an internal training program that new police officers must go through before being sent on assignments. If you’ll be working with a partner, usually someone more experienced than you, this is when you’ll get to know them. After the first few months, the novelty of being a police officer may begin to wear off, but the day-to-day excitement of working in a career where no two days are the same will last throughout your time in the force.
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