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Requirements to become a police officer vary and how you become a police officer varies depending on the department. Visit the websites of the police departments that you might be interested in working for. Police department websites often provide information about their applicant requirements, about how to apply, and about their hiring process. Some relatively common minimum requirements include having at least a high school diploma or ged, being a citizen, being at least 21 years old, having a valid driver's license, and having no felony convictions. Some relatively common steps in hiring processes include application, written test, physical fitness test, interview, drug test, medical examination, and background investigation. As far as education goes, some police departments only require applicants to have at least a high school diploma or ged, some police departments require applicants to have at least a certain amount of college credits (30 or 60 for example) or a 2 year degree, and some police departments require applicants to have at least a 4 year degree. You should get a college degree if you can. Many departments require or prefer applicants to have college. Many applicants have college. Having a degree could help you get hired. Some departments pay their officers more if they have a degree. Having a degree could also help you get promoted during your career. You should choose a major that interests you, that is marketable, and that could useful for police work. There are many majors that are good for police officers and people that want to become police officers. Accounting, communications, computer science, a foreign language, and psychology are some examples. Whatever major you choose, make the most of your time and money. Choose a school that is properly accredited, get the highest grade point average that you can, participate in a couple extracurricular activities, get a good internship, do some regular volunteer work, don't do anything illegal, and maintain a good reputation. Getting police officer jobs is becoming more and more competitive. Do whatever you can to make yourself the best candidate that you can. For example, keep a good driving record, don't get bad credit, improve all of your communication skills as much as possible, and become as physically fit as you can. Best of luck!

There are basically 2 ways of becoming a police officer in the US. What method to use, such as the oft cited “go to a police academy”, depends on the state you wish to become a cop in and the specific department.

Lucky for you Mass uses the simplest. In Mass you must be hired by a department first. They then send you to, at least, a basic police academy. You graduate, take and pass the state certification test and you are a cop working for the department that hired you.

In other states you can “self sponsor”. That means you find a police academy, those states publish a list of approved schools, you apply, pay them, go through a basic academy, pass the state test, get certified and go out trying to find a job. Not until hired by a department are you a cop. Not a choice in Mass or much of the upper Midwest and East coast but in the south and west it is common.

As far as education goes. Most better departments do require between 30-60 semester hours from an accredited college.

None, not one that I can find in my extensive research and experience, cares if your major was in English Lit. or in botany.

I feel that criminal justice is way to limited in scope for a future cop. Cops need wide ranging education and experience to be effective.

When you attend a police academy you get the current criminal justice classes you need to be a cop.

So you have to check the recruitment web sites for some departments you may wish to join to see what their requirements are and when a civil service test will be given. That starts things, more testing down the road and what you need is outlined on the recruitment sites.

Yes-Most of the Police Departments in the course of the US simplest require a High School and in a few circumstances a Two Year AA or AS Degree. Criminal Justice and different levels are well and can supply you a few quality perception and help concerning the legislation enforcement neighborhood. But it's my opinion that having an English Degree could be relatively an potential over different levels. Every town, county, state, and federal legislation enforcement company has there possess certain algorithm, legislation, and methods concerning that certain company and/or jurisdiction. A key detail in any positive legislation enforcement profession is the potential for that man or woman to be capable to converse each orally and in writing. Professional displays and appropriately written correspondence is a key detail in any development in any legislation enforcement profession.

You could start by beating people up in the name of the law

you need to take Law, Criminal and Politics cources.

START EATING DONUTS AND DRINKING LOTS OF COFFEE, DEVELOP A POOR ATTITUDE AND A COLD RUDENESS, BUY A GUN AND START PRETENDING YOUR ROBOCOP.