Is it your calling in life to serve and protect people? Would you get a thrill out of a job that is varied from day to day? Do you want a career in which you will be indispensable to society? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then it is probably time that you started looking into becoming a police officer. Here are three steps that you can take in order to get you started on the process.
- Make Sure that You Really Want to Become a Cop
- Make Yourself Eligible
- Take the Exam and Complete Training
It is tempting to view the police as those people in the movies that always catch the bad guys and live glamorous and exciting lives. You might find the reality to be somewhat different from this. As a police officer, you will face situations everyday that range from the life-threatening to the run-of-the-mill, such as a speeding ticket. You have to be willing to put in all kinds of hours, as well as the hard work and training that it takes to get qualified. You will also have to be in top physical form and have the ability to make good decisions based on your own common sense and moral code. Attention to detail and good people skills are also imperative if you want to become a police officer.
Before you can start training, you must first make sure that you fulfill all legal and educational requirements. You must be at least 20 years old, a US citizen, have a background free of felonies and serious misdemeanors, and be physically fit and drug-free. You will also need to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. If you want a good chance of becoming a police officer, then you will also need some sort of college education, at least an Associate degree, but if you want to work at a federal level you may need a Bachelors degree.
Once you apply for a position, you will have to complete written, physical and medical tests. If you can pass both of these, you will then start your formal training in an Academy. This includes one week orientation and twelve weeks of intensive training.
Law enforcement is a competitive and difficult field. You cannot simply walk into a position as a police officer, it will require a lot of hard work and dedication. The training will be difficult and the job will be even harder, but it can truly be a job that you will love. If this is the right job for you, then the hard work will be more than worth it. Not everyone is cut out to be a police officer, which makes it all the more important for the select few to pick up the mantle and start their training today.
About the Author: Jan H is a writer for MyCriminalJusticeCareers.com. If you are interested in the list of criminal justice careers , and you want to take a look at forensic psychologist, visit this site. This article was written by a guest author. Would you like to, submit a guest blog post?