Should I Apply to Be a Cop?
Before pursuing a career in this field, consider the responsibilities of the job.
Police officers are typically employed by state and local agencies to enforce the law. They enforce traffic safety laws and investigate reports of crime within work jurisdictions. Police officers may also work in jails guarding inmates and may testify in court concerning cases in which they have been involved. Potential personal injury and danger may cause stress for these officers, and public perception of police officers can also be a challenge in some circumstances.
Career Requirements
To get started in this career, high school graduates must complete a police academy training program. Some agencies might also require an associate's degree in criminology or criminal justice.
| Degree Level | A degree is not usually required; some agencies may require some college coursework or an associate's degree |
| Degree Field | Criminal justice, criminology, or related field |
| Key Skills | Strong communication skills; knowledge of federal, state, and local laws; strong empathy; perceptiveness; good judgment and leadership skills; skill with a firearm; strong intuition skills; ability to act within the law at all times |
| Additional Requirements | Candidates must typically be 21 years of age or older, a citizen of the United States, possess a clean driving record, and pass a criminal background check, drug screening, and physical exam, including vision screening |
| Average Salary (2019)* | $63,150 |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Steps to Becoming a Police Officer
- Obtain a GED or high school diploma
- In some cases, obtain an associate's degree
- Apply to become a cop
- Graduate from a police training academy
- Pass physical fitness and drug tests
- Pass a background check
- Work to advance within the force
Follow these steps to becoming a police officer in order to find out how to become a cop.
Step 1: Obtain the Necessary Education
If you're wondering whether you can be a cop with a GED, you should know that a high school diploma or a GED is typically the minimum level of education needed to become a police officer, so the first step in becoming a police officer is to obtain a GED or a diploma. A college degree may appeal to potential employers and may even be required by some law enforcement agencies. Through an associate's or bachelor's degree program in criminology, police science, public administration, social work, or criminal justice, undergraduates can obtain helpful knowledge and skills to apply to a career in law enforcement. Some of these classes may even be available online; students can also pursue undergraduate certificates.
Degree Programs
Many cops do not have university degrees, but in some cases obtaining degrees can be helpful, especially for career advancement. Undergraduate degrees can give prospective police officers a greater breadth of knowledge and a stronger ethical framework in which to build their careers.
Success Tips:
- Build up physical endurance and athleticism: Police officers need to remain in top physical shape due to the demands of the position. Officers sometimes have to actively pursue suspects on foot. Participating in high school or college sports, along with exercising regularly, can build up the necessary endurance and athleticism to become a police officer.
- Take foreign language courses: Police officers regularly need to work with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, including people who don't speak English. In the process of becoming a police officer, obtaining proficiency in a foreign language can help one communicate more efficiently with witnesses or suspects and may help them stand out to potential employers.
Step 2: Apply to Be a Cop
A completed application needs to be submitted to the police department in the applicant's desired work location. After being accepted, applicants are placed into a pool of eligible candidates for future police officer openings. Depending on the hiring situation, applicants might be immediately moved into a training program. Alongside the application, prospective hopefuls must pass tests to become a police officer, including those involved with fitness, drug, and lie detectors; along with a civil service test that ensures that job candidates possess the qualities needed to be a professional in the field.
Becoming a Cop
It is important to remember that becoming a cop is not a career path that will work for everyone. Successful police officers excel in areas of empathy, conflict de-escalation, and care. They have strong understandings of the socio-economic issues facing their communities and are prepared to work with community members to find solutions to grievances. Prospective police officers should also engage in racial sensitivity training and harm reduction training. Building a strong ethical framework and understanding that police officers should always aim to ensure the safety of all community members, including those suspected of or convicted of crimes, is essential.
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Step 3: Graduate from a Police Academy Training Program
To become a police officer, accepted applicants need to complete a rigorous training program. Police academy training generally lasts about 12-14 weeks. Programs combine classroom study with physical training. Coursework covers the law and civil rights as well as proper police protocol and responses. The physical aspects of the training involve learning self-defense techniques and proper firearm usage.
Step 4: Actively Work to Obtain Promotions
After completing the training academy program, graduates can begin work as police officers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with the right experience and training, police officers can choose a specialization like narcotics or juvenile enforcement. Promotions available to police officers include captain, lieutenant, detective, and many others. The BLS also notes that police officers can receive new vocational opportunities at the federal level.
Success Tips:
- Continue education: A variety of continuing education options are available to police officers, and participation in these options may help an officer obtain promotions. Some examples of commonly available continuing education options include courses in specialized areas of the law, conferences, and seminars.
- Network and Display Dedication: For those interested in specializing in a particular field of law enforcement, it would behoove them to become acquainted with the detective or lieutenant in charge of that particular division. In addition, showing dedication, strong work ethic, and finding novel ways to excel and impress can definitively help someone land their dream position.
