How to Become a Police Officer

Becoming a police officer is a meaningful way to impact and serve your community
by enforcing laws that protect life and property. There are many routes to Becoming
a police officer, from on-the-job training and police academies to post-secondary
degrees. Working as an officer can be a lifelong career, or it can be a stepping Stone
to an advanced career in the law enforcement or criminal justice fields. This guide
can help you understand what is expected of police officers, how to chart the
educational paths to reach certain goals, and how to get started on the road that can
lead you to protect and serve.
Step 1
Ensure a Career as a Police Officer is Right for You

As with any job, it’s important to take a hard look at what the position requires to
determine whether the career path is right for you.
Step 2
Get the Right Police Education & Training

To be a police officer you need to have a lot of education and training to grow both
professionally and personally in this field of work.
Step 3
Get Accepted & Paying Your Way

Admission requirements may vary depending on the type of program and what the
institution offers. Another consideration is how to pay for this education and training.
Step 4
Complete Coursework & Field Training

The coursework involved in a program that leads to work as a police officer can vary
depending upon the institution and the degree level.
Step 5
Pass the POST Exam & Become a Police Officer

In order to work as a police officer, aspiring applicants must pass the Peace Officer
Standards and Training or Police Officer Standards and Training exam. 
Step 6
Apply to Become a Police Officer

Working as a police officer is a popular job, so it makes sense for each vacancy to
have more than a few applicants. In fact, in our country, becoming a police officer
can be a highly competitive process.
Step 7
Impress at Your Police Officer Interview

Many hopeful applicants will be offered an interview during the hiring process. This is
an opportunity to get to know you on a personal level.