A police officer’s education and training works a bit differently than in other careers. This is because much of the training an officer receives is done at the police academy and on the job.
Each different type of police officer has its own special academy – uniformed police, the FBI, and other agencies have their own specialized training program that candidates must go through in order to work in the field.
The Education You'll Need to Become a Police Officer
What this means that that college isn’t always necessary to be a police officer. The general education requirement is a high school diploma, although some programs and departments do require some college classes or – in the upper-level or specialized areas – a full college degree.
However, while college isn’t always necessary, nearly every department and agency prefer that their applicants to have some type of law enforcement schooling after high school. To this end, many colleges and universities have law enforcement or criminal justice programs. These programs teach students about the justice system, the type of work a police officer will do, and techniques that will be used in the field.
It’s also helpful for future police officers to take a number of physical education and self-defense classes. While they'll receive much more training at the police academy, it helps to be in very good shape beforehand. Strength, agility, and stamina are all important aspects of being a police officer.
If you’re looking to work for the FBI, CIA, or other federal agency, it’s also helpful to know a foreign language. Being computer-proficient and having solid writing and communication skills are also necessary to work in today’s police environment. If this is a career path you're interested in pursuing, it might be helpful to check out the agency's website – many offer a more detailed guide to which educational paths are best suited to a career in their field.
Before going to work full-time as a police officer, you’ll go through a training period at what is usually referred to as the police academy. Academy courses usually last three to four months and include learning about local, state, and federal laws, civil rights, investigation techniques, the use of firearms, first aid, and more. Some departments hire high school graduates as cadets who take classes and do clerical work for a few years before moving on to academy training.
To join the FBI and other federal agencies, applicants must have a college degree and several years of work experience. But while degrees in criminal justice are welcome, the FBI regularly recruits agents who majored in engineering, information technology, computer science, accounting, foreign languages, and law school. The FBI academy training program lasts six months and is much more intensive.
Overall, there's no outstanding college or university for police officers to attend, since many different degrees can qualify you for a career in law enforcement. While criminal justice classes are useful, anyone can train to be a police officer as much of the training is done at the academy and on the job. The general requirements for most police officer positions are a bachelor’s degree, a good physique, and the willingness to learn.
