How long does it take to become a Police Officer?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a police officer. That is the time it takes to learn specific police officer skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become a police officer.

There are certain skills that you need to obtain in order to become a successful police officer. Some of the most common skills are listed below. Along with each skill, we provide an actual example of how someone included the skill on their resume:

1. Police Department -- Completed Pentagon Police Department Academy, focused on advanced protective techniques, extensive physical training, and classroom instruction.

2. Federal Laws -- Conducted investigations, surveillance activities and execute arrest warrants on individuals who violate criminal, civil and federal laws.

3. Public Safety -- Earned two District Commendations for reducing armed robberies and improving public safety initiatives in high-crime target areas within the appropriate jurisdiction.

4. Law Enforcement -- Performed law enforcement duties ranging from traffic enforcement, fingerprinting, investigations, narcotic trafficking and specialized enforcement in Tactical Unit.

5. Emergency -- Prepare various routine reports regarding accidents, suspicious activity, emergency incidents, and unusual events related to airport operations.

Common Educational Background For A Police Officer

The education needed to be a Police Officer is normally a Bachelor's Degree. Police Officers usually study Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement or Business. 49.0% of Police Officers hold a Bachelor's Degree and 26.0% hold a Associate Degree. We found these by analyzing 56794 Police Officer resumes to investigate the topic of Police Officer education more precisely.

The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a Police Officer are University of Phoenix and American University. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for a Police Officer. Students have a great path to earning their Police Officer qualifications at the following schools:

1. Pennsylvania State University
2. Michigan State University
3. California State University - Bakersfield

If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for Police Officers - California State University - Bakersfield is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at Nyack College, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the Northeastern University, Syracuse University and University of Maryland - College Park.

For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in Police Officer education paths.

Common Certifications For A Police Officer

The Communications Training Officer (CTO) certification is most common among Police Officers. This certification is awarded by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials Institute, Inc.. To become a certified Police Officer with Communications Training Officer (CTO), You need to pass the exam. Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience. Renew certification every 2 year.