Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
This question is about k9 police officer education.
What degree do you need to be a K9 officer?
You need a minimum of a high school diploma to be a K9 officer. However, most places require an associate if not a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.
While not all departments require it, most K9 officers require a degree in criminal justice, but they are expected to have 200-1,000 hours of formal dog handler training. This training can be obtained from K9 instruction schools or any state-approved association. Two-thirds of K9 officers have either a bachelor's or associate's degree.
The officer must also be able to successfully pass all the background, psychological, and physical exams to enter the police academy. The police academy trains the officer on things that relate to the law, requirements, and expectations of being a police officer.
Having a degree gives a competitive edge for an applicant looking to not only get into the police academy but to further as a K9 officer. It is also helpful in personal advancement for the officer through the state level, as well as to the federal level. It also gives justification for increased salaries along the way.
Choose from 10+ customizable resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
