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Police service technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a police service technician. Police service technicians usually study criminal justice, business, or health care administration. 41% of police service technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 30% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 254 real police service technician resumes to see exactly what police service technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for police service technicians are the The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga and the The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga.

There are also many online police service technician courses to help get the education required to be a police service technician.

What education do you need to become a police service technician?

What degree do you need to be a police service technician?

The most common degree for police service technicians is bachelor's degree, with 41% of police service technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 30% and associate degree degree at 18%.
  • Bachelor's, 41%
  • Associate, 30%
  • High School Diploma, 18%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a police service technician?

You should major in criminal justice to become a police service technician. 40% of police service technicians major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a police service technician include business and health care administration.

Most common colleges for police service technicians

Police service technicians often get their degrees at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga, Santa Fe College, and California State University - Bakersfield. Here are the most common colleges for police service technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Police service technician common collegePercentages
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga11.63%
Santa Fe College9.30%
California State University - Bakersfield6.98%
Broward College6.98%
University of Phoenix6.98%

Best majors for police service technicians

Best colleges for police service technicians

The best colleges for police service technicians are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Boston University.

A police service technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for police service technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become police service technicians.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

3. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

5. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

7. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

8. Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,729

Enrollment

6,722

9. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

10. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

20 best online courses for police service technicians

Advertising disclosure

1. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

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The American criminal justice system is in need of reform. We incarcerate too many people. We pay insufficient attention to scientific advances that can help separate out the most and least culpable and dangerous. We grant the police far too much power to use force and technological surveillance. As a way of thinking about dealing with these problems, this course examines two over-arching issues: What should we do with people who have committed crime, and how should we identify who they are? On...

2. Introduction to International Criminal Law

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-- About the Course -- From the Nuremberg trial to the case against Saddam Hussein, from the prosecution of Al-Qaeda terrorists to the trial of Somali pirates – no area of law is as important to world peace and security as international criminal law. Taught by one of the world’s leading experts in the field, this course will educate students about the fundamentals of international criminal law and policy. We will explore the contours of international crimes such as genocide, war crimes,...

3. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course

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Learn Criminal Law and Start your career with certification of Criminal Law and Criminal Psychology, Learn Criminology...

4. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course

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A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...

5. Cloud Computing Law: Data Protection and Cybersecurity

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Vast amounts of personal information are processed in the cloud. But who is legally responsible for such ‘personal data’ in cloud environments? What duties do cloud providers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have? And what rights can you, as an individual, exercise under data protection law? If you’d like to find out, then this course is for you! First, we’ll look at how the European Union’s ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ (‘GDPR’) regulates the processing of personal data in cloud...

6. Cloud Computing Law

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This Specialization is intended for anyone interested in understanding the legal rights and obligations of providers and customers of cloud services. Our three Courses cover the key legal and regulatory issues for cloud services, including cloud contracts, data protection law, law enforcement access, and much more! You will learn to describe cloud providers’ and customers’ legal rights, to identify and assess legal risks, and to suggest possible legal and technological solutions...

7. Start Improving Customer Service

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Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...

8. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

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Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

9. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes

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‘Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes’ is the second course in Leiden University’s new series on International Law in Action. The first course covered international courts and tribunals in The Hague in general. This second course provides an insider perspective into the work of international criminal courts and tribunals. You will learn about the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in The Hague. Atrocities produce unspeakable forms of violence. We will explore...

10. Customer Service Fundamentals

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There are a growing number of exciting, well-paying jobs in today’s tech industry that do not require a traditional college degree, an one of the hottest areas with high demand is in IT customer service and support. Customer Service is a perfect entry point to start your career in IT, with a multitude of job openings ranging from onsite or remote help desk work to customer care or client support. We can help you get there with the Customer Service Fundamentals course. We will help you to build...

11. Customer Service

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How to Approach New Customers and Maintain Existing Ones...

12. Customer Service Basics: Improve your Service now

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The basic golden rules to kickstart your service...

13. Customer Service Foundation

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An introductory course about understanding the foundations of Customer Service...

14. Information Security Basics for IT Support Technicians

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Learn the basics of information security and what you need to know to be compliant with data protection regulations...

15. [2023] Customer Service 2.0: Learn Digital Customer Service

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16. Brilliant Customer Service: How to Impress your Customers!

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17. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

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Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

18. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED

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Personality Disorders, Violence, Sex Offence, Murder, and other types of crime...

19. Practical Aspects of Information System Audit (For Beginner)

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Practical Aspects of Information System Audit (For Beginners)...

20. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

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Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...

Top 10 most affordable universities for police service technicians

The most affordable schools for police service technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for police service technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for police service technicians.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for police service technicians

The hardest universities for police service technicians to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Boston University.

Some great schools for police service technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for police service technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

9. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,354

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for police service technicians

The easiest schools for police service technicians to get into are Bluefield College, gwynedd mercy university, and wayland baptist university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a police service technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for police service technicians.

1. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

2. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

3. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

6. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

7. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

8. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

9. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

10. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

Average police service technician salary by education level

According to our data, police service technicians with a Associate degree earn the highest average salary, at $38,413 annually. Police service technicians with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $37,493.
Police service technician education levelPolice service technician salary
High School Diploma or Less$35,994
Bachelor's Degree$37,493
Some College/ Associate Degree$38,413

Police service technician education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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