Police Officer: An Overview of Police Academy Training
Police academy training prepares newly hired recruits to become police officers. Training academies are either located within a police department or at community colleges. Students participate in classroom instruction and field training.
Police Academy Overview
Police academy training prepares individuals to seek roles as police officers. Each police academy sets its own requirements for enrollment and graduation, though some similarities exist. Training is often paid, and some programs provide tuition reimbursement.
Enrollment Requirements
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that police academy applicants usually need a high school diploma or its equivalent (www.bls.gov). In some cases, at least some college coursework or a degree is necessary. Additional qualifications may include a valid driver's license, a clean criminal record and a physical fitness report from a doctor. Some academies also require completion of a hearing test and a psychological evaluation.
Education
Students can begin preparing for the police academy while in high school. Electives such as criminology, legal studies, physical education, sociology and psychology are helpful for aspiring police officers. In addition, police academy admissions officers may look for applicants who have completed college coursework in criminal justice or law enforcement. Some academies prefer candidates who hold an associate's or bachelor's degree in one of those fields.
An associate's degree program in law enforcement covers community policing, racial relations, sociology, legal issues, criminal investigations and psychology. Some law enforcement associate's degree programs are integrated into police academy programs.
A bachelor's degree in criminal justice, police science or a related discipline can also prepare students for careers as police officers. Common topics include the criminal justice system, criminology, emergency planning, crime prevention, crisis communications and U.S. government.
Program Requirements
After gaining acceptance into the police academy, recruits participate in classroom and practical instruction. They learn state laws, criminal investigations, patrol procedures, firearms training, traffic control, defensive driving, self-defense, first aid and computer skills. Police academy recruits also undertake physical training and fieldwork that demonstrates their comprehension of classroom instruction. Field exercises include investigating mock criminal scenes, directing traffic, operating police vehicles, arrest techniques, using firearms, fingerprinting and interrogation methods. Police academy training usually takes 22-27 weeks to complete.
Related to Police Officer: An Overview of Police Academy Training
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
How to Become a Community Police Officer: Education and Career Roadmap
Find out how to become a community police officer. Research the education requirements and learn about the experience...
Transit Police Officer: Career Information and Requirements for Becoming a Transit Police Officer
Do you think a career in law enforcement is outside your reach? Think again. With the right training, a fulfilling and...
Online Police Officer Certification Overview
No specific police officer certificate programs are available online; however, students can apply to online...
Auxiliary Police Officer: Job Description, Duties and Requirements
Auxiliary police officers assist local police departments in maintaining order and protecting the safety of a...
Certified Police Officer: Job Description, Duties and Requirements
- Become a State Police Officer: Education and Career Roadmap
- Officer of the Law: Introduction to a Career As a Sheriff or Police Officer
- Become a Military Police Officer: Education and Career Roadmap
- Study Shows Effects of Recession on Students' Financial Behavior
- Top School for a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems Degree - Philadelphia, PA
- Top University with Accounting and Finance Majors - Arlington, VA
- List of Free Online Human Resources (HR) Courses and Classes
28 Popular Schools
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arkansas (2 campuses)
- Arizona (6)
- California (26)
- Colorado (3)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (5)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (1)
- Illinois (2)
- Indiana (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (3)
- Mississippi (1)
- New Mexico (2)
- Nevada (2)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- Tennessee (3)
- Texas (9)
- Utah (3)
- Virginia (3)
- Washington (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
- Associate
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
- Associate
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MBA - Law Enforcement & Corrections
-
-
Bachelor
-
- BS in Criminal Justice
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 22 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Georgia (1 campus)
- Texas (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Doctorate
- Master
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applications from Texas residents
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MBA Dual Concentration: Healthcare Management and Public Safety Leadership
- MBA Dual Concentration: Human Resources and Public Safety Leadership
-
- MBA Dual Concentration: Project Management and Public Safety Leadership
-
- Bachelor
-
Associate
-
- AS in Criminal Justice
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MS in Justice Studies: Cybersecurity Concentration
- MBA Certificate in Terrorism & Homeland Security
- Bachelor
