When looking for a police officer school, it helps to plan far in advance and get as many catalogs as possible on a wide variety of schools. In the recent past, people interested in becoming a police officer often had to relocate if there were no good criminal justice schools nearby. Now that we have the Internet, you can often study in the comfort of home on your own schedule. Online, or distance-learning, career colleges or centers, such as University of Phoenix, are probably best suited for academic classroom courses such as psychology, sociology, English, and related courses.
There are three main types of training for future police officers:
Most law enforcement agencies require a basic high school education or its equivalent; an Associate or Bachelor degree in criminal justice or related discipline is now recommended. It’s recommended that you research criminal justice programs and the courses required as well as the credentials of the instructors. Most criminal justice schools offer courses in human behavior, legal issues, computer technology for law enforcement and more. Many academic programs can be completed online which is nice if you’re already working or taking classes elsewhere.
There is a wide range of curriculum as well as tuition prices. Some police officer schools offer tuition assistance in the forms of grants, loans and scholarships. As a rule, most community colleges charge less (usually between $80 – 130 per semester hour or quarter.) Whatever you choose, be sure it’s fully accredited by your state’s accrediting agency of higher education. Your police department personnel may have recommendations or preferences, so it’s a good idea to ask before spending the money and time enrolling.
What to avoid? Unaccredited schools, of course, should be crossed off your list as well as the criminal justice schools that emphasize police officers’ pay over the job’s realities. One online ad (which will remain unnamed) screams that that ‘the average police officer makes $74,000 a year’ While some departments do pay that well many do not, at least not for new hires. If you’re just in it for the money, you’ll ‘wash out’ of training fast, if you even get that far. Police work is a life style, not just a well-paying job (and new recruits find that out very quickly at police training academy!)
Also avoid schools that run ads that portray police work as glamorous and exciting. While there will be plenty of ‘excitement’ from time to time there will also be downtime that are plain boring or routine. And as for ‘glamorous’ – well, there’s nothing glamorous about having a drunk throw up in your squad car – or on you.
One good example of a comprehensive criminal justice program at the community college level is the one offered by the College of DuPage in Illinois. The school offers a variety of educational options from a Certificate in Criminal Justice to an A.A. transferable degree toward a Bachelor degree at a four-year institution. They also offer distance-learning for many of the courses.
Law enforcement officers need to keep up with the latest developments in their field so continuing education is another must. Most departments arrange to send their personnel to selected criminal justice schools for specialized training unavailable on the job, such as forensics technology or other sub-specialties.
There are three main types of training for future police officers:
- Your educational preparation prior to applying for police or law enforcement work (high school, GED, college)
- Law enforcement training given to new recruits hired by local departments
- Continuing education for law enforcement personnel.
Most law enforcement agencies require a basic high school education or its equivalent; an Associate or Bachelor degree in criminal justice or related discipline is now recommended. It’s recommended that you research criminal justice programs and the courses required as well as the credentials of the instructors. Most criminal justice schools offer courses in human behavior, legal issues, computer technology for law enforcement and more. Many academic programs can be completed online which is nice if you’re already working or taking classes elsewhere.
There is a wide range of curriculum as well as tuition prices. Some police officer schools offer tuition assistance in the forms of grants, loans and scholarships. As a rule, most community colleges charge less (usually between $80 – 130 per semester hour or quarter.) Whatever you choose, be sure it’s fully accredited by your state’s accrediting agency of higher education. Your police department personnel may have recommendations or preferences, so it’s a good idea to ask before spending the money and time enrolling.
What to avoid? Unaccredited schools, of course, should be crossed off your list as well as the criminal justice schools that emphasize police officers’ pay over the job’s realities. One online ad (which will remain unnamed) screams that that ‘the average police officer makes $74,000 a year’ While some departments do pay that well many do not, at least not for new hires. If you’re just in it for the money, you’ll ‘wash out’ of training fast, if you even get that far. Police work is a life style, not just a well-paying job (and new recruits find that out very quickly at police training academy!)
Also avoid schools that run ads that portray police work as glamorous and exciting. While there will be plenty of ‘excitement’ from time to time there will also be downtime that are plain boring or routine. And as for ‘glamorous’ – well, there’s nothing glamorous about having a drunk throw up in your squad car – or on you.
One good example of a comprehensive criminal justice program at the community college level is the one offered by the College of DuPage in Illinois. The school offers a variety of educational options from a Certificate in Criminal Justice to an A.A. transferable degree toward a Bachelor degree at a four-year institution. They also offer distance-learning for many of the courses.
Law enforcement officers need to keep up with the latest developments in their field so continuing education is another must. Most departments arrange to send their personnel to selected criminal justice schools for specialized training unavailable on the job, such as forensics technology or other sub-specialties.