Can I go to college to become a police officer instead of the Police Academy?
You will have to complete a police academy to be a police officer. You should also complete college first. College is becoming more and more important for police careers. If you get hired with a large department such as a state police department, you will not have to pay. Qualifications vary depending on the department. Below are the minumum requirements for the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. Be a US citizen at the time of application. Be 21 years of age. Possess at least 20/100 vision, correctable to 20/30 in both eyes. Pass a written test. Pass a medical examination, including a drug-screening test, and being of proportionate height and weight as measured by percentage of body fat. Pass a psychological examination. Possess a high moral character for carrying out law enforcement duties. Possess a valid driver’s license at the time of application. Have one of the following: – Successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of college credit — essentially
