What Will I Learn In A Police Officer Degree Program
While we cant speak for every program in Canada, Lauriers policing degree students can expect to learn the following:
- How to recognize and deal with trauma. Youll be able to identify the signs of trauma in yourself, your colleagues, and the community. You will also learn how to process and react to trauma
- Criminological and psychological theories. Youll learn to apply the foundations of good police and detective work
- The major debates in policing and justice today. Understanding different perspectives on these issues will help you become a better police officer
- Leadership, critical thinking, research, and conflict resolution skills and
- How to understand and appreciate the justice system of Canadas Indigenous people, and what your role as a law enforcement officer in their communities entails.
Meet Other Job Qualifications
Many local and state law enforcement agencies are flexible about a degree provided the applicant meets all other minimal requirements for hire. Typically, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, 21 years old and in top notch physical, mental and medical health. You may be required to pass oral interviews, psychological tests, drug tests, a polygraph and a background check. Reasons for disqualification can include drug use, felony convictions and repeated driving violations. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and make sure you are fit and capable of doing the job before applying to be a police officer.
How To Become A Police Officer
A career in the police force offers a healthy salary and plenty of opportunity for progression, but, equally, it regularly demands anti-social hours and is a potentially stressful profession.
As the Institute For Apprenticeships says:
‘Being a police constable * is a physically and intellectually demanding occupation, requiring high levels of emotional intelligence, strong behavioural interpretation skills , and an ability to analyse and resolve rapidly evolving events.
‘Police constables have a unique employment status, as every police constable is a warranted officer, making autonomous lawful decisions including taking away an individuals liberty if required.
‘Police constables exercise wide-ranging powers to maintain the peace and uphold the law across complex and diverse communities. They must justify and personally account for their actions through differing legal frameworks including courts, while also under the close scrutiny of the public’.
* ‘Police constable’ refers to a rank that virtually all police officers will start as. ‘Police officer’ refers to all ranks from police constable to chief constable of a county constabulary. With there being such a wide range of roles within the policing profession, there’s plenty of scope for career progression.
Skip ahead:
What does a police officer do?
As a police officer you’ll carry out a wide range of tasks, such as:
Find out more in our Police Officer job profile.
How to become a police officer
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Lauriers Online Bachelor Of Criminology And Policing Degree
Our online Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Policing prepares you for a career in criminology and justice. Focusing on practical techniques and real-world experience, it delivers an engaging curriculum designed to improve your critical thinking and analytical skills. The fully online and asynchronous criminology courses provide you with a broader view of public safety through a combined focus on criminology and policing. This degree can help enhance the career and earning potential of an individual who wants to pursue a career in criminology and policing.
Now is the time to kick-start your career as a police officer in Toronto. Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Policing or Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Policing today:
- for details on curriculum, tuition and more
What Are The Requirements To Become A Police Officer
The basic requirements to become a police officer include a high school diploma or GED, a college degree or diploma, and completion of training at the police academy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you must be at least 21 years old to become a police officer. You must pass both the physical and written exam.
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Benefits Of Earning A Policing Degree
While a policing degree is not required to become a law enforcement official, a policing degree from Laurier helps enhance the career and earning potential of an individual who wants to pursue a career in this field.
Graduates with a bachelors degree in policing will have an advantage when pursuing leadership positions and promotions. In addition to becoming a police officer, some of the top job opportunities for graduates include emergency management specialist, crime analyst and security director.
Additionally, the earning potential is higher for graduates with an online degree in policing. Higher education can translate into higher wages than a high school or college diploma alone. Earning a bachelor’s degree can earn you over 30 percent higher earnings than high school graduates.
In terms of salaries in Canada, a police officer earns an average of $93,000 per year. The average security director salary in Canada is $99,000. And a detective sergeant can earn in excess of $121,000 annually.
Apply To Become A Police Officer
Working as a police officer is a popular job, so it makes sense that each job opening has more than a few applicants. In fact, in some areas of the country, becoming a police officer can be a highly competitive process, with hundreds of qualified applicants vying for only a handful of positions. Given this, its very important to learn how to stand out from the pack of hopefuls and get the attention of those who call the shots when hiring time rolls around. The following resources can help you with everything from cleaning up your resume to understanding how to interview for the job you really want.
Step 7
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Certificate In Law Enforcement
A certificate in criminal justice or criminology is an opportunity for individuals to gain specific instruction in an area of law enforcement. Since a certificate consists of a few classes and can be completed in a few months, the certificate can also provide an opportunity to get started on an associate degree without having to commit to the two years just yet. Certificates are also great in that some department require applicants to have some college credits, but do not require a full degree. Some of the courses available in a criminology or criminal justice certificate program are listed below:
Criminology
How Do You Become A Police Officer In Ontario
Requirements to Become a Police Officer in Ontario
Furthermore, how long is the police academy in Ontario?
Upon completion of the orientation, cadets-in-training pursue a 12-week session in Aylmer, Ontario at the Ontario Police college, followed by 9 weeks’ training at the Toronto Police College.
Likewise, how long does it take to become a police officer in Canada? Aspiring police officers need to be of at least 18-21 years of age to apply for the post of a police officer. They also need to have a minimum of 2 years of college education. Thus, a diploma or an associate’s degree is mandatory.
Likewise, people ask, how much do police officers make in Ontario?
The average salary for a Police Officer is $72,190 per year in Ontario, which is 13% above the national average.
How long do you have to be drug free to be a police officer?
In most of the cases the requirement is that the candidate has not had any drug use for the past two or three years and in most departments any prior drug abuse may be a disqualifier. Some departments do not disqualify applicants for some experimental use.
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Emphasize Related Work Experience
Explaining how your work history has prepared you for police work is very important. Talking about your military service can give you an edge over civilians who are applying. Employers value the skills that veterans bring to the police force such as mental strength, sense of duty and unwavering courage. Other directly related experiences include full-time or volunteer fire fighting, driving an armored car, sleuthing as a private detective or working as a security guard. If you are at least 20 years old, consider volunteering for the police reserves, in which you will receive introductory law enforcement training. Joining the army reserves is an excellent way of acquiring skills and standing-out in the application process.
The Application Process For Police Officer Candidates
It isnt easy becoming a police officer. Potential candidates need to go through a stringent application process designed to weed out those who dont have what it takes to become outstanding police officers.
Police officers help maintain peace and order and ensure that members of the community stay safe. This job comes with immense responsibility. The application process itself is not for everyone.
Canadian police agencies generally follow the same process which involves a series of tests, checks and interviews, including:
- A written exam
- A polygraph exam
- A background investigation
Some of these tests require detailed paperwork but minimal preparation. For some tests, like the physical tests, you would be best prepared if you did a fitness training program, prior to, depending on your fitness level. Other tests, like the polygraph exam, require no preparation at all.
Applicants can be declined at any point in the stages listed above and even if a candidate passes every stage, an offer of employment is not guaranteed.
Once you have completed all assessments, your entire application package is reviewed and measured against other applicants to determine the most suitable candidates for the role as a police officer.
If you are recruited, you can expect a conditional offer of employment that allows you to advance to the final step before you become a police officer: cadet training.
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Job Outlook For Ontario Police Officers
The labour market conditions for police officer jobs are currently Average. This indicates that these jobs are not difficult to find nor are they necessarily in abundance. Salaries have increased at a slower rate compared to jobs rated as Above average, but faster than those rated as Below average.
According to the Job Bank, employment growth and retirement will lead to a moderate number of new positions. In other words, the balanced labour market from 2016 – 2018 means there have been as many jobs available as there have been job seekers.
Pass The Post Exam & Become A Police Officer
In order to work as a police officer, aspiring applicants must pass the Peace Officer Standards and Training or Police Officer Standards and Training exam. Commonly known as the POST exam, this is required for each state except Hawaii . Each state has subtle differences in their testing procedure, requirements, and the test itself, so its important to do in-depth research on the test your particular state requires.
Examsfor police officers include not only the POST written examination which includes an evaluation of grammar, reading comprehension, andwriting but other points as well, such as physical agility,medical health, psychological fitness, background review, and an oralinterview. Some states might add other requirements, such as apolygraph test. Once these tests are satisfactorily passed, graduatesare ready to work as police officers. The procedure it takes to getfrom passing the tests to wearing the badge depends on the state andin some cases, the department itself.
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Police Officer Salaries Across The Us
Salaries of police officers are based on many factors, including experience, skills and training. However, one of the most important factors is based on geography. Certain areas of the country pay more, but are often in areas that have higher costs of living. For more information about what police officers can make and where they can make it, check out the map below.
Is A Cop A Good Job
In addition to a stable and attractive paycheck, police officers can look forward to health insurance, retirement packages and other benefits that many large private corporations dont usually provide their employees. A career in law enforcement can also provide quite a bit of upward mobility and career advancement.
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What Should Police Officers Study In College
As long as you receive a degree from an accredited institution, you are eligible to receive an educational bonus. You could have studied agronomy, sociology, or even underwater basket-weaving and still be eligible to receive higher pay and better promotional opportunities.
Liberal arts degrees such as those in philosophy or the social sciences can teach students how to think critically about all sides of an issue. These courses tend to be heavy on essays and discussions, which may create officers who are good at writing grants and interacting with the public. An educational background in sociology or criminology will also give you more insight into the roots of criminal activity and deviant behavior.
STEM degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are almost always valuable for the labor force. These degrees could be directly applicable to police work in areas such as forensic work and crash investigation and may help advance your career by opening up promotional opportunities or jobs in federal law enforcement.
Computer-related skills such as IT or programming are valuable because new technology is always entering the police force. Facilitating the adaptation process will save time and taxpayer dollars while creating a more effective department.
What Do Related Occupations Make
If youre interested in how to become a police officer, you might also be interested in related professions. Working as a correctional officer, EMT or paramedic, firefighter, probation officer, security guard, gaming surveillance officer, game warden or firefighter might be on your radar. If thats the case, you can peruse the list of related occupations below, which includes average salaries:
What you earn depends on where you live, including the region, state or city. To help determine what you can expect to make in your particular area, our handy salary comparison tool can help.
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General Police Program Requirements
Ontario college police programs require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, with a grade 12 English credit. Additional requirements will vary by institution.
Along with academic requirements, physical and mental competency testing, First Aid training and a Police Record Check could all be required. Volunteer experience in the community will be seen as an asset.
Overview Of Police Education Requirements
The most recent data available indicates that over 80% of police departments in the US require at least a high school diploma or GED, while only 1% of police departments require a four-year degree.1 The remaining 19% of departments require varying amounts of college credit, up to an associates degree .1 About half of police agencies that require college credit will accept military experience in place of the usual college requirements.1 In general, larger police departments tend to require a degree more often than smaller departments.1
At the same time, while it is not a strict entry-level requirement in all departments, the number of officers who have a college degree is rising estimates suggest that 30% to 50% of US police have a four-year bachelors degreecompared to 33% of US adults overall.1 This indicates that investing in four years of college to be a police officer is not uncommon. An estimated 66% of police chiefs and sheriffs have at least a bachelors degree, and 33% of these have a masters or law degree.1 Aside from agency hiring requirements, suggested reasons for these statistics include:1
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Are You Already A Police Officer
If you are a working or retired police officer, Lauriers Honours Bachelor in Policing degree is just for you. Designed for those with at least a year of full-time professional work as a police officer, this program is a great fit for those with experience seeking to elevate their career and understanding.
Depending on your prior education and professional experience, you may be eligible to transfer up to 10 of the 20 total credits mandated for the program’s completion. Connect with an enrolment advisor or to learn more.
While police organizations provide new recruits with basic constable training, obtaining a policing degree provides the necessary skills to evaluate and apply different perspectives to better operate in a society that often scrutinizes and challenges police actions. You’ll combine the real-world skills and experience you have acquired in the service with a broader understanding of justice, investigative technique, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving that will help you better serve citizens. Earning a degree later in your career expands your options for new higher-paid roles after retiring from the service.
What Training Do You Need To Become A Police Officer Essay
Police officers need good legal knowledge. Recruits must receive training in criminal and civil law. As part of the legal training blocks, the recruits are introduced to criminal procedure legislation and the taking of evidence. The training should also cover dealing with incidents involving minors, as well as mental illness and domestic violence.
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How Long Is Police Training
The police ensure that young officers are persistent in carrying out their duties on a tight schedule. The duration of the police training is six months, during which you receive physical and intellectual training. Acronym LEO – What does LEO mean in law enforcement?
Detective salaryWhat is the starting salary for a detective? Detectives earn an average of $83,170 per year. Salaries generally start at $44,860 and go up to $139,180. 29% above the national average. Updated in 2019.How much money does a detective earn?In March 2021, the median monthly salary for a US detective was $3,288 per month. While ZipRecruiter sees monthly salaries ranging from $6,417 to $917, salaries f