Law Enforcement Job Preparation: All You Need to Know

  

Working in law enforcement is one of the most rewarding careers out there. But there are also some baseline requirements; generally speaking, you need to have a clean background, must be physically fit, and have to go through relevant schooling and training.


It’s becoming challenging for the country’s law enforcement agencies to recruit and retain good officers. However, there certainly isn’t a shortage of well-intentioned people looking to become officers.

In this piece, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about preparation for a job in law enforcement.

Taking Care of the Little Details

Before you begin filling out a job application for a job in law enforcement, see if you meet all the minimal requirements. You need to be a US citizen to be accepted in a law enforcement agency. Make sure your driver’s license is in perfect order as well.

Note that while some departments accept candidates who are as young as 18 years old, others require candidates to be at least 21 years old.

Prepare Yourself for the Background Check

It’s important to properly evaluate all past behavior and associations before you consider applying. When it comes to police officers, background checks can be particularly thorough. They typically include past work history, criminal history (detected and undetected), a polygraph test, and psychological evaluations.

 

Physical Fitness

Police officers are stereotypically depicted as overweight, but even if a police department doesn’t particularly enforce strict fitness standards after candidates are hired, there will almost certainly be fitness and weight standards during the hiring process.

Generally speaking, police departments use one of two types of physical tests: a physical fitness assessment or a physical abilities test. Preparing for both means you’ll have to exercise to build bodily strength and improve your cardiovascular abilities.

Educational Requirements

In the US, most law enforcement agencies accept candidates with high school diplomas or GEDs. However, for some, it is mandatory to have a college degree. Even if a college degree isn’t a requirement, there are some departments that tend to favor candidates with some level of post-secondary education.

Candidates must also undergo specialized training at a police academy. They will also need to pass an entrance exam. Most law police departments administer one of these three exams: Law Enforcement Examination, Compass, Asset. Make sure to find out which one you will be taking at the department, so you can prepare accordingly.

 

Prepare for the Suffolk County Police test with the experts at Civil Service Success.

Civil Service Success has successfully been preparing candidates for the Suffolk County Police exams since the 1960s. Visit their website for more information or call 631-218-0889.

 

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