If you’re considering a career in law enforcement, you’re not alone. Many people feel called to the sense of purpose, the excitement, and the challenge that comes with being a police officer. But how do you actually become a cop—and how can you tell if it’s truly the right path for you?
Maybe you’ve always wondered where officers are going when lights flash and sirens scream. You want to understand what happens behind the yellow crime scene tape. You’re physically fit, committed to serving your community, and ready for something bigger than a 9-to-5 job.
But here’s the truth: becoming a police officer today is one of the most demanding—and rewarding—career paths you can take. The process is rigorous, with extensive training, background checks, and emotional resilience required from day one.
[Ready to take the next step? Download a veteran officer’s list of the 10 questions you must ask yourself before joining the force—fill out the form on this page.]
Before you apply, here’s what you need to know about the challenges, expectations, and mindset it takes to wear the badge.
How old do you have to be to become a police officer?
While specific requirements can vary from state to state and even agency to agency, most departments look for these minimum qualifications in their applicant pools:
- The applicant is a citizen of the United States.
- The applicant is at least 18-years-old (though most departments require cadets to be 21 by the time they graduate the academy).
- The applicant is a high school graduate or has obtained a GED. (Applicants with college degrees, however, “seem to have a leg up on the competition,” says Policing Matters podcast host Jim Dudley. Some departments even require them, especially when it comes to promotions down the line.)
- The applicant has a valid driver’s license.
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How do you become a police officer and how hard is it to become a police officer?
There are some barriers to employment in public safety that do not apply to most ordinary careers. You should be aware that the application, selection and appointment process may take four to six months to complete, and in some circumstances, up to a year.
After a relatively simple initial application process, a promising candidate must successfully complete the following:
1. Take a written test.
2. Pass a physical agility test.
3. Sit for an oral board interview.
4. Pass a background evaluation.
The pre-employment background check will look at a number of things, including criminal record, credit history, military record, current and previous employment history and references.
While there are certain infractions that automatically disqualify candidates, including all felony convictions as well as misdemeanors that prohibit the possession of a firearm, such as those involving domestic violence, agencies may be willing to work with you if you’ve demonstrated a clean record in the years leading up to your application. For example, the city of Durham, North Carolina, will consider applicants with a DUI conviction more than five years prior to application; class A and class B misdemeanors may also be permissible if they likewise occurred more than five years prior.
Dishonorable discharge from the military, however, is another automatic disqualifier, as is a flagrant history of financial irresponsibility as demonstrated through a candidate’s credit report.
Now more than ever, agencies put candidates through a lengthy process of background assessments. The goal is to weed out not just candidates with the above infractions on their records, but also those with more subtle disqualifying characteristics, like the appearance of racial bias.
5. Undergo additional screening after receiving a conditional offer of employment.
Candidates who pass muster then undergo a thorough medical screening, psychological exam, polygraph test and drug screening.
What is the police academy like?
If you get past all that, you then get to go through an exhausting physical and mental challenge known as the police academy. It should be noted that some agencies will require completion of an approved police academy course before applying for open positions, so be sure to check with the specific departments you’re interested in; almost all large agencies, like the NYPD, will require completion of their own in-house program once a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.
And yes, you have to complete a police academy prior to becoming a cop, even if you already have a college degree in a criminal justice-related field. While there is no standardized curriculum for police academies nationwide, you can expect an average of 833 hours of classroom instruction, which will take just shy of five months to complete.
After that, you’ll enter a tough on-the-job training program with a field training officer, after which you can expect to be on probation as a rookie officer for at least a year – in some places, up to two.
How can I prepare myself to be a strong candidate?
In addition to obtaining a college degree, and of course, staying out of trouble, future applicants can help themselves out in various ways. A Policing Matters podcast on the subject offered the following advice.
For starters, says former Police1 Editor-in-Chief Doug Wyllie, “volunteer in your community. Do things where you have responsibility, visible responsibility, and get out there and start cultivating your capability to be a public servant.”
Young people should also consider sports, not only because “healthy cops are good cops, but furthermore, you’re going to learn team building.”
“I’m a big fan of scouting” as well, he said. “It teaches you structure, it teaches you working through a rank system. It teaches you service.”
Youth explorer programs are also great places to start.
And perhaps most importantly, says Wyllie, “talk to cops, talk to police officers, ask them what the job is about.”
How much money will I make as a police officer?
Police salaries vary between locations and governmental agencies, but overall pay is generally average to slightly above average than it is for most jobs in the U.S. Police1 publishes a regularly updated guide to police salaries that explains the ranges in pay between agency types, how overtime and promotions impact salary, and more.
How do you become a police officer in California?
See this Police1 guide for how to become a police officer in California.
How do you become a police officer in New York?
To become a police officer in New York State, you must be a U.S. citizen, and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Most candidates must pass a physical fitness test, background check, psychological evaluation, and complete police academy training. Some departments, like the NYPD, have additional requirements such as a minimum amount of college credits or two years of military service. Get full details from the New York Police Department site and the New York State Police site.
Welcome aboard
We hope you’ll join one of the most challenging careers of all and join us in our mission to protect and serve our communities. By reading this guide, you’re one step closer. Good luck!
This article, originally published March 8, 2016, has been updated.
