Joining The Police

The police force offers a wide variety of rewarding careers for uniformed police officers, detectives, community support officers and police staff. These roles offer countless opportunities for a meaningful career and the chance to give something back to your community and to keep it safe. However, in order to ensure that only the most qualified applicants join the force, the application process can be quite difficult. To become a police officer you must meet certain standards regarding your character and physical fitness. Requirements differ between the states so be sure to contact your own state's Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) agency to check your state’s requirements before applying.

Beginning Requirements

To be considered for the police force you must be at least 18 years old, though most states require applicants to be at least 20 years of age to join. In Seattle, for example, the minimum age to join the force is 20.5 years (twenty years and six months). A high school degree, or a GED, is also almost universally required. Another requirement generally in place is that any applicants be U.S. citizens at the time they apply; it should be noted that naturalized citizenship is acceptable.

Physical Requirements

Police officers, or potential police officers, need to be in good physical shape since physical activity is such a large part of law enforcement. Out of shape officers may not be able to perform as well as fit officers when pursuing suspects or doing any of the myriad of physical work that police officers must carry out on a daily basis. Therefore, officers need to pass an intense physical examination before they can start work. The standards of the physical test vary from state to state.

Psychological Requirements

In addition to physical tests applicants must also face a psychological evaluation which looks for severe mental illnesses as well as personality disorders or emotional disturbances which may affect the applicant’s ability to enforce the law. The danger and tense situations that police officers face every day makes it imperative that they posses a stable mental process so as to remain calm and steady when dealing with their work.  

Intelligence Requirements

Applicants are also required to pass a basic reading, writing and math skills test, like the SATs. This test checks basic spelling, reading, writing and math skills, all of which police officers use in the course of their work days. This is not an IQ test, merely a tool which enables police departments to ensure that applicants have the basic abilities they need to do the job they have applied for.

Background Check

Potential police officers must also undergo a background check. Often, only applicants with a clean criminal history will be considered to join the police force. Felony or misdemeanor convictions may be considered an automatic disqualification or they may force you to reapply after a wait of one to four years, depending on the charge.

More information about joining the police force can be found at your local police department's website, which may even maintain an online job board with more information about specific openings.