Police Officers

Certification or Licensing

There are no certification or licensing requirements for police officers.

Other Requirements

Police job appointments in most large cities and in many smaller cities and towns are governed by local civil service regulations. You will be required to pass written tests designed to measure your intelligence and general aptitude for police work. You will also be required to pass physical examinations, which usually include tests of physical agility, dexterity, and strength. Your personal history, background, and character will undergo careful scrutiny because honesty and law-abiding characteristics are essential traits for law-enforcement officers. Some police departments require applicants to take a polygraph test. Another important requirement is that you have no arrest record or any pending criminal charges. You must be qualified to carry a firearm.

To be a police officer, you must be at least 21 years of age (or older for some departments), and some municipalities stipulate an age limit of not more than 35 years. You must have, in some cases, 20/20 uncorrected vision, good hearing, and weight proportionate to your height. You will also be required to meet locally prescribed weight and height rules for your gender. Most regulations require that you be a U.S. citizen, and many police departments have residency requirements.

Physical fitness training is a mandatory, continuing activity in most police departments, as are routine physical examinations. Police officers can have no physical disabilities that would prevent them from carrying out their duties, such as chasing or physically restraining suspects.