What level of education does your state require?

[jmur5074]

What type of schooling, college, education, academy, or training does your state require before you can be sworn in, certified, or licensed in your state as a LEO?

[Cidp24]

In Mississippi you must have HS or GED and you can work up to a year without academy. I'm not sure if it's dept policy or state law but you have to work under the direct supervision of an FTO for that year.

[keith720]

In Wisconsin you are required to have at least 60 college credits for certification.

[Shoestring]

In Wisconsin you are required to have at least 60 college credits for certification.

But you can be a LEO, finish the academy, etc. while you finish up 60 credits. You have 5 years from date of hire to get your 60. Most place wont look at you unless you have the 60

[keith720]

Thank you for the clarification, Mr. Picky!!!!

[Shoestring]

Thank you for the clarification, Mr. Picky!!!!

Sorry

[bayern]

in SC high school dipl or GED. Thats it. Some Depts have FTO, some don't. sOME small towns throw you to wolves the day you graduate. YER ON YER OWN.

[lewisipso]

High school or GED.

[Second Chance]

High School and or GED.......my department requires you go through the academy or if you P.O.S.T. certified you do not have to go through an academy. All new hires go through our I.T.P., (initial training phase) which is then followed by F.T.O., I.P.T. has shorted since I was hired five years ago, but in all about one year from hire date, then you cut loose.

[Code6]

Colorado requires HS or GED to attend an academy. Some agencies with in the state have there own academies, others rely on the academies put on by the various colleges. Where some agencies then require various levels of education. Some require HS/GED others require 2-4 years of college.

[Jks9199]

Bare minimum in VA is high school/GED to get hired, then, generally, your agency sends you to the academy. There are a couple of academies that you can pay your own way through, though. Some agencies only accept laterals, and some agencies require more education. Off the top of my head, I don't know of any that require a 4 year degree.

(As an aside -- most academy curricula here amount to 45 to 60 credit hours of college; it's usually fairly easy for someone to wrap up an associate's through a nearby community college, if they try.)

[bird1]

Here in Illinois it depends on the agency. ISP requires a 4 year degree while other departments want 2 0r 4 year degree. Here in Chicago they require either a 2 year degree or 4 years of active military service.

[gozling]

oops
i took otj training as the academy
lol

[Xiphos]

Bare minimum you have to have a high school diploma or GED here. That being said you'll need military or college to be competitive.

[Pudge]

High School or GED then academy here. Although alot of colleges are now going with a program where you receive OPOTA certification and an associates degree.

[Coloradocop]

I am honestly not sure what the state POST requirements are in Colorado (probably HS?). At the very minimum, every department I am aware of in this state requires a HS diploma/GED. Many states are requiring some college, a two year degree, and even a four year degree at a few suburban departments.

My department only requires HS/GED, although to achieve promotion above the level of Sgt it has been often suggested that college becomes sort of a "requirement".

The suburb where I live requires all officers to have a 4 year degree, with no exceptions.