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What is the best path to become a police officer? #spring26

How much college and training should I try to do before I start testing to become one? Is policing a good career path?
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career-path spring26 criminal-justice law-enforcement police
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Isida’s Answer

Hello Brennen,
Your inquiry has gone through my weekly mail. It’s completely normal to feel uncertain about your future—most professionals didn’t have it all figured out at your age. Start by exploring what excites you, whether it’s solving problems, helping people, or creating something new. Every small step you take can guide you towards your final goal. My suggestion would be shallow like the song of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper ;-) because my expertise is in Finance. Here in the Western Balkans, just like in any other country, entering law enforcement needs to be graduated. Some follow the police academy, and some others go to university to study law in a more in-depth theoretical aspect - everything starts at the age of 18+.
Don’t wait until you graduate to start learning. Free online courses, volunteering, or even small side projects can give you valuable experience. Regarding the career path, it is a difficult job, and sometimes it is not rewarded as it should be in monetary value. Each challenge teaches you something about yourself and the world of work. The most successful people you admire have faced setbacks, too; what made them stand out was persistence and the ability to learn from each experience. Hope it helps! Good luck.
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Mike’s Answer

Hi Brennen. The amount of schooling you need to become a police officer varies between different departments. Usually you'll need anywhere from 30-60 college credits, sometimes as little as none. My advice would be to at least work towards a 2-year degree in a major like criminal justice, or police science. Yes, the pay and benefits are often very helpful and you'll find that if you retire from a police department you will receive a livable, monthly paycheck for the rest of your life. These benefits and salaries will of course vary between different departments. The main positives I took away from being a police officer was learning about different cultures, and communities. I also learned a lot about myself by realizing that there's so much more I was capable of than I thought...simple things, like public speaking. Being a police officer makes you leave your comfort zone. I left the field a different person, but definitely more well-rounded - with better confidence in myself, and with more compassion for people. Best of luck!

Mike recommends the following next steps:

Yorkville, IL Police Department Hiring Requirements - https://www.yorkville.il.us/794/Police-Officer-Recruitment-Testing-Promo
Yorkville, IL Police Department Student Program - https://www.yorkville.il.us/785/College-High-School-Internship-Program
Waubonsee CC Criminal Justice - https://www.waubonsee.edu/programs-courses/programs-subject/public-and-human-services/criminal-justice
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