What Is Required to Become a Part Time Police Officer?

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A police officer is a law-enforcement worker who upholds the laws and protects the citizens of a town, city, county or state. While most police officers work 40 hours a week, some are hired on a part-time basis, though the requirements to become a part-time officer are largely identical to those for full-time officers.

1 Education

A high school diploma or GED is usually required for part-time employment as a police officer. Some police departments require applicants to have at least one to two years of post-secondary education or even a full four-year bachelor's degree in a field like criminal justice, law enforcement or criminology.

2 Features

Before you can become a part-time police officer, the police department is likely to conduct a criminal background check. Typically, people who were convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor in the past are not eligible for any type of police work.

3 Training

Before becoming a part-time police officer, it is necessary to attend a training program that includes both classroom work and practical lessons, like how to use a gun or detain a suspect.

4 Time Frame

Training at a police academy for a part-time police officer typically takes between 12 and 14 weeks, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. After graduation, some police departments require new officers to work with more seasoned cops for one to two years.

5 Requirements

In some states, all police officers must pass written and physical examinations before being hired as a part-time police officer or before being allowed to work.

Faith Davies has been writing professionally since 1996, contributing to various websites. She holds an LAH insurance license in the state of Pennsylvania and has experience as a bank branch manager and lending officer. Davies graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in art history.

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