This article provides an overview of police training and lists companies that provide training to the law enforcement industry. Whether you’re interested in becoming a police officer or working in the field, these training courses are great for beginners and continuing education.
Basic Requirements to Become a Police Officer
The job of a police officer is far from easy. It is one of the most physically, psychologically, and emotionally demanding professions. It involves dealing with people from all walks of life in simple, complex circumstances and various environments. This article provides an overview of the training and education required to become a police officer.
Those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement should educate themselves on the demands of such a career. It is wise to understand the education requirements (both previous and continuing) and the types of training required to become a police officer.
General Requirements and Qualifications
The following is an overview of the general requirements. Although requirements will vary from state to state and even from department to department, there is a particular set of essential criteria that every individual must have to be a police officer, such as:
- Must be a citizen of the country
- Must be over 21 years of age (some departments may accept applications for those who are at least 18 years of age)
- Must have a valid driver’s license and have a responsible driving history
- Must be able to provide proof of a High School diploma or an equivalent general education diploma (GED) score or education
- Must not have any prior criminal felony convictions
- Must not have been dishonorably discharged from the military
- Must not have any history of alcohol or drug abuse
- Must meet minimum medical standards
Helpful Tips
If you satisfy the basic requirements, you can pursue a career in law enforcement. If not, it is best to identify another career path. Before applying to a law enforcement agency, there are many things you can do to strengthen your resume to improve the odds of landing a job. Here are some helpful tips.
- Take courses in criminal justice or criminology (to improve your chances, complete a two-year or four-year degree program)
- Study a foreign language (this will help you communicate with a diverse community)
- Take a class in psychology
- Take a class in public relations
- Practice good communication skills, possibly taking a Toastmaster’s course
- Get professional firearms training
The Police Training Academy
Once a law enforcement agency has accepted you, you will be enrolled in a police academy. The course lasts about twelve to twenty months and will include classroom work, learning in simulated environments, and on-the-job training. At the academy, you will be taught the many laws, ordinances, and codes that you will be required to enforce as an officer and undergo specialized physical education.
The physical aspect involves instruction on firearms and weapons, how to operate various vehicles, hand-to-hand combat and defensive tactics, including lethal and non-lethal force, and much more. Some of the additional training sections include:
- Communicating with dispatch and other officers
- Search methods and how to search safely
- Techniques involved in apprehending and arresting a suspect
- How to handcuff suspects
- Self-defense tactics, how and when to use them
- How to properly and legally read Miranda Rights
In addition to attending classroom-style lectures and learning the laws involved in police work, cadets will be trained on the practical and essential methods required as cops.
Firearm Instruction
Cadets will be taught how to use their weapons safely, work on marksmanship, and care for, carry, store, and maintain their weapons. Recruits are also taken through tactical firing and marksmanship exercises.
Physical Fitness Programs
The job of a police officer is physically demanding and requires officers to be in top physical condition. During various courses at the academy, cadets undergo rigorous workouts. Recruits are also educated on the importance of good nutrition and its health and wellness benefits. Physical training is a daily work regimen that involves running exercises, push-ups, sit-ups, and stretching to increase overall flexibility.
Recruits may participate in role-playing scenarios requiring a suspect’s safe and unharmed capture. Other aspects, such as practicing arrest and booking procedures, firing paint or blank bullets, and other patrol procedures, are rehearsed. Recruits also receive education in first aid measures such as CPR.
Emergency Vehicle Operation
In this section, students are familiarized with the skills and techniques required to drive various law enforcement vehicles in diverse terrains and high-pressure situations. Recruits also learn to tow and trailer vehicles across multiple traffic situations.
Trainees who excel in particular areas are sometimes called on to carry out more specialized tasks and join elite units (such as SWAT, snipers, etc.) based on their knowledge and unique skill set.
List of Police Training Companies
ARMA Training
ARMA Training is a group of training professionals who served as former military, police officers, and security professionals. ARMA’s training programs focus on dealing with real-life physical confrontations. They teach what is known as “anatomically correct” methods of physically controlling subjects in a way that doesn’t cause injury.
ARMA’s courses include Crowd Control, Defensive Tactics, Officer Survival, Non-Lethal Weapons, and other specialized programs. Their instruction methods emphasize a hands-on approach and prepare officers for real-world situations. Learn more on the ARMA website.
Blauer Tactical Systems
Blauer Tactical Systems educates and prepares police officers, SWAT, and soldiers for sudden ambush attacks. Blauer uses a person’s innate response mechanism, the SPEAR system, to divert sudden violent attacks. The system serves as a bridge to other counterattacks if necessary. Visit the Blauer Tactical Systems website for more information on their training calendar, course descriptions, instructional videos, and more. Watch a few of the videos, and you’ll be convinced that this should be required training for everyone in law enforcement.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers is the nation’s largest training provider to law enforcement professionals. Their training programs are common to all law enforcement officers. Examples include firearm use, driving techniques, tactical methods, legal disciplines, investigation methods, and many more. Visit the FLETC website to learn more and view the current course catalog.
PoliceOne Academy
PoliceOne Academy is an accredited online law enforcement training academy with over 1300 instructional videos, and it continues to grow daily. The web-based system allows departments and their staff to access the videos anytime via computer, tablet, or mobile device. Supervisors can assign individual courses to their teams and keep track of completion rates. Users can set alerts and reminders to ensure they never miss a course. More than 60,000 people currently use the system, which can be used for continuing education credit in 38 states. Learn more about PoliceOne Academy.
SIG SAUER Academy
The SIG SAUER Academy provides high-quality firearms instruction. The company will deliver instruction anywhere in the United States. In addition, it has a 140-acre training facility in New Hampshire. The facility has indoor and outdoor ranges, various tactical training environments, and training on various firearm types. For more information, visit the SIG SAUER Academy website.
Smith & Wesson Academy
Smith & Wesson is a nationally recognized manufacturer of guns. The Smith & Wesson Academy trains civilians, law enforcement professionals, and the military to handle, service, repair, and use guns. Specialized courses for police include instructor-led training on handguns, shoulder-arm weapons, tactical methods, defensive tactics, armor, and many more. Learn more about Smith & Wesson Academy and its extensive line of guns, rifles, and other weapons.
Street Crimes
Street Crimes is focused on training police officers to be prepared for anything they might encounter while on the street. Street Crimes offers a three-day instructor-led police training program that covers the following:
- Conflict resolution techniques
- How to survive an ambush
- Active shooter training (mass shootings)
- Deadly force encounters
- Interviewing tactics
- How to cultivate confidential informants
- Intelligence gathering methods
- Covert surveillance tactics
- Legal interrogation
- Effective use of cover and concealment
To learn more about their curriculum and schedule, visit their website.
Team One Network
The Team One Network offers a curriculum of practical, intense, and realistic police training for law enforcement officers. The Team One Network uses nationally recognized and deeply experienced subject matter experts to lead their in-depth classes. Team One has an extensive catalog of classes, such as:
- Firearm operator and instructor
- Executive protection
- Tactical casualty care
- Sniper and active shooter
- Tactical electronics and gear
Visit the Team One Network website for more information on their offerings, how to host a class, and their overall schedule.
LocalGovU
LocalGovU provides online training solutions for local government and public entities. Their offerings are geared toward a much wider audience than just police departments, but they do have a very good selection of web-based training classes. Examples of their virtual courses include:
- Communications Skills, including Dispatch Communications
- Traffic stops and safety measures, roadway and highway
- Responding to emergencies, dealing with emergencies
- Investigative skills
- Report writing
- Equipment training
- Firefighting techniques
- Gangs, Terrorism, and Narcotics
- Corrections
These are only a sample of the offerings in their extensive police training library. To view all of the virtual courses, visit the website. Click on the Individuals menu and select the Law Enforcement option. They have options as low as $12.00 per course, which includes videos, materials, tests, and quizzes. They provide a certificate for all completed work.
NSENA Virtual Reality Training
NSENA uses virtual reality technology to train police officers, SWAT teams, detectives, and others in a virtual training environment. The system has a variety of modules designed by actual trainers and is constantly being updated. The virtual systems are completely immersive and feel real, which helps bring real-world stress into the picture, which may be hard to do in an actual environment.
Sample immersive training topics deal with active shooter situations, de-escalation techniques, traffic stops, and more. Visit the NSENA website to learn more and schedule a demo.
Police Training / Exam Prep Books
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Norman Hall’s Police Exam Preparation Book | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The book covers all the major subject areas you’ll need to prepare for the exam, including the written exam, physical ability test, oral board, psychological evaluation, background investigation, polygraph test, and medical evaluation. In addition, it has three practice exams with the answers to help you practice.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Police Exam Prep 7th Edition: 4 Practice Tests + Proven Strategies (Kaplan Test Prep) | $14.69 | Buy on Amazon |
Kaplan’s Police Exams Prep 2018-2019 guarantees you’ll pass the exam, or they will return your money. The exam prep book has four full practice exams, quizzes to help identify your strengths and weaknesses, and more.
The book’s content matches the exam blueprints for the five largest police departments in the United States (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Washington, D.C.).
Preview | Product | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Police Officer Exam, Eleventh Edition (Barron’s Test Prep) | $16.09 | Buy on Amazon |
Barron’s Police Officer Exam prep book includes four full-length sample tests, two official exams from large police departments, and recommended strategies for dealing with tough questions.
In addition, it offers time-tested advice for taking the test, time management strategies, and reading comprehension help. The book also includes a companion set of flashcards, which are available separately. They can be helpful study tools in preparing to take the exam.
Other Resources
In addition to personal equipment, officers use software programs and tools like the NYPD Patternizr Software, which helps solve crime more quickly.
Questions and Comments
If you have any questions or suggestions about a high-quality police training provider, please post below.