Many countries have a minimum age for becoming a police officer, which varies depending on the hiring agency and the location of the agency. Some peace officer organizations have a maximum hiring age, but this can be overturned if the person is physically fit and has worked in other government or civil service positions. People who have previously served in a country’s military, for example, may be able to circumvent age restrictions.
In many states in the United States, the minimum age to become a police officer is 20. People under the age of 21 are usually required to work for state or federal peacekeeping and investigation agencies. Many people will need to complete at least a couple of years of college before being hired a peacekeeping agency, so meeting the minimum age requirement is not difficult. Although some departments will hire people with only a high school diploma or the equivalent, applicants with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree (AA or BA) are often preferred. A bachelor’s degree is required many state and federal agencies, and most people don’t get one until they’re at least 21 years old.
In the United States, maximum age requirements vary agency and location. The maximum age is sometimes 65, and other times it is less than 40. Because finding a job can be difficult, older people may be overlooked. However, factors such as fitness and previous work experience can play a role.
In most cases, the minimum age to become a police officer in the United Kingdom is 18. Candidates who are half a year younger than this may be accepted into training programs. Candidates with advanced degrees may be preferred over those who have only completed high school. The maximum age set UK police programs varies, and some do not specify a maximum age.
The minimum age to become a police officer in Canada is also 18. Prior to applying, there may be some advantages to pursuing more advanced degrees than a high school diploma. Some agencies may require additional training or favor those with bachelor’s or associate’s degrees in fields such as criminal justice.
Different age requirements apply to various countries and states, as well as the various agencies that may maintain a police force. Talking with the local police force or an accredited school that offers police academy training is the best way to find out what age a person can become a police officer and whether there are any maximum or minimum age requirements. Age is just one of many requirements that people may need to meet in order to train and find work in this field, and it’s a good idea to make sure that a person meets all of the requirements for employment before investing time and money in training.