Was cops and robbers your game of choice as a kid? Do you like being on the right side of the law? Then a career in law enforcement may be the kind of job you’re looking for. Law enforcement schools can prepare you for a career that will protect and serve. Police officers and detectives work hard to keep the streets clean of criminals. Whether it’s stopping a thief, arresting a suspect, or monitoring the streets for speeding cars, police officers and detectives keep communities safe for all those who live there.

In order to become a detective, you must first work as a police officer, and in order to become a police officer there are a couple of requirements that you must first fulfill. Most law enforcement agencies require you to pass a written exam and a physical exam, but some others may also require that you have a college degree. If the police department or agency for which you wish to work does not require a full-fledged degree, you may instead be required to take a few pertinent courses from law enforcement schools or a law enforcement college.

Federal police agencies always require that applicants have college degrees – though it’s not always necessary to have a degree in a related field like law enforcement or criminal justice. You can easily get a college degree in a non-related field of a field that somehow supports working in law enforcement. For example, learning a foreign language may prove a valuable asset if you wish to work in a police department in an ethnically diverse area.

If you don’t attend law enforcement schools, or you don't finish a degree prior to beginning work at a police department, your employer may be able to help fund all or part of your tuition so that you can work towards attaining a degree in an area like criminal justice, police science, administration of justice, or public administration. The police department may also reward you for attending law enforcement schools by giving you a higher salary or a promotion. In addition, you may also choose to pursue more schooling while employed in order to improve your skills and improve your potential for a promotion.

At law enforcement schools, you’ll learn about things like accident investigation, constitutional law and civil rights, and state laws and local ordinances. You’ll also receive training in emergency response, first aid, patrol, self-defense, traffic control, and the use of firearms. You’ll also need the right level of agility and stamina in order to pass the physical exams that will likely be required before you are ever allowed into law enforcement.

These physical exams may test things like you hearing, vision, agility, speed, and strength. You’ll also need to take a barrage of personality tests, lie detector tests, and drug tests in order to certify that you are fit for the job. Written exams may also be a requirement. These tests will check your problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, and ability to remember and apply pertinent law enforcement and criminal justice information. Law enforcement schools will prepare you for these exams and for your future career protecting the public.