In the state of Connecticut police officers need to be certified by the Police officer standards and training council. In order to achieve this certification a person must go through the proper training and meet certain requirements before the state will allow him to become an officer of the law. Once you meet the requirements you will go through all of the steps that are outlined on the home page of this sight to be considered by a police department and cleared by the POST of Connecticut for certification. All of the Connecticut requirements must be met before an individual can be sworn in as a probationary candidate to become a police officer.
For candidates who have had police certification in another state, there may be a sort of reciprocity depending on the criteria you met previously in the other state. This reciprocity is known as comparative certification in the state of Connecticut. If you think you may qualify it is important to contact the POST of Connecticut to find out what you must do in order to achieve the certification.
How to Become a Police Officer in CT
In order to achieve certification in the state of Connecticut for police work you must first meet all the minimum requirements to become a probationary candidate. This means that you have met all requirements, but have not yet been trained. The minimum requirements are very similar to most other states. Connecticut requires that a person be 21 years of age, have achieved a high school diploma or GED, and be a US citizen with a valid driver’s license. You must have your fingerprints run, have a background check run and can’t have been convicted of any felonies and certain misdemeanors. You will have to pass an entry level written test, be subject to an investigation and go before an oral interview panel that has at least one CT POST certified officer on it. Candidates will also have to have a polygraph administered by a CT POST professional. In addition to these items, candidates will need to pass a physical fitness test, a physical examination and a psychological examination. Once all of this is complete and has been approved by the proper authorities, a candidate becomes a probationary candidate. They will then be enrolled in academy training and then complete their field training before becoming a full-fledged police officer.
Average Police Officer Salary in Connecticut
Connecticut has a comparatively high police officer salary when compared with the national average or even most other states. The average patrol officer in Connecticut makes about 63,000 dollars a year. Much of this depends on years of experience, schooling, and location. Detectives and other higher ranking professionals in the law enforcement industry working in Connecticut make closer to 72,000 a year.
One item that has a definite impact on pay is education post high school. Although it is not required, it is looked on favorably to have some post high school degree or further education, particularly in criminal justice, criminal law, crime scene investigation or another related law enforcement field. Additional schooling is one way to show that you are serious about your career in law enforcement. It is also a good way to spend time between high school and applying for a job with an agency or department. It is wise to use your time to prepare yourself in any way for your career. Below are some schooling programs available in Connecticut for pursuing Criminal Justice or another similar field for a degree.
Law Enforcement Programs in Connecticut
- Albertus Magnus College
700 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511
203-773-8550
- Asnuntuck Community College
170 Elm Street, Enfield, CT 06082
800-501-3967
- Branford Hall Career Institute
1 Summit Place, Branford, CT 06405
203-488-2525
- Capital Community College
950 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103
860-906-5000
- Central Connecticut State University
1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050
860-832-2278
- Goodwin College
1 Riverside Drive, East Hartford, CT 06118
860-528-4111
- Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, CT 06604
203-332-5000
- Lincoln College of New England
2279 Mount Vernon Road, Southington, CT 06489
860-628-4751
- Manchester Community College
Great Path, Manchester, CT 06045
860-512-3000
- Mitchell College
437 Pequot Ave, New London, CT 06320
860-701-5000
- Naugatuck Valley Community College
750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708
203-575-8040
- Norwalk Community College
188 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854
203-857-7000
- Post University
800 Country Club Road, Waterbury, CT 06708
800-660-6615
- Quinnipiac University
275 Mt. Carmel Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
203-582-8200
- Sacred Heart University
5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825
- University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT 06516
- Western Connecticut State University
181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810
203-837-8200