For those applying for most police work in Massachusetts, they will first need to ensure that they are eligible to apply and then must take and achieve a passing score on the civil service exam. The Police Officer Civil Service exam in Massachusetts is only offered every two years, so if you are considering becoming a police officer in Massachusetts, it is important to sign up and prepare well in advance. If you fail the test, it will then be necessary to re-take it again in two years if you wish to continue trying to accomplish your goal of becoming an officer. If you do pass the test you will be placed on a list of other candidates who are eligible to pursue employment with a department. This does not guarantee you will be hired, however. After being placed on this list you can follow the application process similar to that on the homepage of this site, with a specific police department. If you are chosen by a particular police department, you will then be able to attend a Massachusetts police academy for your training.
Training to be a Police Officer in MA
The basic requirements you must meet in Massachusetts to be eligible to take the Civil Service Exam are that you are 21 years old, have a valid Massachusetts state driver’s license, are a legal citizen of the US, and have graduated with a high school diploma or achieved an equivalent level of education or served in the US armed forces for at least 3 years. Also, you will be subjected to a criminal background check and need to have lived where you want to apply for at least a year prior to taking the Civil Service Exam. As stated above, in order to apply for police work, one must pass the Civil Service Exam prior to applying. This exam includes a written ability test, a life experience survey and a work style questionnaire. How you do on this exam will dictate if you will be permitted to continue in the process of applying for police jobs in Massachusetts.
Salaries for Police Officers in MA
The average Massachusetts patrol officer makes around 56,000 a year. This amount varies based on the city or area they work, their education level, and their years of experience. As with most jobs, there is room for growth and advancement. The average salary for detectives in Massachusetts is 65,000 per year and the supervisor’s average is 85,000 per year. As you can see there is opportunity for advancement. Education is another factor that influences pay. Below is a list of schools which offer criminal justice programs or other fields which may pertain to a career in law enforcement. If a candidate has time while waiting to pass the Civil Service exam, it may be advisable to pursue a higher education in a related law enforcement program.
Police Officer Schooling Programs in Massachusetts
In most of Massachusetts the only required schooling is graduation from high school or a GED equivalent. Some will even take you if you don’t possess this schooling and have simply served in the US armed forces for a minimum of 3 years. However, some smaller police departments may want to see a higher level of education reached. In this case, having a degree in an area such as criminal justice or a different degree which may relate to law enforcement, may give applicants a leg up against other applying candidates. It also would ensure a higher starting rate of pay, as education does factor into how much an officer of the law is compensated. The below list contains some of the schools in Massachusetts which have programs related to criminal justice or other law related degree programs. It is not a comprehensive list, however it should give people looking for criminal justice programs in Massachusetts a starting point in their search.
- American International College
1000 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109
800-242-3142
- Bay Path University
588 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA 01106
800-782-7284
- Bay State College
122 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02116
617-217-9000
- Becker College
61 Sever Street, Worcester, MA 01609
508-791-9241
- Berkshire Community College
1350 West Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-499-4660
- Bristol Community College
777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, MA 02720
508-678-2811
- Bunker Hill Community College
250 New Rutherford Ave, Boston, MA 02129
617-228-2000
- Cape Cod Community College
2240 Iyannough Road, West Barnstable, MA 02668
877-846-3672
- Curry College
1071 Blue Hill Ave, Milton, MA 02186
617-333-0500
- Dean College
99 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038
508-541-1900
- Eastern Nazarene College
23 East Elm Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170
617-745-3000
- Fitchburg State College
160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-665-3000
- Greenfield Community College
One College Drive, Greenfield, MA 01301
413-775-1000
- Massasoit Community College
1 Massasoit Boulevard, Brockton, MA 02302
508-588-9100
- Middlesex Community College
33 Kearney Square, Lowell, MA 01852
800-818-3434
- Mount Ida College
777 Dedham Street, Newton, MA 02459
617-928-4500
- Mount Wachusett Community College
444 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440
978-632-6600
- Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
617-373-2000
- Northern Essex Community College
100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
978-228-1434
- Quincy College
1250 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169
800-698-1700
- Roxbury Community College
1234 Columbus Ave, Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
617-427-0060
- Salem State University
352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970
978-542-6000
- Springfield College
263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109
413-748-3000
- Springfield Technical Community College
1 Armory Square, Springfield, MA 01105
413-781-7822
- University of Massachusetts-Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125
617-287-6000
- University of Massachusetts-Lowell
1 University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854
978-934-4000
- Westfield State University
577 Western Avenue, Westfield, MA 01086
413-572-5218
- Worcester State University
486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA 01602
508-929-8000