Police officers must be decisive, discerning, respectful, and flexible. In order to find people who would do well in this career, Pennsylvania has specific requirements. If you are ready for employment as a police officer in Pennsylvania, you should first discover the requirements for the city in which you hope to apply. It is best to directly contact the department to which you are applying to find out this information. If you find that you fulfill the essential requirements, you can then apply. You will then need to pass various tests, some oral and some written. Following these are other tests including polygraph, physical, medical, psychological, and reading. If you successfully complete the testing and are considered for an open position, you will then complete the process by attending a police academy which offers training.
Starting a Career as a PA Police Officer
The base level requirements of police officers in Pennsylvania vary slightly between cities. Pittsburgh’s requirements are that a candidate be twenty-one, hold a legitimate driver’s license, have graduated high school and have 30 college credits. Some cities in Pennsylvania may not mandate any college credit as a prerequisite for a police officer job, but it can be beneficial to attain such credits or even a degree to make oneself a more desirable candidate.
Salary Information for PA Police Officers
An average salary for a Pennsylvania patrol officer is 56,400 per year. This salary is slightly higher than the national average police salary. As with most any job, there is room for increase in salary for those who work many years in good standing. Promotions in rank are possible as well as achieving higher education or specific training which can increase an individual’s pay. Detectives and other special investigators in Pennsylvania can make around 71,600 a year.
Law Enforcement Training in Pennsylvania
Despite the fact that a high school education is the minimum requirement for applicants pursuing a police career in most Pennsylvania cities, it could be a smart move to go for a degree in a subject such as criminal justice or science and law before applying to the force. Having a degree may make your more marketable, desirable and also may mean starting at a higher pay. Also, if you are wishing to work in Pittsburgh, then some college credit hours are required.
- Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
400 E Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
570-389-4000
- Cedar Crest College
100 College Drive, Allentown, PA 18104
800-360-1222
- Chatham University
106 Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
412-365-1100
- Chestnut Hill College
9601 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
215-248-7001
- Duquesne University
600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
412-396-6000
- Elizabethtown College
1 Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022
717-361-1000
- Harrisburg Area Community College
1 HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-780-2300
- King’s College
133 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
570-208-5900
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
15200 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, PA 19530
610-683-4000
- La Roche College
9000 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237
412-367-9300
- Lehigh Carbon Community College
4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville, North Whitetail Township, PA 18078
610-799-2121
- Lehigh Valley College
2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley, PA 18034
610-791-5100
- Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
1570 Baltimore Pike, Lincoln University, PA 19352
484-365-8000
- Marywood University
2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509
570-348-6211
- Mercyhurst College
501 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16546
814-824-2000
- Messiah College
1 College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
717-766-2511
- Neumann University
One Neuman Drive, Aston Township, PA 19014
610-459-0905
- Penn State Harrisburg
777 W Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6250
- Pennsylvania State University
201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
814-865-4700
- Point Park University
201 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-391-4100
- Saint Francis University
117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA 15940
841-472-3000
- Seton Hill University
1 Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601
724-834-2200
- Slippery Rock University
1 Morrow Way, Slippery Rock, PA 16057
724-738-2015
- South Hills School of Business & Technology
480 Waupelani Drive, State College, PA 16801
814-234-7755
- Temple University
1801 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
215-204-7000
- Thiel College
75 College Avenue, Greenville, PA 16125
724-589-2000
- University of Scranton
800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510
570-941-7400
- Villanova University
800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085
610-519-4500
- Waynesburg University
51 W College Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
800-225-7393
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania
700 South High Street, West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-1000
- Widener University
One University Place, Chester, PA 19013
610-499-4000
- Wilkes University
84 W South Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
800-945-5378
- York College of Pennsylvania
441 Country Club Road, York, PA 17403
800-645-3226