A Louisiana candidate for a law enforcement job should first ensure that he or she is allowed to submit his or her application by checking the specific employment requirements for the local precinct. The application is quite lengthy and includes a whole section on your personal history. Be sure you are truthful on the personal history part (and all of it) as it will be used as part of the questioning process and background investigation.

The next phase in the Louisiana process is the testing portion. There is basic skills test which has some math, reading and writing and comprehension questions. The other test is the physical ability test. This is to check your physical fitness level to ensure that you can meet the standard of what is expected of police officers. Following this is an extensive look into applicant’s background. Any criminal history will exclude you from the possibility of becoming a law enforcement officer. There are three more tests: medical, psychological and drug test. If you pass all of the above and are hired you will be sent to a 22 week training academy where you will learn all the skill needed to perform the job of patrol officer.

Louisiana Police Officer Requirements

In Louisiana police officer requirements consist of being at least 21, driving with a valid driver’s license, being a legal US citizen, and having no less than 60 college credits or having served in the military for more than 2 years. These education requirements are stricter than most states, and it is important that you know them and reach them before applying to a Louisiana police department. As a part of this page there are some colleges listed within the state of Louisiana which have programs in law enforcement related fields of study.

Salary Overview for Police Jobs in Louisiana

The average Louisiana officer yearly wage depends greatly on whether or not an officer lives in one of the large cities or if they work in a rural area. For instance, New Orleans police officers make, on average, 42,000 a year, where some area’s officers may make less than 29,000 a year. Some detectives and those who work as criminal investigators in Louisiana make about 47,120 a year.

Louisiana Schools with Law Enforcement Programs

  • Baton Rouge Community College

201 Community College Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

225-216-8000

  • Bossier Parish Community College

6220 East Texas Street, Bossier City, LA 71111

318-678-6000

  • Court Reporting Institute of Louisiana

5700 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806

225-292-1950

  • Delgado Community College

615 City Park Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119

504-671-5000

  • Grambling State University

403 Main Street, Grambling, LA 71245

318-247-3811

  • Louisiana College

1140 College Drive, Pineville, LA 71359

318-487-7011

  • Louisiana State University at Alexandria

8100 Hwy 71 South, Alexandria, LA 71302

888-473-6417

  • Louisiana State University-Eunice

2048 Johnson Hwy, Eunice, LA 70535

337-457-7311

  • Louisiana State University-Shreveport

1 University Place, Shreveport, LA 71115

318-797-5069

  • Louisiana Technical College

3250 North Acadian Thruway East, Baton Rouge, LA 70805

225-359-9201

  • McNeese State University

4205 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605

337-475-5000

  • Nicholls State University

906 E 1st Street, Thibodaux, LA 70310

877-642-4655

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana

645 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA 71457

318-357-4078

  • Nunez Community College

3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA 70043

507-278-6200

  • Southeastern Louisiana University

548 Western Avenue, Hammond, LA 70402

985-549-2000

  • Southern University and A & M College

801 Harding Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70807

225-771-4500

  • Southern University at New Orleans

6400 Press Drive, New Orleans, LA 70126

504-286-5000

  • Southern University at Shreveport

3050 Martin Luther King Kr. Drive, Shreveport, LA 71107

318-670-6000

  • Sowela Technical Community College

3820 Senator J. Bennett Johnston Ave, Lake Charles, LA 70615

337-421-6530

  • The University of Louisiana at Lafayette

104 E University Circle, Lafayette, LA 70503

337-482-1000

  • The University of Louisiana at Monroe

700 University Avenue, Monroe, LA 71209

318-342-1000

  • Tulane University

6823 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118

504-862-8000