Minnesota has a POST board (Peace Officer Standards and Training) which sets the standards for judging potential police officers. Before they can move forward with police training, any persons wishing to submit an application to a police force in Minnesota must first meet the POST guidelines and requirements. The section below entitled “Peace Officer Standards and Training for Minnesota” outline the POST guidelines. If a candidate fulfills the basic guidelines mandated by the POST, they move forward by applying to a specific job opening at a police department. The process in Minnesota is very similar to that which is detailed as part of the homepage. There will be some tests and formal interviews before the police department makes a decision to hire an individual or not. Once a person is hired they will attend a Minnesota police academy for a training period.
Peace Officer Standards and Training for Minnesota
The requirements an individual must meet in order to be a part of police in Minnesota are: they need to be a minimum of 21 years of age, they need to be a US citizen who is able to obtain a Minnesota driver’s license, and have a mostly clean criminal record. A person must be able to obtain their POST certification and pass some written and physical tests. To get your POST certification a person can do one of the following:
- Peace Officer Licensing Exam: This is for graduates of a Minnesota POST-certified two to four years education degree program.
- Reciprocity Licensing Exam: If you have previous work experience in another state or at the federal level as a law enforcement officer or if you have previous military experience you may be eligible to take this exam.
- The Reinstatement of License Exam and License Restoration Exam are for those who have previously held eligibility for, or possessed, respectively, certification that has expired.
Police Officer Salaries in Minnesota
The average statewide salary of police officers in Minnesota is approximately 57,000 a year. The salaries for MN officers could be more or less than the listed average depending on where an officer serves, how much education an officer has, and how much experience he or she has. Achieving a higher rank will also increase one’s pay, for instance the average detective or criminal investigator in Minnesota makes 66,000 a year, and supervisors in law enforcement in MN make an average of almost 80,000 a year.
Law Enforcement Degree Options in Minnesota
As one of the ways to obtain POST certification in Minnesota applicants need to complete a degree. Below you will find a comprehensive list of the Minnesota schools which offer degrees in many related criminal justice and law enforcement subjects.
- Alexandria Technical College
1601 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, MN 56308
320-762-0221
- Argosy University
1515 Central Parkway, Eagan, MN 55121
888-844-2004
- Bemidji State University
1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Bemidji, MN 56601
218-755-2001
- Brown College
1440 Northland Drive, Saint Paul, MN 55120
651-905-3400
- Concordia University St. Paul
275 Syndicate Street N, Saint Paul, MN 555104
651-641-8278
- Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
2101 14th Street, Clouqet, MN 55720
218-879-0800
- Hamline University
1536 Hewitt Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-523-2800
- Hibbing Community College
1515 East 25th Street, Hibbing, MN 55746
218-262-7200
- Metropolitan State University
700 E 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106
651-793-1300
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College
1501 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
612-659-6000
- Minnesota School of Business
Locations across MN- 877-655-7676
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College
1414 College Way, Fergus Falls, MN 56537
218-736-1500
- Minnesota State University-Mankato
South Road and Ellis Avenue, Mankato, MN 56001
507-389-1866
- Minnesota State University-Moorhead
1104 7th Avce S, Moorhead, MN 56563
218-477-4000
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College
1593 11th Avenue, Granite Falls, MN 56241
320-564-4511
- Normandale Community College
9700 France Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431
952-358-8200
- North Hennepin Community College
7411 85th Avenue N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
763-488-0391
- Northland Community and Technical College
1101 Highway 1 East, Thief River Falls, MN 56701
218-683-8800
- Ridgewater College
2101 15th Ave NW, Willmar, MN 56201
800-722-1151
- Riverland Community College
1900 8th Avenue NW, East Building, Austin, MN 55912
800-247-5039
- Rochester Community & Technical College
851 30th Avenue SE, Rochester, MN 55904
507-285-7210
- Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258
800-642-0684
- St. Cloud State University
720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
320-308-0121
- University of Minnesota
100 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-5000
- University of Minnesota-Crookston
2900 University Avenue Crookston, MN 56716
218-281-6510
- University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105
651-692-5000
- Winona State University
175 W Mark Street, Winona, MN 55987
507-457-5000