Those hoping to eventually by officers of the law in North Carolina must first meet a set of prerequisites. They then need to complete an application with the city they want to work for. Once prerequisites are met and an application has been accepted, police officer candidates are then allowed to sit for the police examination. If you pass this exam, it is possible that you may then be accepted to proceed with additional exams and interviews which would lead to a determination as to if you qualify for police academy training. Once you attend the academy and graduate you would then receive field training before becoming a full fledged officer.

How to Become a NC Police Officer

The North Carolina requirements for those applying to work on the police force resemble other states’. Applicants need to be 21 years of age or older, have a valid North Carolina driver’s license, and also live in the US legally. The candidates must also be able to read at a 10th grade level and must have obtained a high school diploma or received their GED. College education is not required, but is favored. You must also live in North Carolina when you apply. If you served in the military you must have received an honorable discharge. You also may not have any visible tattoos or brandings that would appear if wearing a long sleeved shirt.

Salary for North Carolina Law Enforcement Professionals

In North Carolina, an average police officer salary is 39,000 a year. This is sizably less than many other US sates, partly because there are a lot of rural police departments in North Carolina, and partly because the cost of living is lower in North Carolina than many other states. There is opportunity for advancement in rank and salary, and having a college degree is another way of being eligible for higher pay. Higher ranking police officers can make around 45,000 a year in North Carolina.

Law Enforcement Schooling in NC

Most of the larger North Carolina police departments don’t require anything above a high school diploma, however they do encourage having an associate’s degree at least. Therefore, it would be very advisable for those with the goal of working as a police officer in North Caroline to pursue a higher degree. Please reference the below bulleted listing of North Carolina schools with degrees and certificates in criminal justice as well as law enforcement.

  • Beaufort County Community College

5337 US Hwy 264 E, Washington, NC 27889

252-946-6194

  • Brunswick Community College

50 College Road NE, Bolivia, NC 28422

910-755-7300

  • Carteret Community College

3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557

252-222-6000

  • Chowan University

1 University Place, Murfreesboro, NC 27855

252-398-6500

  • Cleveland Community College

137 South Post Road, Shelby, NC 28152

704-669-6000

  • College of the Albemarle

1208 N Road Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909

252-335-0821

  • Craven Community College

800 College Court, New Bern, NC 28562

252-638-7200

  • Davidson County Community College

297 Davidson County Community College Road, Thomasville, NC 27360

336-751-2885

  • Edgecombe Community College

2009 W Wilson Street, Tarboro, NC 27886

252-823-5166

  • Fayetteville State University

1200 Murchison Road, Fayetteville, NC 28301

910-672-1111

  • High Point University

833 Montlieu Avenue, High Point, NC 27262

  1. 336-841-9000.
  • Isothermal Community College

286 ICC Loop Road, Spindale, NC 28160

828-286-3636

  • Johnson C Smith University

100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216

704-378-1000

  • Lenoir Community College

231 Hwy. 58 South, Kinston, NC 28502

252-527-6223

  • Mayland Community College

785 Cranberry Street, Newland, NC 28657

828-733-5883

  • McDowell Technical Community College

54 College Drive, Marion, NC 28752

828-652-6021

  • Meredith College

3800 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27607

919-760-8600

  • Mitchell Community College 

500 W Broad Street, Statesville, NC 28677

704-663-1923

  • Montgomery Community College

1011 Page Street, Troy, NC 27371

910-576-6222

  • North Carolina A & T State University

1601 E Market St, Greensboro, NC 27411

336-334-7500

  • North Carolina Central University

1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27707

919-530-6100

  • Pfeiffer University

48380 US Hwy 52, Misenheimer, NC 28109

800-338-2060

  • Piedmont Community College

1715 College Drive, Roxboro, NC 27573

336-599-1181

  • Pitt Community College

1986 Pitt Tech Road, Winterville, NC 28590

252-493-7200

  • Roanoke-Chowan Community College

109 Community College Road, Ahoskie, NC 27910

252-862-1200

  • Robeson Community College

5160 Fayetteville Road, Lumberton, NC 28360

910-272-3700

  • Rockingham Community College

215 Wrenn Memorial Drive, Hwy 65, Wentworth, NC 27375

336-342-4261

  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

399 Biotechnology Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081

704-216-7222

  • Sampson Community College

Hwy 24 West, Clinton, NC 28329

910-592-8081

  • South Piedmont Community College

680 hwy 74 West, Polkton, NC 28135

704-272-5300

  • St Andrews Presbyterian College

1700 Dogwood Mile, Laurinburg, NC 28362

910-277-5000

  • Stanly Community College

141 College Drive, Albermarle, NC 28001

704-982-0121

  • The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223

704-687-8622

  • The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403

910-962-3000

  • Vance-Granville Community College

200 Community College Road, Henderson, NC 27537

252-492-2061

  • Wayne Community College

3000 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534

919-735-5151

  • Western Piedmont Community College

1001 Burkemont Avenue, Morgantown, NC 28655

828-438-6000

  • Wilkes Community College

1328 South Collegiate Dr., Wilkesboro, NC 28697

336-838-6100

  • Winston-Salem State University

601 S Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winston Salem, NC 27110

336-750-2000