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
- 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