What are the educational requirements to become a police officer, as well as a Detective?

Question

Keeping my options open.

Answer 1

Most of the time only high school diploma or equivalent.  In my husband's office it is not required to have a college degree to be a detective.  However, if you did have a college degree you were given consideration to be a detective before the people who didn't.  You have to complete a Police Academy, usually put on by the city you will be working for.  To be a detective there is usually a test or you have to have rank... i.e., corporal, sergeant, etc.

Answer 2

You have to go to an academy.. there is no way around that.  Some departments require you to only have a high school diploma or GED and others require that you have so many college credits.  Sometimes you can get enough credits from your academy if it is affiliated with a an accredited college.

Answer 3

H.S. Diploma and a minimum of 60 credit hours is the norm these days.  It helps to have a B.A./B.S.  If you have one already, you can become a Criminal Investigator.