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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the age requirements for getting into law enforcement?
The maximum age requirements will vary from department to department and also by job title. There are no uniform standards for maximum age, therefore it is best to check with each department that you are interested in applying with. For most federal criminal investigator (special agent) positions and other federal law enforcement positions the maximum age at which you can begin employment is age 37. The reason for this is so you can retire at age 57 with at least 20 years of employment. There are many law enforcement agencies that have a higher maximum age requirement or no maximum age requirement at all. Therefore, if you are in a situation where you are above the maximum age requirement, do not stop looking as there may be an opening suited to you. Usually the maximum starting age is posted in the vacancy announcement. If it is not, contact the human resources department of the agency posting the vacancy announcement to ask about age requirements.
What are the main differences between working for a local, state, and federal law enforcement agency?
Because state and federal law enforcement agencies have larger
geographic areas to cover, it is likely that
there may be more travel involved. Also, with
having offices throughout the state or the country, you may be
hired to work in a variety of locations. There may also be a
likelihood of being transferred to other cities or states during
the course of your career with a state of federal law
enforcement agency.
Is it more difficult to get a job with a local, state, or federal agency?
There are more local departments and officers employed by
them, than state and federal agencies. Because of this there is
less hiring done on the state and federal level. It is important
to know which state and federal agencies are in the process when
you are looking to be hired so you can focus your efforts.
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If I have had legal problems
in the past, does that prohibit me from a law enforcement career?
Prior convictions may not necessarily prohibit you from a law
enforcement career. As the policies vary from agency to
agency, it is best to check with a representative of that agency
to get an informed answer. Always be truthful on your
application and background forms. While the conviction or
arrest may not prohibit you from employment, providing false
information will be cause for you not to be hired, or for your
employment to be terminated. There have been numerous
situations where applicants were not truthful about an incident
that would not have barred them from employment, but the act of
providing false information did cost them their job.
Some Federal law
enforcement job openings are only open to "status" candidates.
What does "status" mean?
There are
basically two types of job openings in the Federal government.
Those open to the general public, and those open to current or
former Federal employees. A job opening that requires
applicants to have "status" is only open to current or former
Federal employees who have career "status." There are also
some openings which are only open to current employees of the
agency that has the opening.
If I apply for a
Federal law enforcement job do I have any say in what city or state
I work?
Some Federal
law enforcement job openings are posted for a specific city.
If you apply for that job and are hired, you will work in that
city. However, in order to advance your career you may
find it necessary to later apply for positions in other areas of
the country. There are some Federal job announcements that
are posted for nationwide duty stations. With these
openings you are hired to work in any location selected by the
agency that hires you. In that case you may or may not have any
input into which city you end up working. It may also be part of
the condition of employment that you relocate periodically
during your career with that agency.
Is U.S.
Citizenship required to apply for a job in law enforcement?
The
requirements regarding U.S. Citizenship vary from department to
department and may also vary by job title. Some do require U.S.
Citizenship while others do not. Requirements related to
U.S. Citizenship are usually listed in the vacancy announcement
under "minimum requirements." If such requirements are not
addressed in the vacancy announcement, contact the recruiter
from that agency or the human resources department to find out
the citizenship requirements.
Some law enforcement
openings are posted as "lateral" openings, what does that mean?
Lateral
openings mean that it is not an entry level position. Usually
the agency is looking for an applicant who is currently working
as a law enforcement officer, or who has recently been working
as a law enforcement officer.
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