Tennessee Police Academy Requirements & Qualifications

Becoming a well-respected police officer is a great way to make an impact on your local community. They are vital for any city, especially well-populated cities in Tennessee. They respond to various situations where they will be expected to handle the situation by getting it under control.

People admire police officers and some are considered role models. These days, well-trained police officers are needed throughout the state of Tennessee.

This guide we created will help you learn about what to expect from training, but we also recommend visiting Prepare For The Police Academy for more in-depth and helpful guides on becoming a police officer.

The Future Of Law Enforcement

In the state of Tennessee, It’s estimated there will be close to 500 new jobs in law enforcement annually with a starting salary of nearly $42,000. It may not be as much as some other lines of work, but it’s definitely a great start. Also, most officers make plenty of more money by working overtime and special events throughout the year.

Becoming A Police Officer in Tennessee

To become a police officer, there’s requirements that must be met. First, all applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Second, they have to be a U.S. citizen. Thirdly, a high school diploma is required, or even a GED. Fourth, applicants must not have any felony convictions on record and If they served in the armed forces, they can’t have been dishonorably discharged.

Also, a physical exam and mental exam is required. They will also get their fingerprints ran through a database to check and see if they have a criminal background history. The police depts look for applicants with good character and that’s why the background check is so thorough with family and friends being interviewed.

That’s why before applying it’s good to be fully prepared. And that’s why we recommend Prepare For The Police Academy because of their amazing guides that help applicants learn everything they need to know before applying.

The Academy Life

Now once the minimum requirements are taken care of and the testing is done, next is police academy admission. The goal at the academy is to get recruits ready to become full-fledged police officers. They will meet with a recruit and once the final exam is given and passed, then they’ll become certified police officers.

Now the first thing you can expect is to be pushed physically. Every day there will be physical training. This training includes lots of various exercises, but the most well-known ones are push-ups and sit-ups.

Now, these 2 exercises in particular may not seem that difficult, but remember, you will have to do a set amount in a limited amount of time. The physical training serves a few purposes, First, because being a police officer is physically demanding. And, because the harder you’re pushed, the more mentally stronger you’ll become.

Training is also designed to weed out any “weak” candidates. Because if they can’t handle training, then chances are they won’t be able to handle the actual job of being a police officer.

There will also be alot of classroom time. where you’ll learn traffic and criminal codes specifically for Tennessee. This is vital because teaches you about what charges to apply to the individual you will be arresting. You will also learn about radio communications, the proper way to write a report, the proper way to apply handcuffs to a suspect, the proper pat down technique and the best way to handle domestic violence situations.

The fun part of training is the defensive driving portion. All police officers will be assigned a patrol vehicle, and there will be plenty of different situations that will arise. Instructors will show you the proper way to drive your vehicle at high speeds and also how to park your vehicle after stopping someone for a traffic violation.

Then there’s Firearms training. This is another important part of training because knowing how to handle a firearm and exactly when to use it can mean the difference between life and death. Now once the applicant makes it through training, the next step is graduation.

After Graduation

After graduation, you will begin learning about the policies of the police department you’re been hired at. And after being on patrol for a while, you’ll be able to get a higher rank.

So now that you have an idea of what’s in store for those people who want to become police officers in Tennessee, be sure to visit Prepare For The Police Academy for affordable guides that will help you be fully prepared for all interviews and exams!

Local Police & County Sheriff Departments in TN