Illinois
Illinois Police Academy Requirements and Illinois Police Officer Qualifications
- An applicant must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age. (An applicant twenty (20) years of age may apply if the Option 4 education requirement is successfully met.)
- An applicant cannot have been convicted of a felony.
- An applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
- An applicant must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of completing the application.
- An applicant must be willing to accept an assignment anywhere in the State.
- An applicant must have completed, with a C average or better, one of the following education requirements:
Option 1) An Associate of Arts Degree or equivalent course work* AND meet one of the following two job experience requirements: 3 consecutive years of continuous, full time service, as a police officer, with the same police agency OR three consecutive years of active military duty.
Option 2) An Associate of Science Degree or equivalent course work* AND meet one of the following two job experience requirements: 3 consecutive years of continuous, full time service, as a police officer, with the same police agency OR three consecutive years of active military duty.
Option 3) An Associate of Applied Science Degree, ONLY if the degree is in Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice AND meet one of the following two job experience requirements: 3 consecutive years of continuous, full time service Option, as a police officer, with the same police agency OR three consecutive years of active military duty.
Option 4) A Bachelor’s Degree
