Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Does anyone knew of a list of states that have academies that allow self sponsorship?

I am aware of no such list.

Missouri does.

OK Thank you, I am in WA are there any nearby states that do?

Why not get hired first? That way you not only don't have to pay for it, but you get paid while attending. Not to mention you don't have to worry about finding a job after you spent all that money and time.

BTW, Oregon doesn't allow it.

Why not get hired first? That way you not only don't have to pay for it, but you get paid while attending. Not to mention you don't have to worry about finding a job after you spent all that money and time.

BTW, Oregon doesn't allow it.

RDS-

I agree this is ideal, but there are some places (like in my area) where departments are (mostly) unwilling to hire people who have not completed the academy. Self sponsor is nearly the only way to get into the field here (outside of having a connection within a department or being very, very lucky).

I have been trying just no luck. I was thinking it would make me more appealing to agencies since there are so few positions open and so many applicants

I have been trying just no luck. I was thinking it would make me more appealing to agencies since there are so few positions open and so many applicants

It wouldn't in Oregon or Washington. Most departments around here hire by test score (written and oral). All the other stuff is pass/fail. Since we send all non lateral new hires to the academy, it really doesn't matter. As Citicop said though, in the states where self sponsor is the only way, then you still won't stick out.

RDS-

I agree this is ideal, but there are some places (like in my area) where departments are (mostly) unwilling to hire people who have not completed the academy. Self sponsor is nearly the only way to get into the field here (outside of having a connection within a department or being very, very lucky).


I have been trying just no luck. I was thinking it would make me more appealing to agencies since there are so few positions open and so many applicants


Like Citi's state, here in PA you have a very small pool of places to apply if you don't already have the academy. Regardless of the state I would go to the military or get a degree. Here military is your better option.

Texas does. Some small departments requires people to have a Basic Peace officer Certificates in order to apply. It's one of the ways for those departments to save money I guess. After you graduate, you do not guarantee a job though. It's sure will be a plus on your packet. I'd rather get hired and have the department that hired me sponsor for my academy. It's tough nowadays though. In a couple months, if no big departments hire me, I will have to take the self-sponsor route.

I have been trying just no luck. I was thinking it would make me more appealing to agencies since there are so few positions open and so many applicants

If your state doesn't allow self sponsoring then it's not going to help you at all unless you want to move somewhere else. You can't go to the academy in another state and then move back to Washington while expecting to get hired. That's not the way it works.

You either need to broaden your job search to more agencies or else look at why you aren't as appealing as other applicants are in the first place.

Mass does (in sorts).

Don't waste your time though.

First: Half of all department are Civil Service, and therefore MUST hire from the State's CS list regardless of academy trianing.

Second: The other half of all departments are getting dozens of applicants who were self sponsors, or are laid off with years of experience and looking for work.

Bad job market for LE in Mass right now.

Don't bother unless you plan on living and seeking employment in the state that you attend the self sponsored academy in.

WA state requires all entry level candidates to attend the one and only WA academy. So if you were planning on going elsewhere for an academy then coming back to WA, that would be a waste of time because you'd have to go through another academy all over again.

If you aren't getting hired as you say, it's because LE jobs are scarce everywhere right now and there are a lot of applicants. There are a lot of laid off cops that have academy and street experience. There are also a lot of entry level candidates with military and or college degrees as well. The talent pool is immense and the jobs are few. It took me 5 years of sticking to it before I got hired.

Keep trying. Attend a community citizens academy, volunteer at a department, go to college and continue to make yourself a more valuable candidate while you are waiting.

I'm self-sponsoring in FL. I actually just got a letter in the mail an hour ago saying I've officially got a spot. I start in 9 weeks on Jan 23rd. It's weird down here; in some counties it seems like almost everyone accepts applications from certified and non-certified applicants, which means many applicants aren't certified. Though in others counties, like where I'll attend the academy, it seems like everyone pays their own way through. I'm planning on getting certified and then applying heavily in county where near everyone sponsors sometimes... I figure it could give me a leg up on some of the competition.

It's my understanding that you can do this in parts of New York now, through community colleges.

Yes, there's one I know of if any are interested in one in Upstate NY. I'm not allowed to post links yet but Googling the following should bring up the link from centralny.ynn.com.

11/07/2011 08:01 AM
OCC police training program

By: Brad Vivacqua

Hope someone finds it helpful. I know of one person I work with who went through it and he now works as a part-time LEO with a couple local PDs.