Importance of degree

[TravisC]

I currently attend a CC here in Central Florida, I'm working on my AS in CJ. I was talking to the director of the police academy at my school and he was telling me that after I finish my AS next year it would be smart to go ahead and sign up for police academy there at the college, then continue my education later on and possibly have the PD that I work pay for some of the tuition.

My question is, what does everyone here reccomend?
I'm assuming my chances of getting hired would be better if I had a BS as opposed to an AS?

What about pay? Is there a significance in starting pay with a BS?

[Kimble]

I currently attend a CC here in Central Florida, I'm working on my AS in CJ. I was talking to the director of the police academy at my school and he was telling me that after I finish my AS next year it would be smart to go ahead and sign up for police academy there at the college, then continue my education later on and possibly have the PD that I work pay for some of the tuition.

My question is, what does everyone here reccomend?
I'm assuming my chances of getting hired would be better if I had a BS as opposed to an AS?

What about pay? Is there a significance in starting pay with a BS?

I hate to say this, but the answer to all of your questions is "it depends." Some department require a BS, others don't. Some give pay raises for having a particular degree, others don't. What you'll have to do is investigate the requirements of the departments you're interested in working for to find out the specific answers to your questions for their agency.

The advice the acadmey director gave you is sound, but realize that hiring standards for different agencies will vary, and having a BS/BA will always make you more competative than having a AS/AA/AAS, whether a department requires one or the other, or neither.

[RO56]

My question is, what does everyone here reccomend?

Could you try out the SEARCH button first? This question has only been asked here about elevendy billion times. Thanks.

[TravisC]

Yeah i'm definately planning on getting my BS eventually... I'm just trying to figure out if it would be best to go ahead and start getting some experience under my belt as an LEO with my AS. (plus i'm running out of tuition money)

Most Depts. around here require atleast and AS.

[TravisC]

Could you try out the SEARCH button first? This question has only been asked here about elevendy billion times. Thanks.

Yeah, I tryed.

I keep getting this message, no results

"This forum requires that you wait 20 seconds before submitting another search. You have 17 seconds to wait before another search will be allowed"

I wait 20 seconds...try it again and get the same message.

[RO56]

Yeah, I tryed.
I keep getting this message, no results

Funny, this is what I get when I search on 'College Degree'

[RO56]

Make sure you're using the 'SEARCH' and not the 'SEARCH THIS THREAD' button.

[TravisC]

This was my first post here, its common that Forums disable the search function due to bandwith issues.

I figured since 90% of the threads in the first page of the "ask a cop" forum have probably been answered before, the search function was disabled or was not working.

I tryed it 3 times, it didn't work. I figured I would just post this thread, i'm sorry if it bothers you that much.

[SERENAs UNIT]

Have to admit: With being new and all....give 'em a break every once in a while!

RP veteran = 628 posts
RP rookie = 4 posts

[Nole795]

Travis,

If you get a BS degree then you do get a little more money from the State for having the degree. When I was a cop there in Florida, I received an extra $90 a month for having a BS degree.

And yes, your chances of getting hired are better if you get a BS because your going against applicants who have a degree.

Good luck to you.

[scott715us]

If the dept you are interested in will pay for college tuition, then you could go that route after finishing your associate's. It would be nice for the dept to pay for it. Either way, I try to encourage everyone to get as much education as possible. There is a lot of competition in LE and those with more education seem to be getting the hire ranking positions. In my dept, a bachelor's is minimum for any rank above Sgt.

Just don't waste time. Once you get on, get moving with your education. The longer you put it off, the more likely you won't go back. Good luck either way.

[scott715us]

If the dept you are interested in will pay for college tuition, then you could go that route after finishing your associate's. It would be nice for the dept to pay for it. Either way, I try to encourage everyone to get as much education as possible. There is a lot of competition in LE and those with more education seem to be getting the hire ranking positions. In my dept, a bachelor's is minimum for any rank above Sgt.

Just don't waste time. Once you get on, get moving with your education. The longer you put it off, the more likely you won't go back. Good luck either way.

Sorry, no edit, "higher" ranking positions, not "hire" :rolleyes:

[Darin]

Have to admit: With being new and all....give 'em a break every once in a while!

RP veteran = 628 posts
RP rookie = 4 posts

Good point Serenas Unit.

[TravisC]

Thanks for the great info guys!!