Federal law enforcement question

[calisdaddy]

I am looking to get into federal law enforcement I just wanted to know if there is any federal L.E jobs that do not require a bachelors degree. I have an associates degree in criminal justice and I have been a manager of a store for about six years. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Kimble]

There's plenty of federal LE jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree (FBI and NCIS are the only two exceptions in their minimum requirements off the top of my head), but you have to understand that people with bachelor's degrees in CJ applying for federal LE jobs are a dime a dozen, so bringing even less to the table is going to be a disadvantage to you. Not saying being a store manager isn't worthwhile job experience, but it probably doesn't bring the same skill set as applicants having prior law enforcement and military experience, many of which also have a bachelor degree.

Not saying don't apply if you meet the minimum requirements, but the level of competition for many federal LE jobs (particularly 1811 ones) can be pretty fierce.

[Maverick24]

Many of the uniformed federal police agencies do not require a degree, FBI police, USCP, VA police to name a few. They are mostly security oriented jobs, but federal LE nonetheless.

[nyctrainer8]

Many of the uniformed federal police agencies do not require a degree, FBI police, USCP, VA police to name a few. They are mostly security oriented jobs, but federal LE nonetheless.

Several guys I work with started out in one of the jobs named above. You never know where you can transfer to after you put some time in. Given that it all counts as fed time, you might as well apply wherever you can and/or have the desire to and see where it takes you if this really is your chosen career path.
Additionally, several guys (myself included) had no fed time or any other LE time before getting hired. Different agencies look for different things and many of them like to have a diverse staff. Start investigating now and keep making yourself a more desirable candidate. Good luck.

[charlydevo]

Border Patrol

[BP348]

Border Patrol

This ^ and a Customs and Border Protection Officer.

I believe just about all the 1811 (Criminal Investigator) agencies like DEA, ATF, & ICE will accecpt LE experience but require a 4 year degree if you don't have experience.

[kj3]

What qualifies as LE experience? What about private security work?

[Big Sexy]

What qualifies as LE experience? What about private security work?

Uh, nope.

[Kimble]

What qualifies as LE experience? What about private security work?

Private security is absolutely not LE experience. As the name suggests, it's providing security to a private company. Law enforcement is working for a government and enforcing laws, making arrests, serving warrants, taking calls for service from the public, etc. Cops and private security are two different animals, and being a security guard does not qualify as law enforcement.