Police Officer Requirements – Illinois

Minimum Requirements to be a Police Officer in Illinois

  1. 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.)
  2. An applicant cannot have been convicted of a felony.
  3. An applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
  4. An applicant must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of completing the application.
  5. An applicant must be willing to accept an assignment anywhere in the State.
  6. An applicant must have completed, with a C average or better, one of the following education requirements:

Education Requirements

Option 1
A Bachelor’s Degree.
Option 2
An Associate of Arts or 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, as a police officer, with the
same police agency OR three consecutive years of active military duty.
Option 4
No education needed if:
• The applicant has been honorably discharged from the armed services of the United States after serving active military duty AND has been awarded at least one of the qualifying medals
• The applicant is an active member of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces AND have been awarded at least one of the qualifying medals. Medals that qualify are as follows: Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal or Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Proof must be provided on a DD-214.