Police Officer Requirements – Illinois
Minimum Requirements to be a Police Officer in Illinois
- 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:
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.