Becoming a Police Sergeant: Requirements & Career Path

Police sergeant is a highly respected, career track position that pays well. A sergeant is responsible for a staff of cadets and corporals and can hold various responsibilities within the police command structure.

Instructions

• 1

  Meet the basic eligibility requirements to be a police officer in your state, including US citizenship, a clear background check, a positive character evaluation and, in some cases, previous employment for the state.

• 2

  Perform well at the police academy. Police brass often take academy scores and evaluations into account when considering junior officers for supervisory positions.

• 3

  Consider doing a two-year associates degree or even a four-year degree to enhance your standing in the police department's promotion system. While advanced education is not always required, it is a benefit to officers trying to become police sergeants.

• 4

  Stay in the department for the minimum number of required years. Departments rarely advance an officer early in the career path. States like Kansas, for example, require officers to serve for six years before they can become sergeants. Other states require more and some require less time to achieve the rank.