Research the qualifications of the police agency nearest you. Most require applicants to have graduated high school and be at least 21-years-old, while others require some college coursework be completed first.
Apply to an online school of your choice. EarnMyDegree.com offers a directory of schools offering online police officer educational programs. You can thumb through qualifications for enrollment and request information from each school to decide which degree you'd like to obtain.
Complete the needed online college coursework. Most online colleges have required reading and essays, participation in message boards and live chat discussions, and projects relevant to coursework that must be completed. The completion of your online program will prove advantageous because the background material can expedite the process of becoming a ranked officer upon completion of the police academy.
Enroll in, and complete your studies at a police academy. Contact a jurisdiction near you to determine the qualifications and requirements for enrollment.
The police academy program typically lasts three to four months. During the police academy training, you will be tested on physical strength and endurance, given drug tests, lie detector tests and other forms of background checks and be given physicals to test traits such as eyesight, vision and hearing. Police recruits will be thrown into real-life situations involving traffic incidents and emergency response, and will be taught proper firearm use and learn the laws relevant to the code of the particular jurisdiction the department serves.
Once all tests are administered and you pass the requirements, you will be sworn in as an officer of the law.