The USA dictates standard police officer requirements. For example, you usually need to be at least twenty years old and have a high school diploma for police officer careers. Good health and fitness is necessary too. The exact requirements vary based on the rules put in place by different cities or states who hire police officers. In some cases, going to school beyond high school is necessary. Going to police academy to obtain police officer training is not an option though for most officers-to be. Those looking to get a leg up on their careers or to get higher pay and more responsibility will complete either two year or four year college degrees in areas such as criminal justice, law enforcement, police science, or public administration, and many departments will pay for their officers to complete such a degree. College degrees are necessary for anyone working for a federal agency. Who can apply for police officer careers is determined in most states by civil service regulations that require candidates to pass the civil service exam before they can even be considered. These exams can be very competitive.