PA Act 120 or CJ Degree?

[coulter]

Which route is better from your experiences? It will take me longer to complete the degree and I have noticed an awful lot of police stations set the age limit at 36-37. I am only able to go to classes part time at this point, so it will take me right up the max age limit if I go that route. If I go PA Act 120 will that be a decent background to get my foot in the door? By the way I am a deputy for our state game commission, However they only commission their officers through their own schooling/training. I would still have to obtain the Act 120 or CJ degree in order to get anywhere.

Any recommendations?

[irishlad2nv]

Well I think you already have your foot in the door being a Deputy for the state. I would go the route of the PA act 120 though becuase that can be utilized in PA and even transfered to Maryland if you ever saw a job you wanted to apply for down here. I know a few people that put themselves through in PA, worked some part-time gigs in some towns and then came to Maryland to work. Hope this helps some.

[rollerzonly61]

PA Act 120 is a great way to show that you really want to be an officer. Since you seem to be worried about your age, get the 120 out of the way now and finish your degree up at a later date. Also, you can get your Act 235 waiver at the completion of your firearms training. You just have to get prints from State Police for $75. Try and get the 235 waiver before your psych test for the academy expires. They are good for 6 months and you need that to get the waiver, otherwise it is quite costly.

I did my PA Act 120 after receiving me college degree. I just finished 2nd week of December. I decided to join the military though so that I can further expand my resume and see the world before I settle into one place. My Act 120 Training will expire, but I will most likely apply for State Police when I get out of the military and that will require me to complete their academy. It is much more rigorous than Act 120. I definitely don't regret completing Act 120, I made some great friends and I have some great connections now.
Good Luck to you.

[Surfin_Cop]

im am currently attending the police academy in pittsburgh for my Act 120. Im not with Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is hiring however but why work for them. They have frozen the wages here and things are not looking to promising. However, i would take the Act 120 cause some departments will pay for you schooling such as your Criminal Justice degree. Just some food for thought. Of some of the officers i talked to here, they said that 93% of what you learn outta the Act 120 is thrown away. But to get your foot in the door definately consider the Act 120. If you have any questions drop me a line.

[coulter]

Thanks for the info guys I am leaning the way of Act 120. Here is the Dilemma. I am currently enrolled in local university for a BS in Environmental Science / Biology. I am 33 now and won't finish that degree until I am in my late 30's. As I mentioned before I serve as a deputy for the state's game commission; However, that is on a voluntary basis. Yes, I do get paid for what I do, but it is merely a stipend and once the deputy funds are exhausted for the year I simply don't get paid for my work. I have the same powers as a full time officer and same commission with the exceptiuon of Title 18 PA CS. I am not sure this position will help me in any way though since it is a voluntary thing. I started working a private security position recently (to pay for college) and was considering changing my major to CJ. The BS would take me 5-6 years going part time (I also have a full time job as an engineer, it's just not my cup of tea...too boring and no variety). The CJ degree would only take me 2-3 years granted it is only an Associate Degree. But there is that age factor again.

Also, I won't be able to start the Act 120 training until next February. The classes are just getting ready to start now and I haven't even contacted the college yet. Should I stay in for the CJ or bide my time and go after the 120.

Here is another ? for ya...what other jobs are available to those with a CJ degree? Is this degree good for other than just LE? does it open more doors for you?

Thanks for your time and patience, I appreciate it.

[irishlad2nv]

I'd say do both if you can. Reason being is that in case you do not get hired as a LEO somewhere in PA, like I said Maryland will accept a PA certificate and all you would have to do is go through a shortened academy, maybe like 4 weeks or something. the CJ degree with help you in many fields. Some in LE itself, but in so many other careers as well. A teacher, instructor, etc...I got an AA in CJ since thats what I had started in college and then eventually finished in Sociology. That way I can fall back on something if I get hurt, retire, etc...Most LEO's on here, you will find out that they have a variety of Degrees in many other fields not related to LE. Good luck with what you decide to do and keep us posted:)

[Njw]

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[coulter]

I guess that's the other part of the dilemma. I don't mind moving to another state if necessary. My wife is a nurse so she can go about anywhere. I don't think PA Act 120 is valid in all states. I believe somebody did mention MD, how many other states is it good in? How long is the certificate good for. I noticed a couple mentioned theirs had expired. That seems like an awful waste of time and money to be trained in 120 and have it expire before you are able to land a good job with it.

By the way an associate degree is 60 credits, a bachelors is 120.

Thanks for the info...

[irishlad2nv]

Originally posted by coulter
I guess that's the other part of the dilemma. I don't mind moving to another state if necessary. My wife is a nurse so she can go about anywhere. I don't think PA Act 120 is valid in all states. I believe somebody did mention MD, how many other states is it good in? How long is the certificate good for. I noticed a couple mentioned theirs had expired. That seems like an awful waste of time and money to be trained in 120 and have it expire before you are able to land a good job with it.

By the way an associate degree is 60 credits, a bachelors is 120.

Thanks for the info...

Yep thats right it is valid in Maryland. All you would have to do like I stated is go through a small academy for laterals, etc. IT's only about 4 weeks or so, so that you can adapt Maryland laws, etc. Yes they do expire. I think it's like 2 years or something...roller on here can tell you more about that. Ad yes it does suck if it would expire before you could get hired, but I am sure in two yrs you can get hired somewhere. So with your job now, did u attend an academy or anything and where in PA do you work right now?

[coulter]

I work out of Erie, up in the Northwest corner of the state. I attended the Ross Lefler School of Conservation for a full week. That was some mighty intense training. It covered everything from game law to PT to firearms, verbal and defensive tactics. It also encompassed a bit of biology and other human relations topics. All in all it was tough but a lot of fun. It was actually run in military fashion. We got the OC spray turned on us also...got any kleenex:eek:

There were numerous exams before attending the school, physical written and all of the other odds and ends. We still qualify twice a year, in dimlight, foul weather and daylight courses. They also run us through a stress course and give legal updates. We also need to qualify yearly for defensive tactics and "verbal judo" It is hjust about that time now.

I am looking at other options to make this a full time position, not necessarily with the agency I'm with now. But any one that seemd like a good place to work...I have already heard to avoid Pittsburgh:rolleyes:

[Njw]

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[easy-e1]

im am currently attending the police academy in pittsburgh for my Act 120. Im not with Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is hiring however but why work for them. They have frozen the wages here and things are not looking to promising. However, i would take the Act 120 cause some departments will pay for you schooling such as your Criminal Justice degree. Just some food for thought. Of some of the officers i talked to here, they said that 93% of what you learn outta the Act 120 is thrown away. But to get your foot in the door definately consider the Act 120. If you have any questions drop me a line.
Hey surfer, are you going through the city academy right now? I left the department recently after 10yrs. WAS a nice place, not a bad place but if your young go to the academy and get some real street experience :eek: and then go elsewhere. Maryland has some places that do whats called Comparative Compliance, basically take some exams and apply for waiver, I think.

[Surfin_Cop]

Easy, No im not going throught the city's academy. You have to get hired first by them and I cannot apply cause I dont 60 college credits. I wouldnt mind working there however but in the same sense it doesnt seem to appealing because they have frozen the wages there for 3 yrs. Its too political for my taste. I know that alot of departments are political but the less the better. I graduate in July so hopefully I can find a job then. If not, looks like im working a few part time jobs.

[easy-e1]

Easy, No im not going throught the city's academy. You have to get hired first by them and I cannot apply cause I dont 60 college credits. I wouldnt mind working there however but in the same sense it doesnt seem to appealing because they have frozen the wages there for 3 yrs. Its too political for my taste. I know that alot of departments are political but the less the better. I graduate in July so hopefully I can find a job then. If not, looks like im working a few part time jobs.
Yeah things arent great in the city right now. Top pay is still over 52,000 BUT it now takes too many yrs to get it, like more than the usualy 5. Frozen at 1st yr for at least 2-3 yrs. ALot of nice small departments in Allegheny county though.
Good luck, any ???s on your testing and PM me

[ChesCopPodz]

Not sure what school you are in but I was attending college at Mercyhurst in Erie PA. One of the act 120 academies is run by Mercyhurst College at a satellite campus. I got hired here in VA before I did this but what I was approved to do and was going to do my senior year was take the 120 as part of my CJ degree. Now, pretty much the only reason I would have been able to do this is because my college was the one running the academy, but I would have been able to earn credits towards my degree by going through the 120 and use financial aid to pay for it. I don't know if your college is one of the 120 places but it's an option.

[Mraughh]

I guess that's the other part of the dilemma. I don't mind moving to another state if necessary. My wife is a nurse so she can go about anywhere. I don't think PA Act 120 is valid in all states. I believe somebody did mention MD, how many other states is it good in? How long is the certificate good for. I noticed a couple mentioned theirs had expired. That seems like an awful waste of time and money to be trained in 120 and have it expire before you are able to land a good job with it.

By the way an associate degree is 60 credits, a bachelors is 120.

Thanks for the info...

I'd advise you to get on with a dept in another state. PA is horrible right now as others said, I went to GA to be a cop and get experience, I then moved back to PA figuring I could get a LE job there and havent had any luck for the last year with any of the small depts. GA-PA is recipricol (sp) for POST/ACT 120, but requires a letter of employment to take the cert test from MPOTC. I did go take allegheny co.s written test this january, but there was well over 300 other folks there. Currently applying to Amtrak PD in DC and Dept of Army PD in maryland. I dont have much faith in the western part of PA for landing a stable job though, read in the paper the other day that the pittsburgh housing authority cops will be gone in 2 years from budget cuts. Savannah Chatham Metro in savannah, ga is always hiring (my old dept) Good place for exp, but the long term benefits suck heh.

[easy-e1]

I'd advise you to get on with a dept in another state. PA is horrible right now as others said, I went to GA to be a cop and get experience, I then moved back to PA figuring I could get a LE job there and havent had any luck for the last year with any of the small depts. GA-PA is recipricol (sp) for POST/ACT 120, but requires a letter of employment to take the cert test from MPOTC. I did go take allegheny co.s written test this january, but there was well over 300 other folks there. Currently applying to Amtrak PD in DC and Dept of Army PD in maryland. I dont have much faith in the western part of PA for landing a stable job though, read in the paper the other day that the pittsburgh housing authority cops will be gone in 2 years from budget cuts. Savannah Chatham Metro in savannah, ga is always hiring (my old dept) Good place for exp, but the long term benefits suck heh.
If you are looking for a place and have 3 yrs experience than Phoenix AZ is hiring. If you have the time then you go apply etc and you take some waiver, equivilancy exams and youre in. Alittle hot though

[Mraughh]

thought about Phoenix before and looked into their website. Dont think i'm up for moving that far from my new neice, which is why I returned to PA in the first place :) much obliged for the info though.

[Bravo8]

How long is the certificate good for. I noticed a couple mentioned theirs had expired. That seems like an awful waste of time and money to be trained in 120 and have it expire before you are able to land a good job with it.



The Act 120 training does not expire. Why does everyone always say that? :rolleyes:

If you attend the 120, and then get hired a few years later, you may be required to attend a small training class to update you on changes in the curriculum of the 120 since you took it. For what it's worth, I work with an officer who was out of the academy for over 4 years before getting hired, and he didn't have to take any additional training.

Directly from MPOETC:

Is there an expiration date for the Act 120 Training?

No, there is no expiration for the training, however if the curriculum is changed to include additional courses then the applicant may be required to take those additional courses.

[coulter]

Thanks for the info Bravo. That is very helpful.