If I had the option to pay tuition to an Academy and get a certificate of completion...

Does that give me a better edge over applicants that walk-in and fill out an application?

Many people say they wouldn't waste money if they aren't even sure they would get hired.

I'm not a cop but in my personal opinion....
I think if you have already been trained and certified, and have instructors that have good remarks about you, that gives them the impression you're serious about wanting the job and planning on committing to it.

When they screen a typical applicant who is not certified, they have to consider if they want to consider hiring someone who...
A. Has not experienced any LE before
B. They will have to pay their salary while being training
C. They have to pay the academy that they are sending them to (if they don't have their own Academy).


So would getting certified be best or not?

Having already graduated a police academy would give you an edge.

It can't hurt other than possibly wasting some cash. If you are a good candidate, and want to work for a large department, they will send you to the academy.

It can also depend what state you're in.

I know in Alabama you can't send yourself to an academy. You have to be hired be a department first and they send you.