Start at the start end at the end.....

 Contact your local Law Enforcement Agency and ask them..

Different states different rules

Too old for LE in New Jersey, the max age is 35 unless you have prior military.

Too old for some Agencies.

For the NYPD 29 is the limit (unless you get some credit for Military Service, and that's only now, not so years ago)

The Liberal Northeast seems to carry the flag when it comes to limiting people's capabilities sometimes borderline with Age Descrimination if you ask me. Most of the Southern States have no such unfair limits, and the decision will be based in your actual physical abilities when it comes to physical, not on any arbitratry "Age Barrier". For example, in Florida you will have to pass the  FDLE BAT (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) (Basic Abilities Test)

So, if you are in the NE, I would suggest to look elsewhere. At 40 you still have a lot to offer to LE. Don't get discouraged.

Prior to my retirement I attended a week long school at the Missouri State Patrol Academy. I met a recruit who was a week or two from graduation as a state trooper. He was 52 or 53 years of age. He was very determined.

I think 40 years old is too old to get hire from any Federal agencies unless you have military or prior law enforcement background. In CA you can become a police officer at 40 years old, but these days that can be very difficult because there are many young applicants with college degrees and military background. Most agencies are going to hire them before they hire someone who is 40 years old. 

However, if you really want to become one than give all you got and dont give up. Dont let anyone stop you from achieving your goal until you give it a try.

Actually only certain federal leo positions limit their age.  Some don't have a maximum age if they are on the General Schedule (GS) pay vice the General Law Enforcement (GL) pay.  The difference is the retirement system, the FedLEO retirement has a maximum age limit to qualify, while FERS just has a minimum time of service to qualify.  If you are over 40 and want to get into Federal LEO look at Department of Veteran Affairs, or D.O.D. Police, there are other agencies that have police also without the maximum age limit.  To find them you have to use www.usajobs.gov yes there are added preference for veterans and disabled veterans for federal employment purposes.  There are also specific programs for recently discharged veterans for preference also.  Veteran Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) and Veteran Recruitment Act (VRA).  VRA is for disabled veterans rated at least 10% disability by VA.  

Now that your question has been answered by a few members, might I suggest something;

Scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the "Terms of Use" tab and read through them. Then, after that...post an introduction and tell us a little bit about yourself. After you do that, I am sure that you will recieve many more annswers to your questions.

Good luck to you.  Bump UnkaD's comment.  40 is a number... go for it and best to you.

Spartan0331 says ...

I think 40 years old is too old to get hire from any Federal agencies unless you have military or prior law enforcement background. In CA you can become a police officer at 40 years old, but these days that can be very difficult because there are many young applicants with college degrees and military background. Most agencies are going to hire them before they hire someone who is 40 years old. 

However, if you really want to become one than give all you got and dont give up. Dont let anyone stop you from achieving your goal until you give it a try.

NOT CORRECT! Believe it or not... lots of federal agencies DONT HAVE AN AGE LIMIT! The ones that do give exception to veterans. And with almost ALL if not ALL Federal Law Enforcement... you must have a prior LE background OR COMPATIBLE EDUCATION if that agency starts at the GS-4 or GS-5 level.

Spartan0331 says ...

I think 40 years old is too old to get hire from any Federal agencies unless you have military or prior law enforcement background. In CA you can become a police officer at 40 years old, but these days that can be very difficult because there are many young applicants with college degrees and military background. Most agencies are going to hire them before they hire someone who is 40 years old. 

However, if you really want to become one than give all you got and dont give up. Dont let anyone stop you from achieving your goal until you give it a try.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

thats what you get for thinking..... YOUR WRONG....

 Hey all,

I thought long and hard about a career in law enforcement for years. I got a bachelor of science in criminal justice admin, then an MBA. I always thought I would end up at a department on the admin side. But it seems like taking the education first route sort of put me at a disadvantage because everyone I talk to says you have to have “street time” first. Is that true? I would still like to consider this as a career path but just dont know if I went too far.

Also I am 46 so I have that against me too I think. Dont mean to be negative. Just wonder about realistic expectations. Any advice is really appreciated. Also THANK YOU to everyone who serves. I am a big fan!! 

 Thank you for your reply. I dont know what you mean by #3. Can you explain in more detail the “appropriate forum” 

Thanks TLeeworth

On the federal law enforcement thing - I have checked for federal jobs in the past couple of years, and EVERY federal law enforcement job that has been posted had an age limit of 38, UNLESS you are currently in federal law enforcement or coming from active-duty military.  I even looked at NCIS, and they had the same age limit.

As for the "age discrimination" charge - while one court may have ruled that way (and there is no information on that to substantiate the claim), generally, it is not regarded as discrimination, due to the nature of the job.  Law enforcement is a very physical job, and courts have ruled that when a condition is specifically job-related, it can be made an exception (for lack of a better word) to the discrimination laws.  However, the industry has to show how age affects being able to perform the job, which law enforcement has been able to do.  To the person who posted about the court case - please provide some kind of citation.  I'd like to see it, just for my own information.

FInally - as for being "too old" for law enforcement, you may exceed hiring age limits for large departments.  I'm not familiar with Ohio (even though I lived there for a long time), but where I am now, it is mandated by law that departments in jurisdictions over a certain population cannot hire over a certain age - I think it's 38.  The same goes here for firefighters.  The department I work for, as well as most of the smaller towns, do not fall under that law, so they can hire any age, so long as they can pass the entry physical exam.

To find out certification requirements for Ohio, contact Ohio Police Officer Standards and Training (POST).  They can tell you exactly what is required, and how to go about doing it.

Good luck!

I am 35 and I am going for it!!!! Most guys and gals at the academy here are in there early 20s but Im pretty fit and I think I can hang

with them my thoughts is if you want to do it I say let nothing stand in your way.