How Do I Become a Criminal Justice Instructor?

If you would like to teach others about working in law enforcement, you may want to become a criminal justice instructor. The right training and education is important in landing one of these jobs. Most institutions require practical experience, so you may need to work in law enforcement first. Developing your oral and written communication skills could prepare you for a teaching position. You can apply for jobs via a number of outlets, or enlist the services of a professional recruiter to help you find positions.

A master's degree in criminal justice could provide the education you need to become a criminal justice instructor. This is especially true if you are teaching at a bachelor's degree level, because most institutions prefer you have more education than the students you are instructing. If you do not have a master's degree, a bachelor's degree along with teaching credentials might help fulfill the educational requirement necessary for employment.

You may need to have 10 years or more of work experience in this field to become a criminal justice instructor. Some areas that you might want to work in include sheriff's deputy, probation supervisor, or corrections officer. Having experience in more than one area of law enforcement could be helpful, so you might want to consider the various jobs available in this line of work. As an instructor, you are often training students to work in a variety of settings, and being able to relay firsthand experience can help enhance their learning.

One of the first things an employer may notice about you during an interview is your speaking ability. Once you become a criminal justice instructor, you will need to communicate with a variety of people ranging from students to the president of a college. This means you must be able to connect with these individuals as well as present course material in a manner that is easy to understand. Writing skills are also important since you might be asked to review your student's work; proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation is a major component of this.

Learn which colleges in your area offer criminal justice degrees, and then apply for any openings that occur. This often takes some time, so checking with online schools could be another avenue to help you find employment. Criminal justice instructors often train new police cadets at their training academy, so you may want to inquire at one of these institutions as well. Recruiting agencies are sometimes asked to find new instructors, so contacting one of these businesses could help you become a criminal justice instructor.