How Do I Become a Regulatory Officer?

Become a regulatory officer by receiving education in the field you wish to enter, gaining experience working in a regulatory office and understanding the necessary components of doing the job correctly and efficiently. It is necessary to graduate high school and get at least a four-year undergraduate degree to become a regulatory officer. The undergraduate degree should be in the field that the individual wishes to work in eventually, such as finance or healthcare management. A master's degree or higher is often required for managerial work in the regulatory field. Individuals who attend law school often have advantages when aiming to become a regulatory officer because their knowledge of the law helps with maintaining regulations within the industry in which they work.

Working in a regulations or compliance office is the next step when looking to become a regulatory officer. This can be accomplished through internships while in school or by gaining an entry-level position in the regulatory field after college. Working with more advanced regulatory officers helps an individual gain the knowledge and experience he needs in order to eventually do the job on his own or work in upper-level management. After gaining experience in the field, an individual is ready to work on his own and possibly manage other employees.

Regulatory officers work in organizations to ensure that regulations facing the organization are being met. This happens in any industry or organization where laws are in place that affect it, such as finance or healthcare. Regulations are also put into place by industries and internally within organizations. Understanding what the job entails, such as learning the laws that affect the particular industry, is vital in the quest to become a regulatory officer. An organization needs to know that an individual understands the laws and regulations of the industry well enough to be able to enforce them within the organization. This requires intensive study of the regulations in order to learn them well enough to maintain them.

Organizations and industries also have internal regulations that have to be enforced by the regulatory officer once they have the job. If a customer complains about an organization, the regulatory officer needs to know the regulations well enough to be able to effectively investigate them. This requires an inquisitive personality with an interest in solving problems and a professional appearance, as well as the ability to confront those who are not following the regulations.