Can You Take Police Foundations Courses as a Mature Student?

Canada’s police forces, border control authorities, and security sector are where many motivated individuals go to seek a rewarding career. What you might not know is that many of them choose to do so later in life. These organizations can often have high requirements of applicants, but substantial life experience and work done in the community are often recognized and respected by those in charge of recruitment.

So, can mature students take police foundations courses to prepare for a career in one of these areas? The answer is a resounding yes. Here’s why police foundations can often be an excellent fit.

Students Benefit from Police Foundations Courses at All Ages

There is no age limit for admission to the police foundations courses offered by the National Academy (now, Anderson College) of Health & Business (NAHB (Now, Anderson College)), a fact which recognizes the potential to be found in many older applicants.

Many mature students who enroll in police foundations training might even find that their previous work and life experience could actually be a very valuable asset. Experience working with others, navigating difficult situations, and meeting challenges can all give mature students a unique perspective when preparing for a career as a security guard, police officer, private investigator, or one of the many other career paths that police foundations training can lead to.

Mature Graduates of Police Foundations Programs Are Able to Apply for Many Different Roles

The range of opportunities open to graduates of a police foundations program is considerable. That’s because in addition to their being no age limit for applying to police foundations programs, age limits are also not a common occurrence when applying for work in this field.

Those who complete police foundations training are well-equipped to move into their own area of interest, including becoming a security guard, private investigator, or police officer. In fact, many regulatory bodies like the provincial registration process for professionals like private investigators do not involve any age limit.

Mature graduates should note that a high number of Canadian police forces, ranging from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to large urban police forces like the Toronto Police Service explicitly state that there is no upper age limit when applying to join the force. In fact, the average age of applicants for the RCMP is 28, and over the last 10 years, 24 applicants older than 50 have been successful. The only age restrictions in place are that applicants should be at least 18 years old to become a police officer in Ontario, and 19 years old to join the RCMP.

Applicants Should Bear in Mind-Physical Requirements

Of course, no matter your age, the physical requirements for this role will still be challenging. In fact, the OPC emphasizes that both diet and exercise are important elements to consider. When preparing for this career path, it recommends “Swimming, weight training, running, and working out in the gym…” In addition, the OPC states that all applicants should “Pay attention to what you eat as well. You may want to include in your diet a combination of lean protein, whole grains, foods rich in essential fatty acids, and plenty of fruits and vegetables…”

It’s because of this that top police foundations programs help students develop a fitness program, and even include instruction in nutrition into the curriculum. All of this can help to prepare candidates for the rigours of the application process, and help students of all ages prepare for the career they’ve always wanted.

Do you want to get a career in law enforcement or professional security?

Contact Anderson College today to learn more about what doors police or private investigator training can open for you.