G'day lads ,

Basically I am turning 16 in January 2010 and will be looking to become an officer when I turn 25 (New Zealand preferably otherwise Australia).
I'm quite smart but I just really can not be bothered with school anymore, and teachers who treat you like your not even a human, I want to get out into the real world, Rather then sitting and chatting to the ladies in class all the time (maybe not ALL the time).

Okay so I have done the academic test online and I did quite well actually got nearly all of them right, but the thing is... Obviously, I will only be getting NCEA level 1. Now to become an officer do you have to HAVE level 2, or KNOW up to level 2?

Next year I am planning to start a career in retail and climb the corporate ladder (Noel Leeming/Harvey Norman) otherwise I am going to do what my dad suggested and start my own business in Designing/Marketing/Web Design or Selling various products ( I basically do run my own minor scale business on trademe/other places selling imported goods ).

So,
Do you need to get level 2?

Also, Earlier this year I was a ****ing idiot and I have collected a couple of fines:
- With Passengers after 10pm (Infringement Bureau waived after 10pm)
- With Passengers and going 130km/h (Youth aid officer/Infringement Bureau replaced with passengers for community service) PS: I was speeding to pass a car on a passing lane...

I understand that this makes me sound like your average teenage FTP boyracer idiot, but PLEASE TRUST ME, that is not who I am! ..you make mistakes and you learn. I no longer carry passengers, speed, break the law etc. (btw - I haven't lost my license ..)

Am I going to be okay to join the force?

PS. I do have most of the qualities required for Police Officers
(e.g Excellent Communication skills, able to get along with anyone, quick thinker, fit... cant think of the rest )

congrats on considering becoming a police officer - and good on ya for not rushing it and just deciding to join around the age of 25.

I don't believe there is any NCEA or equivalent academic 'qualification' requirement but I guess the higher level of NCEA the better it'd look on your application.

As per the fines, they won't get your application declined, you may need to discuss some of the reasoning for your actions which led to you getting such fines, but if you don't get too many more fines between now and when you join (at approx. 25), you'll be OK.

Welcome to the forums too.

The fines shouldn'tbe an issue as long as you don't accrue too many more between now and then. I'm sure the recruiter will write them off as part of the "young FTP boyracer idiot" phase and it won't even get a mention. I applied when I was 20 and got asked about the speeding ticket I got when I was 18...I then promptly explained that i was runnng late blah blah blah, then stopped when I realised the story I was telling was actually one that I got a warning for and no ticket - ie the recruiter would never have known if I hadn't opened my mouth. I put that one down to interview day nerves... A few years later there were no problems.

I went through an unlucky phase many years ago too (passing too fast, late for work - you know, the usual excuses) and had quite a few tickets to show for my efforts.
You grow up and you mature. They haven't been an issue for me.
Keep sensible on the road and you will be fine too.

Just remember you will probably be asked about them at some stage in the process.

At that time, don't prevaricate, wish wash, make excuses, etc. Front up, say you made a mistake and have now matured.