A new policy is allowing people who want to join the Pennsylvania State Police to apply without having first completed an associate's degree or 60 semester hours of college courses.
Recruits will still need to have the degree or have finished the 60 hours before they can start police academy training.
The agency said Tuesday the change was aimed at streamlining an application process that was so lengthy some candidates gave up in frustration.
Officials hope to attract a wider pool, including women and minorities.
The state police have also stopped requiring applicants to take lie-detector tests. Recruits must be at least 21 and younger than 40 when they start as a cadet.
Philadelphia Police stopped requiring two years of college credit for their recruits last year.
