Legislative Policy Analysts: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of legislative policy analysts about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for legislative policy analysts to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of legislative policy analysts expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for legislative policy analysts.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Legislative Policy Analysts?

Do legislative policy analysts need a degree? What kind of experience do legislative policy analysts typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for legislative policy analysts to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Legislative Policy Analysts

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of legislative policy analysts. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 42% of positions. In 28% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 16% of postings no education level was listed.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Legislative Policy Analysts

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for legislative policy analysts. In 33% of job postings for Legislative Policy Analysts, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 10+ years of experience was sought in 13% of job postings for legislative policy analysts.

What Kind of Degree Do Legislative Policy Analysts Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for legislative policy analysts, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 28 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective legislative policy analysts, and in 2023 a total of 129,807 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective legislative policy analysts.

Top Degree Programs for Legislative Policy Analysts

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Legislative Policy Analysts

What Skills Do Legislative Policy Analysts Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by legislative policy analysts to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for legislative policy analysts, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Legislative Policy Analysts
Based on 9,651 job postings

Based on 9,651 job postings related to legislative policy analysts, policy analysis was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 32% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for public policies, economics, project management, policy development and data analysis were also highly sought.

As for common skills, research was the most desired skill found in job postings for legislative policy analysts, followed by communication, writing, management, leadership and coordinating.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about legislative policy analysts? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for legislative policy analysts.

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