What is Self-Sponsoring?

[aboveaverage]

Hi,
I've been browsing around the Various forums for each state and I've been seeing questions about self-sponsoring yourself through an academy or having an agency sponsor you. What does "sponsoring" mean? I thought if you get hired, you get paid starting from your first day in the academy.

Thanks for any info on this.

[MontgCounty33]

You can pay your own way through the academy. Some states allow you to enroll even if you are not already hired by a department. You have a chance of getting picked up while in the academy, especially if a test for a local PD comes out while enrolled.