Police Officer HIRING PROCESS
Law Enforcement Hiring Process
Sgt. George Godoy, ret.
This web site is dedicated to the future men and women of law enforcement. My goal is to serve as your personal guide and show you how to pass each step of the long hiring process.
Even though this site’s menu is short, there are over 200 pages of information in this site. Use the Search Box to locate police hiring topics by City, State, Test Name, or other terms and abbreviations you are curious about.
Joining law enforcement is not easy. Do not let the long and frustrating process dampen your enthusiasm. Take a stand for your dream. Make a pledge to succeed. Arm yourself for victory and find the path forward! ~ Sgt. George Godoy (ret.)
Police Officer Selection Test
The police officer selection test, or POST, is a generic name for the entrance exam given by law enforcement agencies to entry-level applicants. It may also be referred to as the Civil Service Exam for Police or the Police Written Exam. Surprisingly, there is not a standard POST in the U.S. All agencies use slightly different formats.
The complete hiring processes includes several assessments of which the Police Written Exam is just one. The entire process can easily take 9 - 12 months. Follow these links to learn more about the hiring steps followed by most police departments:
Federal Law Enforcement Jobs
Do not overlook the many law enforcement job opportunities with the Federal Government. Discover Federal Law Enforcement jobs.
1811 Special Agent Jobs
A Special Agent is a federal law enforcement criminal investigator typically categorized in the GS-1811 job series. Here is a great resource to learn more about Special Agents - SpecialAgent.org
QuickLinks
Search your State for what Police Written Exams are Used by City
Best Police Test Prep is PoliceExam911 by Sgt. Godoy
Best TSA CBT Prep Course
Best Test Prep for Border Patrol
Best Test Prep for Customs Officers
Sgt. Godoy’s Top Tips
Before you dive into the details, there are four tips that I want you to remember above all else.
1 - Commitment
To pass all of the police entry requirements will take months and will demand your full attention and commitment. The process is not designed to be easy. You must be prepared.
2 - Confidence vs. Arrogance
Confidence is a necessary quality to make it into law enforcement and confidence can be acquired through good preparation. But being overconfident has been the downfall of many qualified applicants. Do not underestimate the preparation that will be required.
3 - Spread Your Risk
Because of the intense competition for these positions, your chance of getting accepted to any specific agency can be as low as 1 in 10, even when fully qualified. For this reason, I recommend that you apply to as many agencies as you can manage in parallel. Get your foot in the door. After a couple of years, you can more easily transfer to the agency or location that you most prefer.
4 - Get in Shape
No matter what agency you apply to and no matter what type of physical abilities test is required, you know that you must be in good physical shape – so start now.
The police officer selection test process is only the beginning. Once you are awarded the badge, every day becomes a test, and your choices can change lives.
Bring your fire to the force.
Sgt. George Godoy