Most common Police Officer Selection Tests in the U.S.

Key Takeaways

                    Learn about the most common police officer selection tests used across the United States.
                
                    Understand the differences between popular police exam formats and the skills they measure.
                
                    Review which police written examination your target law enforcement agency requires.

People taking the Police Officer Written Exam — The Police Officer Selection Test usually starts with the police written exam

The Police Officer Selection Test, or POST, is a generic name for the entrance exam given by law enforcement agencies for entry-level positions. It may also be referred to as the Civil Service Exam for Police. The POST consists of several different steps, of which the Police Written Exam is just one. Other steps include the Physical Abilities Test, the Psych Exam, the Polygraph and more. There is no national standard in the U.S. for the POST - each agency decides what to use within guidelines set by their state law enforcement commissions.