Things You'll Need:
- Copy of your driver's license
- Good physical and mental ability
- No criminal record
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Step 1
As previously mentioned, in the state of California the majority of police academy positions are filled by those who have been preliminarily accepted as police officers in a particular city, pending graduation from the academy. In Southern California many police recruits are sent to the Orange County Sheriff's Academy, one of the most physically demanding in the nation to prepare them for the role as a police officer. The first step in attending the police academy and becoming a police officer is to pick the city you would like to work in and fill out their application.
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Step 2
The application to become a police officer, once accepted, denotes acceptance into an area police academy. You can either call the city police department you are interested in or many offer the information and applications online. Open houses are quite popular at police departments to give applicants a taste of what life in the academy and time as a police officer will be like. The application requires the following in most cities in California: Enrollment is continuous and you will bring the application and your drivers license to a testing date. Do not return your form to the police department unless instructed to do so.
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Step 3
On testing day - wear clothing appropriate for a Physical Agility Test (PAT)and obstacle course. The test will begin with a multiple choice exam. Those passing will be allowed to completed the physical skills challenge. There are five parts to the PAT. If you pass that you will be brought in front of an interview board and continue on in your quest to be a police officer and attend police academy. The oral exam will take place at a later date. Those failing the physical portion have to wait 6 months to retake the exam.
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Step 4
If you passed the exam and go in front of the review board - congratulations! In this next step you will face a panel of people asking you questions on why you want to be a police officer and your background that qualifies you for the job. The panel can be other officers, personnel from the city you are applying and even the police chief. If you are chosen you will be put on an eligibility list which is certified by the Civil Service board.
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Step 5
In the final steps before making it to the academy you will have to pass the following tests before you can be considered eligible for Academy attendance: A polygraph examination, detailed background investigation, psychological suitability testing, a comprehensive medical examination and a drug screening. After all this the police chief will make the final decision from the list of eligible candidates.
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Step 6
If you are chosen as a police recruit you will then attend a police academy. During this time you are considered to be in a probationary, non-sworn category status and will not have police officer powers or authority. Police academy training is approximately 6 months in length and is intensive and highly disciplined. At the academy you will attend and participate in classroom and field training courses. After graduation and you will be sworn in and appointed as a police officer, usually with a short term of probation.
