How to Become a Police Officer in California

Co-authored by Saul Jaeger, MS

Last Updated: October 20, 2023 Approved

Becoming a police officer is a rigorous selection process that takes patience, time, and training. Before you apply, make sure a profession in law enforcement is right for you by talking with police officers about their experiences on the job. Once you have determined that becoming a police officer is for you, prepare your body and mind for the physical, verbal and writing, medical, and psychological examinations.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Ensuring that You’re Qualified

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1
Make sure you have the basic qualifications. To become a police officer in California, you need to have these basic qualifications:
- Meet the age requirement which varies by police department (most set it at 21, some at 18).
- Be a citizen either through birth or naturalization.
- Either have a high school diploma or an equivalent GED certificate.
- Have a valid driver’s license.
- Have no felony convictions in the state of California or any other U.S. state.
- Have no misdemeanor convictions, which will prevent you from carrying a firearm.
2
Ensure you are ready to commit. Before you begin to apply, ensure that being a police officer is the career for you. If you are a youth, consider joining Youth Police Explorers in your area. If you are not a youth, contact your local police department. Tell them that you are interested in becoming a police officer, and ask if you can participate in ride-alongs. Or, volunteer at your local department through a cadet program.
- You can also ask police officers about their career experiences. Ask an officer, "What are the perks of being a police officer?" "What are the cons?" "What type of service calls come in regularly?" "What's the typical day, graveyard, and swing shift like?" and, "What is the department's diversity?"
- Attend local community meetings conducted by police or LE personnel.
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3
Get additional education or training. Although additional education, like a college degree or an associate’s degree, is not required, it will enhance your application. Consider getting an associate’s degree in criminal justice if you do not have a college degree.
- An assoicate’s degree in criminal justice helps you prepare to become a police officer. It offers courses in legal issues, human behavior, computer systems, and other subjects. These degrees are also available online.
- If you are in the midst of getting your BA or BS, look into criminology and law enforcement classes and majors. Also, an accounting degree is great for people who are interested in white collar crime. And, a computer science degree is great for people who are interested in computer forensics and cyber crime.^{[1]
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4
Get physically fit. All departments require that you pass a physical agility test. Therefore, you need to be in good physical condition in order to become a police officer. As part of the test, you need to be able to run 1.5 miles. If you are not already physically fit, start training at a local school’s track. You can also join a gym and get a personal trainer. Tell the personal trainer your goals and they will help you achieve them. Also, some police academies offer practice sessions at around $30. The physical agility test consists of the following components:
- 99 yard obstacle course.
- 32 foot body drag.
- A 6 foot chain link fence climb.
- A 6 foot solid wall climb.
- A 500 yard sprint.
- A 1.5 mile run.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Contacting and Applying at Your Local Department

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Contact a local police department that you would like to work at. Ask them if they are accepting entry-level police officer applications. Also, ask them about their basic qualifications. For example, while the basic qualifications to become a police officer in California state you must be at least 18 years of age, other departments require a higher age limit, like 20 years of age at the time of your examinations.
2
Complete an application. If you are qualified and they are accepting entry-level police officers, complete an application at a prospective department. Go to the department's website to download the application, and complete it at home. If the department does not have a website, go to the department directly. Ask them about the essential information needed to fill out the application.
- Be prepared to provide information like a certified copy of a birth certificate or naturalization, copies of high school and college degrees, transcripts, marriage certificate, copy of vehicle and medical insurance policies, copies of divorce decrees (if applicable), and other materials.
A background check is a necessary part of the screening process. The department will contact previous employers, supervisors, coworkers, family members, college advisors, and roommates. Create a list of your references and contact them. Tell them that you are in the application process to become a police officer, and that they will be contacted for reference verification.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Passing the Examinations

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1
Prepare for the reading and writing test (PELLETB). As part of the screening process, you will be required to take a reading and writing test, also known as the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB). The test is a multiple-choice and fill-in-the blank written examination. It takes around 2 ½ hours to complete, and there are 5 sections.
- Prepare for this test by strengthening your reading and writing skills. Strengthen these skills by obtaining study guides from your local bookstore. Look for books like study guides for the POST exam. You can also review your basic grammar and vocabulary skills by obtaining books or study guides that assess you on your skills and offer ways to strengthen these skills. ^{[2]
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Prepare for your oral interview. An oral interview is also part of the screening process. The goal of the interview is to gauge your problem solving, oral communication, and interpersonal communication skills. Obtain a general list of interview questions from the Internet, and ask a friend or a family member to quiz you. Practice this several times. You will not get the exact questions until the day of your exam. You will be given 5 minutes to review the questions before the oral exam begins.Typical questions that are asked during the oral interview are:^{[3]
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- Can you tell us about yourself?
- What are your career goals and where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Why do you think you are the right person for this position?
- What type of experience do you have for this position?
- What have you done that shows initiative and/or problem solving?
- What do you know about this organization and/or position?
- What makes you qualified for the position?
- Tell us how your education will benefit you and help you succeed in this position?
3
Pass psychological exams. Because being a police officer means dealing with people on a regular basis, and comes with great responsibility, you will need to pass a psychological exam. The psychological exams includes an appointment with a psychologist, as well as a pencil and paper test.^{[4]
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- Prepare for this examination by getting a good night’s rest and by eating a healthy breakfast. The pencil and paper test will consist of 300 to 600 questions, so you need to be prepared for several hours of answering questions. Therefore, make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep and eat eggs, fruit, and grains for breakfast. Try to stay away from sugary breakfast products.
4
Pass your medical exam. The majority of applicants pass the medical exam. However, applicants who do not pass are applicants who have serious physical or mental conditions that would significantly interfere with their job performance. Some examples of these ailments are PTSD, hearing or vision impairment, a recent seizure, a severe heart or lung condition, and other debilitating problems.^{[5]
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- If you have any of these problems, or a similar problem, before investing the time and money to apply, contact your doctor to see if your ailment will interfere with your job performance.
Once you have completed and passed all the examinations above, you will be ready to enroll in the POST regular basic training. This course will be either offered at a police academy affiliated with the department, or you can look for POST-accredited academies in your area.^{[6]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Is it hard to become a cop in California?

Saul Jaeger, MS
Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.

Saul Jaeger, MS

Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Answer

In California, there are different challenges for policing, depending on where you live. For instance, policing in San Francisco is very different than in Central Valley, which is different from Oakland. Some of that is due to city attorneys who make the policies in those areas, but you also have to be aware of the historical relationships between the police department and the community.

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Make sure you have the basic qualifications first.

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Make sure a profession in law enforcement is something you want and are committed to.

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Prepare for examinations in advance.

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