After filling out an initial application, candidates vying for a position within a police department can expect to take several qualifying exams. The following table outlines the types of exams and what they entail.
| Exam Type | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Written Exam | An exam that may feature multiple-choice, true-and-false, and open-ended questions in a variety of subject areas |
| Law Enforcement Essay Exam | An exam requiring candidates to write several paragraphs in response to a prompt |
| Personal History Statement | A detailed response to questions about a candidate's past experiences, including education and work experience |
| Background Investigation | An investigator uses the information a candidate supplies on the Personal History Statement to conduct a thorough background check |
| Physical Ability Test (PAT) | An exam that assesses candidates' physical fitness — including strength, endurance, and flexibility — to ensure that they're physically capable to endure the rigors of a police training academy |
| Oral Interview | An interview with a hiring panel that may include police department leaders, local government representatives, and local businesspeople |
| Medical Evaluation | A complete physical performed by a certified physician to check candidates for a variety of medical conditions and ensure that they're healthy enough to train to become police officers |
| Psychological Evaluation | A personality questionnaire and/or an interview with a psychologist or psychiatrist to ensure that candidates can mentally handle the stress of police work |