The process you are entering to become a police officer is comprehensive and will take approximately 90 days to complete after you take and pass the Civil Service examination. You will be placed on a competitive civil service register for up to one year and processed in descending order.

The Pre-Employment Process:

#1 - Ensure you meet the Requirements
Before you begin the application and test preparation process, ensure that you meet minimum hiring standards. Once in Backgrounding, applicants who do not meet the police department's eligibility requirements will be considered less competitive.

#2 - Application Process

Apply with the City of Seattle Personnel Office

You can apply online (preferred) or via mail:

Police Exam Application Information

All exam candidates who submit an application will receive an exam scheduling letter 2 weeks after the filing deadline. This scheduling letter will provide the scheduled time and location of each portion of the exam process. Candidates should not wait to receive the scheduling letter in order to make any necessary plans for travel.

Fill out the Personal History Information Packet

Lateral Entry candidates must complete the PHI packet and bring it to your Written Test.

Personal History Information Packet
  PDF Doc Word Doc

NOTE: Failure to return your completed PHI will result in disqualification from the hiring process. Make sure and attach photocopies of your driver's license, social security card, DD 214 and academy certification (if applicable). The Release of Information & Credit History Release forms MUST be notarized.

#3 - The Civil Service Examination

Written Test:

• Focuses on memorization, general knowledge, grammar & spelling, multi-tasking, common sense questions, and reading comprehension.
• You will have a 2 hour and 15 minute study session prior to the test to prepare for the memorization portion of the test.
• The written test has 135 questions, you need 80% correct to pass. (You can miss up to 27 questions.)

You will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the written test.

You will be notified within 3 weeks by mail by Seattle's City Personnel office as to your overall score on the Examination and placement on the eligibility list.

Note: Please do not call to inquire about your score.

The Physical Ability Test:

Detailed information about the physical ability test requirements is available on the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission website.

The Oral Board:

After the successful completion of the Physical Ability test, you will be scheduled for an Oral Board. During the Oral Board you will sit across from a panel consisting of two sworn officers and a community member and you will be answering scenario based questions.

Note for Out of State Candidates:

If you are a candidate who currently resides outside Washington State, you will need to plan to stay in the area a few days longer than the exam date to complete a background interview and oral board interviews. When you apply for your test, be sure to check the application page closely to see which dates these will be scheduled for your particular exam date.

#4 - The Background Process
The Seattle Police Department Background Unit continually processes police officer candidates. Background investigations commence once a candidate is assigned to a detective. Candidates are assigned in the order of their placement on the civil service list, per score. This process can take some time, so please be patient.

#5 - The Hiring Process
After successfully completing the backgrounding and testing processes, and based on your overall competitiveness with other applicants, you may be offered conditional employment with the Seattle Police Department.

DO NOT QUIT YOUR CURRENT JOB or MOVE until you receive a written FINAL OFFER of employment!

After receiving a conditional offer of employment you will be scheduled for additional tests, including a polygraph, psychological, medical/physical exam and finally, an in-person interview with a Seattle Police Assistant Chief or his/her representative.

Once you receive your final offer of employment you will be notified of your academy start date & employment orientation.

Employment:

#6 - The Law Enforcement Academy

Entry Level Candidates:

Once hired, you will become a Police Recruit and enter the police academy. You will need to re-take the Physical Ability Test as an entrance requirement. The Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) is approximately 4.5-months (720 hours). Recruits are NOT housed at the academy and will be responsible for their own housing.

Exceptional-Entry Candidates:

If you qualify**, you will be notified when to report to the academy to take your equivalency exam, to be certified as a police officer in Washington State.

**The Department retains the right to send an Exceptional Entry candidate to the CJTC Police Academy if it is determined during the hiring process that a candidates existing training is not comparable.

#7 - Post-BLEA and Field Training
Upon graduation from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) you will become a Student Officer. You will spend approximately 4 weeks at the Seattle Police Department Advanced Training Unit in Post-BLEA. You will learn the laws specific to the City of Seattle, department policy and procedures and services specific to Seattle.

After completing advanced training, you will enter the Field Training Program, where you will spend the following 4-months with an experienced officer who will evaluate your performance in the patrol division.

You must successfully complete all of the above segments to continue your employment with the Seattle Police Department. Failure to achieve satisfactory scores and/or performance may result in your termination.

#8 - Probationary Period and Assignments
Once you successfully complete the Field Training program you will be assigned to the Patrol Division where you will work a Patrol shift at one of our five precincts.

You will be a probationary police officer for the first year following your graduation from the academy. Once passing probation, you will become a permanent member of the Seattle Police Department.

The Police Officer training program at the Seattle Police Department is approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board's State Approving Agency (HECB/SAA) for training of those eligible to receive veterans benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code.

After working 3 years in Patrol, you are eligible to apply for other assignments.
You become eligible to test for promotion after 5 years.