POST Reading Comprehension Exam & POST Physical Agility Test (WSTB): Prior to applying, all applicants should complete both of these California Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) examinations. They are adminisered at the South Bay Regional Public Safety Consortium at 560 Bailey Avenue in San Jose. You may register for the examinations online by visiting The Academy's website. We accept T-scores and physical agility test results from all California agencies, as long as they are the same as the tests given at the South Bay Regional Public Safety Consortium and they are no more than a year old. Please contact the South Bay Regional Public Safety Consortium directly for questions about these examinations. (Note: lateral applicants and recent academy graduates need not complete these tests)

Oral Interview Panel

Oral Interview with Personnel & Training Unit lieutenant

Background Investigation (includes a polygraph examination)

Interview with Police Chief

Psychological Examination

Medical Examination (includes drug/alcohol screening)

CritiCall Pre-Employment Skills Test: Prior to applying, all applicants should complete the CritiCall test at the South Bay Regional Public Safety Consortium at 560 Bailey Avenue in San Jose. There is a fee and you must first register online by visiting The Academy's website. (Note: an applicant with one year of dispatch service within the past five years need not complete this test)

Oral Interview Panel

Background Investigation (includes a polygraph examination)

Interview with the Division Coordinator and Police Chief

Psychological Examination

Medical Examination (includes drug/alcohol screening)

Make $49.74 to $59.12 hourly as a Police Officer

5% additional pay for each of the following: night differential, Field Training Officer (while training), and bilingual

5% additional pay for Intermediate POST certificate, and 7.5% additional pay for Advanced POST certificate (certificates are earned based on years of service and level of education)

3% retention pay for five years of law enforcement service; 6% retention pay for ten years of law enforcement service (five years with PAPD)

Patrol work schedule: rotating 4/11 plan (11-hour shifts; four days o-duty, then four days off-duty)

Optional on-duty workout hour

All uniforms and equipment provided, including free ongoing dry cleaning of uniforms

Top-quality health coverage for you and your dependents (maximum monthly City contribution of $2,088 in 2018)

Fully-paid dental and vision coverage

Fully-paid life insurance equal to annual salary

Nine paid holidays annually

Two to five weeks of vacation annually, based on years of service

3%@55 PERS retirement for Classic Safety (2.7%@57 PERS retirement for all other safety)

Generous retirement health coverage for you and your dependents, based on years of service

Make $34.30 to $44.34 hourly as a Public Safety dispatcher

Top-quality health coverage for you and your dependents (maximum monthly City contribution of $2,088 in 2018)

Fully-paid dental and vision coverage

Fully-paid life insurance equal to annual salary

Twelve paid holidays annually

Two to five weeks of vacation annually, based on years of service

2%@60 PERS retirement for Classic employees (2%@62 PERS retirement for all others)

Generous retirement health coverage for you and your dependents, based on years of service