This page will explain the hiring process for our Regular Academy. There are a number of steps which must be completed prior to receiving an offer for employment. For some candidates, the order of steps may be rearranged slightly – regardless, all steps in the hiring process must be successfully completed in order for you to be hired. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements will be disqualified. Please note: Out of town applicants will be required to travel to Austin at least two times throughout the hiring process.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to apply for the position of police cadet:

• Must be 20.5 years of age at time of application
• Must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must be a U.S. citizen (by birth or naturalized)
• Must read, write, and speak English

Step One: Submit Application

All police cadet candidates must submit an online application.

IMPORTANT: We contact all applicants via email throughout the hiring process. It is recommended that you add iCIMS to your approved/safe sender list to ensure that our emails are properly delivered to your inbox and not marked as spam. Not taking this step may result in you missing important updates regarding your application. 

SUBMITTING INFORMATION: Applicants should not send any personal information, such as a social security card, or driver’s license information to us via email. Submitting personal information by email is not a secure form of communication. Instead, please upload these documents directly into the iCIMS portal by logging into the system. Applicants with questions are asked to contact the Recruiting Office directly at 512-974-4211 for assistance on this matter. 

Step Two: Intake Review

After submitting an application online, each one is reviewed for disqualifying factors. Applicants who pass the Intake Review will be contacted via email and scheduled for Phase I Testing. 

Those who do not pass the Intake Review process will be contacted via email and provided with an eligibility date to reapply, if applicable. Some disqualifiers are permanent. Please visit the FAQ section of our website for information on potential disqualifiers.

Step Three: Phase 1 Testing

Applicants who pass the Intake Review process will be scheduled for Phase I Testing. Additionally, during this step, applicants will have 7 (seven) days from the date requested to submit a completed electronic Background History Statement (BHS).

This portion of the process is a one-day event and includes the written exam, completion and notarizing of the Candidate Forms Guide, a series of questionnaires and a physical fitness exam. 

Physical Fitness Exam- Applicants will be given an opportunity to prove their fitness level for approval to enter the Austin Police Academy. The fitness tests to be used by the Austin Police Department will consist of the following:

Pushups- Maximum number of pushups completed in three (3) minutes. Subject starts in the plank position, lowers until the chest touches an ab mat (elbows go to 90 degrees), rises until arms are fully locked out. Hands and feet remain in contact with the ground at all times, rest occurs in the up position, subject may arch back up or down during rest but must start from straight back plank position before each rep. If the subject touches knees to the ground or lies on the ground, the test is stopped and only reps up to that point are counted, even if time remains. 

Sit-ups - Maximum number of sit-ups in one (1) minute. Subject starts by lying with back flat on the ground, arms crossed in front of the chest with hands resting on opposite shoulders, knees bent with feet flat on the ground. A partner will hold the feet with their hands. Subject will sit up, without raising hips off the ground, and touch their elbows to the top of the knee/break the plane of the knee. Subject will then lay back down until the shoulder blades contact the ground. Subject may only rest in the up position. If subject lays on the ground for more than two (2) seconds, the test will be ended and only reps up to that point are counted, even if time remains. 

1.5-mile run- Complete a 1.5 mile run as fast as possible. Walking is permitted but will be counted toward overall time.

If an applicant does not pass the Fitness Tests, they will be disqualified for this current Testing Cycle. They may reapply for a future academy testing date. 

60% Chart for Each Physical Event
Male
Age Group	20-24	25-29	30-34	35-39	40-44	45-50
1.5 Mile Run	13:29	13:34	13:38	13:41	13:52	14:58
Push-Ups	33	32	23	22	20	19
Sit-Ups	25	24	23	22	21	20

                                

Female
Age Group	20-24	25-29	30-34	35-39	40-44	45-50
1.5 Mile Run	15:27	15:43	16:34	17:04	17:58	19:06
Push-Ups	19	18	12	11	10	9
Sit-Ups	24	23	20	19	18	17

 

Passing, and Failing Guidelines

Passing:  Two events must average 60% or better AND the overall average must be 50% or better.

Failing: No two events average 60% or better, OR any one event scores below 20%.

 

Applicants will be required to upload copies of required documentation to the iCIMS portal prior to Phase I Testing:

• Original/Certified Birth Certificate
• Naturalization documents, if applicable
• Social security card
• Current driver’s license
• High school diploma, official high school transcripts, or GED
• Official departmental forms (link provided in testing confirmation email)

Failure to sit for the written exam or failure to earn a passing score of at least 70 will result in your disqualification from the hiring process. Applicants must review the Reading Comprehension Manual prior to sitting for the exam - a number of questions on the exam will be based on this reading material. We also strongly suggest that you review the Candidate Orientation Guide and take the free practice exam. This will give you a better understanding of what to expect on the day of the exam.

Step Four: Background Investigation

Applicants will be sent a link providing access to the electronic Background History Statement (BHS), after being scheduled for Phase I Testing and prior to the test day. Applicants must submit the completed BHS within 7(seven) days of being provided access to the link. All required documents must be submitted to the Recruiting Unit online through the iCIMS portal prior to attending Phase I Testing. In order to prepare for the amount of information required in the Background Investigation phase, it is highly recommended that applicants begin gathering this information immediately after submitting the initial application. You will be asked to provide:

• Last 10 years of chronological work and volunteer history, including phone numbers and email addresses for a supervisor and coworker at each place of employment or for each volunteer position
• Last 10 years of chronological residence history
• Last 10 years of relationship history including names, phone numbers, and email addresses for current and past relationships
• Life history of vehicle crashes, citations, and warnings
• Contact information for all immediate family members including parents, stepparents, adoptive parents, in-laws, siblings, half-siblings, stepsiblings, adoptive siblings and all children
• Contact information for 5 personal references that you have known for at least 2 years (cannot include family members, current/prior relationship, or current/prior supervisors/coworkers that are already listed in your work history section)

Once the applicant has provided all of the required information, uploaded copies of required documentation to the iCIMS portal, and passed Phase I Testing, a Background Investigator will conduct the investigation. Applicants are expected to communicate with their assigned investigators in a timely manner throughout this stage of the hiring process. Failure to respond with required information, or a failure to communicate in a timely manner will result in your disqualification. 

Documentation that must be submitted electronically through the iCIMS application portal:

• Driver’s license
• Social security card High school diploma, official high school transcripts or GED
• Original or certified birth certificate
• Naturalization documents, if applicable
• College transcripts, if applicable
• DD214 (Member 4 or Service 2 versions only) or good standing letter from Commanding Officer if active military, if applicable
• Marriage license(s), if applicable
• Divorce decree(s) and addendum(s), if applicable
• Last 2 earnings statements from your current job or last filed tax return if unemployed
• Current or prior law enforcement: Copy of personnel file and any Internal Affairs investigations in which you have been involved. If you are unable to obtain this documentation, you must provide an addendum explaining the reason(s) why and what you did to attempt to obtain this information.

Step Five: Phase 2 Testing

Applicants who successfully complete the Background Investigation stage of the hiring process will be invited to complete Phase II Testing. This is a multi-step process that consists of online and in-person testing:

Online:

• The psychological questionnaires administered include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI). Both are designed to measure a variety of personality and psychological factors related to police work. Results will be reviewed by a psychologist and follow-up questions may be asked during the psychological interview in Phase II.

In-Person:

• Psychological interview – The psychological interview is conducted by a department psychologist and consists of a one-on-one interview with the applicant along with a review of the previously taken psychological questionnaires (MMPI & IPI). The psychologist will decide whether or not the candidate meets the mental and emotional fitness to function successfully as a police cadet and upon graduation, as an Austin Police Officer. Candidates should dress in business formal attire for this interview. The psychological interview and oral board interview are scheduled to occur on the same day. 
• Oral board interview –The candidate will be sat in front of a panel of Austin Police officers ranging from the rank of officer to lieutenant. During the oral board, the applicant will be asked questions designed to demonstrate certain knowledge, skills and abilities considered basic for the effective performance as a police officer. Candidates should dress in business formal attire for the oral board interview. 
• Polygraph examination – The candidate will receive instructions on how to prepare for the polygraph examination. A pre-polygraph questionnaire will be completed during Phase I Testing. The polygraph examiner will develop your examination from the information you give on the pre-polygraph questionnaire and from the report provided by your background investigator. The polygraph examination is approximately a 2-hour process.
• Medical assessment – Applicants who successfully complete all previous stages of the hiring process will be required to take a general fitness assessment and medical examination conducted by Austin Police Wellness staff. Each candidate’s physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that he/she can function safely as a police cadet. If the applicant’s medical history or the physical findings by the Department physician indicate the need for further clarification the applicant will be required to submit their medical records to the Austin Police Staff Physician. Upon completion of the physical assessment, the candidate will be given directions to proceed directly to a medical facility to undergo a collection of bodily fluids and hair samples. The samples will be analyzed to detect the use of illegal drugs. 

Step Six: Offer for Hire

Applicants who successfully pass Phase I Testing, the Background Investigation, and Phase II Testing will be offered a conditional offer of employment. This offer is conditional upon the successful completion of the remaining portions of the application process and upon funding authorization by the City of Austin. 

Step Seven: Mandatory Orientation

All applicants must attend a mandatory orientation session at the Training Academy approximately 3-5 weeks prior to the start of the Academy. Applicants who do not attend orientation are subject to disqualification and the conditional offer of employment will be rescinded. At orientation you will meet Cadet Training staff, members of the APD Executive Team, and your classmates. Cadet Training staff will outline expectations for the first day of the Academy. You are encouraged to bring a close friend or family member with you to orientation. Keeping them involved in the process is important and this opportunity allows them to establish friendships with other spouses, family members, etc. A strong support system starts here.