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Job Description
The Position
The City of Oakland is an equal-opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
Exam Number: 23-PS169-07/JUL 193H
The Oakland Police Department is hiring Police Officer Trainees. The ideal candidate will have the education and experience that demonstrate personal motivation, interest in others, and the ability to deal effectively and fairly with residents and co-workers. The ideal candidate will be able to identify problems and resolve them quickly while under pressure, and want to work in a fast-paced, urban environment.
After successful completion of the academy, Police Officers receive step increases on an annual basis and may reach the top step after five years. Currently, the top step is $11,262 per month. Immediate benefits include city-paid health and dental insurance for employees and dependents. Upon graduation from the academy, the benefits package includes a pension provided by the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS); vacation leave, sick leave, and holidays; education tuition reimbursement; life insurance; employee assistance program; and deferred compensation plan.
Examples of Duties
(See Above)
Minimum Requirements for Application
inimum Qualifications
Education: Diploma from an accredited U.S. high school or G.E.D. certificate.
Age: Candidates must be 21 years of age upon graduation from the academy, which is six months in duration.
Driver’s License: Candidates must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License to operate an automobile at the time of application.
Criminal Record: Candidates may not have any felony convictions or other misdemeanor convictions that would prevent carrying a firearm.
Citizenship: Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are eligible for and have applied for U.S. citizenship.
Candidates may be screened out at any point in the process based on the position requirements. The Oakland Police Department reserves the right to waive selection components of individuals based on prior experience or certification.
Application and Selection Procedures
Step 1: Submit Application – Online Application Only
Our online application system is provided by NEOGOV. Click on the link below to apply. You may be required to copy the link and paste it into your browser.
You must apply online prior to the close of the job announcement. If you do not have access to a computer, computer stations are available at any City of Oakland Public Library. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NEOGOV’s Live Candidate Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 am and 5:00 pm Pacific Time, Monday – Friday.
Once a candidate has submitted an online application via NEOGOV, any changes to contact information (name, address, phone number, etc.) should be updated immediately. To update contact information, send a detailed email to . List your full name and all new information that needs to be updated. Failure to maintain current contact information may result in loss of eligibility.
Step 2: Self-Schedule Virtual Written Exam
Self-Scheduled Virtual or In-Person National Testing Network (NTN) Written Exam
The exam must be completed no later than August 4, 2023.
The In-Person National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Written Examination is scheduled to be administered on various days and locations.
To sign up for the test, visit the National Testing Network (NTN) website at: . Written test scores must be submitted to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit by August 4, 2023.
You can also complete National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Written Examination virtually. Please review the Virtual Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page at: . If your computer system will not support virtual testing, please notify our office via e-mail at .
Step 3A: OPD Physical Ability Test. The written exam must be submitted or scheduled no later than August 4, 2023, to participate in the Physical Ability Test.
When: Saturday, August 19, 2023
Where: Merritt Community College, 12500 Campus Drive, Oakland, CA 94619
If you have problems scheduling the written examination, the link for NTN Customer Support is:
Note: OPD accepts the NTN and PELLETB written tests and WSTB Physical Agility Test offered by the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium. If you have already taken the NTN or PELLET-B written test, and/or the WSTB Physical Agility Test, please see “Supplemental Information” below to learn how to submit your scores to OPD.
Step 3B: Oral Exam
Successful candidates will be invited to participate in an exam that is designed to evaluate job-related skills and abilities such as oral communication, interpersonal skills, and judgment. In addition to general questions, candidates will be presented with hypothetical scenarios and asked to explain how they would respond to each situation. The Oral Exam is scheduled for August 19, 2023, the same day as the Physical Ability Test.
If candidate populations exceed the capacity for given Oral Exam date, the Oakland Police Department reserves the right to schedule candidates across the next, available, test date.
Candidates who pass the Oral Exam will be placed on a ranked eligibility list for further consideration. Placement on the eligibility list neither guarantees nor implies that a candidate will be offered employment. The order of placement on the eligibility list does not determine the order in which candidates will be considered. Police Officer Trainee is an unclassified position. Preference points are awarded to Oakland residents and/or veterans. (See below for how to claim preference points.)
Step 4: Background Investigation Process and Chief’s Character Review & Interview
Eligible candidates selected for a background investigation will be contacted by a background investigator who will assist them through the process. Candidates will also be required to submit to a polygraph examination.
The Police Department reserves the right to disqualify individuals who have previously been rejected for hire based upon conditions that are not subject to change, e.g., non-correctable medical conditions or felony convictions. In addition, the Department may reject individuals who have previously been rejected for hire based on psychological testing or background factors.
Upon successful completion and review of the background investigation, a Chief’s Character Review Panel will make employment selections. Candidates selected will be scheduled for a Chief’s Interview and if approved, will receive a conditional job offer of employment, contingent upon successfully passing a medical and psychological examination.
Supplemental Information
Candidates who have previously taken the NTN Frontline written exam and wish to waive the written test portion must request that NTN provide their written test score to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit by August 4, 2023, to be considered for this testing group. Minimum Passing NTN Written T-Score: Human Relations Video Score: 65%; Writing Score: 70%; Reading Score: 70%. Test dates older than August 4, 2022, will not be accepted.
Candidates who have previously taken the PELLETB written exam, and received a score of 45 or higher, are eligible to waive the written test portion of the examination process. To obtain a waiver, the candidate must submit a letter (on agency letterhead) that states that the candidate has taken the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) written exam. The letter must be submitted by uploading it with the online application or bringing it to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit by August 4, 2023, to be considered for this testing group. The test results must contain the total T-Score AND the date of the test; test dates older than August 4, 2022, will not be accepted. POST T-Scores and test dates will be verified with POST.
Candidates who wish to take the PELLETB written exam before August 4, 2023, may find a schedule of upcoming dates at https://theacademy.ca.gov/tests. As mentioned above, written test results must be uploaded with the online application or brought to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit no later than August 4, 2023, to be considered for this test group. All results will be verified.
Candidates who have previously taken the Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) at the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium and wish to waive the physical test portion of the examination process, must submit the official Verification Letter, either by uploading with the online application or bringing it to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit by August 4, 2023, to be considered for this testing group. The minimum passing score is 320. Test dates older than August 4, 2022, will not be accepted. All scores and test dates will be verified with South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium.
Additional Information
Candidates should keep copies of all documents submitted, as these will not be returned. The Oakland Police Department reserves the right to modify the selection process as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessities.
Oakland Residency and Veteran’s Preference Points
Candidates claiming residency preference points will be required to show proof of Oakland residency at the Oral Exam. Acceptable forms of residency verification include a California Driver’s License, California Identification Card, or a utility bill.
Candidates claiming veteran’s preference points must submit a copy of Form DD-214 at the Oral Exam.
Selective Certification
Some positions may require specific bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Candidates for those positions would have to demonstrate the required skill to be selectively certified to the positions.
Fee Waiver
NTN charges a nominal fee for its test. Candidates with demonstrated financial hardship may submit a request to have the fee waived by NTN prior to registering for the exam. Fee waiver requests must be submitted by Friday, August 4, 2023, for this testing group. Late requests will not be accepted. To complete the Fee Waiver Request Form visit .
Candidates will be required to mail the waiver to the address on the form. It will be forwarded to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit for final decision. The process may take several weeks. It is the candidate’s responsibility to allow sufficient time for waiver request review and processing. Submitting a fee waiver does not exempt the candidate from meeting testing deadlines. Candidates will be notified by email of the decision. See “Candidate FAQ #25” on the NTN website ( ) to learn more about how to apply for a fee waiver.
The City of Oakland is committed to the wellbeing of its employees and offers comprehensive health and wellness services along with an array of other benefits for most positions. Benefits may include*:
- CalPERS Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Medical Waiver Plan – Cash-In-Lieu
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Benefits
- Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
- Pension Benefits
- Deferred Compensation
- Specific benefits may vary depending on the assigned specific bargaining unit. Information regarding most benefits can be reviewed here: Current MOUs may be reviewed here: