Joining the Los Angeles Police Department is a noble decision and great career move. Police Officers are in charge of maintaining order and protecting citizens, which is no easy task. That is why the application and testing process is extremely rigorous, so only the best candidates rise to the top.
What are the eligibility qualifications to join the Los Angeles Police Department?
First, you must be at least 20 years of age when you apply, and have reached 21 years of age by the time of graduation from the police academy. You must also have graduated from a United States high school, G.E.D. or equivalent from a U.S. institution. A California High School Proficiency Exam will also be accepted, as will a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited American or foreign institution. In addition, you must be a United States citizen, or a permanent resident alien that is eligible and has applied for citizenship. Candidates for the LAPD must have upstanding moral character and be able to faithfully execute the laws of the land.
What does the application process for the LAPD look like?
If you are thinking about joining the LAPD, you will need to submit an online application. This application consists of two parts; Registered Information and Application Questionnaire. Once both of these are completed, you will print the Online Application and bring it to the written test portion.
Step 2 of the process is the Personal Qualifications Essay or PQE. This requires you to write essays answering questions demonstrating your personal qualifications. If you receive over a 70% on this portion, you can advance to the background check and polygraph exam. During this, you will be required to submit a Personal History Statement and provide detailed background information. You will then be interviewed personally and questioned on any issues, fingerprinted, and have a thorough filed investigation conducted.
If you pass Step 3, you will move on to the Physical Fitness Qualifier. You can be the most intelligent person in your class, but if you cannot pass the Physical Fitness Qualifier (PFQ), then you will not be able to join the police force. As of October 1, 2017, the PFQ has become mandatory for all candidates.
After completing the PFQ, you will move on to the Department Interview, which is conducted by a panel. They will look at your accomplishments, job motivation, interpersonal and oral communication skills and determine if you are a good candidate. After moving through the interview, you will then undergo a Medical Evaluation and Psychological Exam.
Only after successfully completing every step of the process, will you be Certified. When this happens, your name is submitted to the Police Department for consideration of Appointment. If you are one of the candidates selected, you will be Appointed to the Police Academy.
What physical requirements are there to join the Los Angeles PD?
In order to pass the Physical Fitness Qualifier, you must excel in four events:
Maximum sit-ups in one minute
300 meter sprint
Maximum pushups in one minute
1.5 mile run
This is the same test that recruits take their third day of the police academy, and you will need to score at least a 50. You will also be required to take a treadmill test that simulates running 1.5 miles in 14 minutes, which is a pass/fail test.
Do you need help getting in shape to join the LAPD?
As you can see, the physical requirements of joining the LAPD are quite stringent. It can be difficult to prepare on your own, which is where True Hero Training comes into the picture. At True Hero Training, we specialize in getting our clients physically ready to apply for positions in the fire department, police department and even the military. We not only get you fit, we also prepare you for the PFQ and teach essential self-defense skills. If you are thinking of joining the LAPD, it’s never too early to start getting fit with the help of True Hero Training.