All cadets are assigned to attend the Austin Police Department Training Academy. Upon graduation, all newly commissioned officers will be assigned to the Field Training Officer program lasting 12 to 16 weeks.

Newly commissioned officers are on probation for a period of 15 months after graduation. A Police Officer's first duty assignment upon completion of the police academy is a patrol officer position in a patrol car. The officers' schedule will be working 4 ten hour days with 3 days off.

Police Officer career paths/job assignments include the following, but are subject to change depending on the needs placed on the police department.

Normally after an initial two year period as a patrol officer, the officer will be eligible to apply for transfer to another work assignment pending a selection process for a posted vacancy such as:

• Air Enforcement Team
• Bomb Squad
• District Representatives
• Highway Enforcement Unit
• License & Weights Enforcement
• Motorcycle Unit
• Mounted Patrol
• Recruiting Unit
• Executive Protection Unit
• Metro- Tactical Unit
• S.W.A.T. Gold Team (Reserve Team)
• SRT (Special Response Team)
• Bicycle Patrol
• Homeland Defense Team
• DWI Unit
• S.W.A.T.
• Training Division
• K-9 Unit
• Walking Beat (Downtown District)
• Fugitive Apprehension Unit
• Intelligence Unit
• Career Criminal Unit
• Crisis Intervention Team
• Dive Team
• Critical Incident (Hostage) Negotiation Team

A patrol officer is eligible for promotion to the rank of Corporal or Detective after 4 years from date of commission as a police officer. The promotion is by Civil Service examination. Candidates passing the examination will have their seniority points added to their score and are then placed on a eligibility list for 24 months. Candidates not promoted by the end of the 24 month period must start over in the promotional process.

The Corporal rank is a patrol position on a patrol shift, however, other job assignments for this rank are being considered.

The Detective rank job assignments include but are not limited to the following:

• Sex Offender Unit
• Alcohol Control Team
• Auto Theft Interdiction Unit
• Bomb Squad
• Child Abuse Unit
• Family Violence Unit
• Financial Crimes Unit
• Gang Suppression Unit
• Homicide Unit
• Integrity Crimes Unit
• Internal Affairs Division
• Narcotics Conspiracy Unit
• Missing Persons/Juvenile Crimes Unit
• Human Trafficking Team
• Robbery Unit
• Sector Detectives
• Sex Crimes Unit
• Metro-Tactical Unit Detective
• Vehicular Homicide Unit
• Property Interdiction Team
• Career Criminal Unit
• Organized Crime Unit
• High Tech Unit
• Animal Cruelty Unit

After two years in grade, the Corporal or Detective is eligible to promote to the rank of Sergeant. Promotions are accomplished through a civil service examination coupled with an assessment center. Candidates completing the Assessment Center will have their seniority points added to their score and then placed on a eligibility list for a period of 24 months. Candidates not promoted by the end of the 24 month period, must start over with the promotional process.

Sergeants are eligible to promote to the rank of Lieutenant after two years in grade as a Sergeant. Promotions are accomplished through a civil service examination coupled with an assessment center. Candidates completing the Assessment Center will have their seniority points added to their score and then placed on a eligibility list for a period of 24 months. Candidates not promoted by the end of the 24 month period, must start over with the promotional process.

Lieutenants are eligible to promote to the rank of Commander after two years in grade as a Lieutenant. The rank of Commander is the last rank that can be attained by testing in conjunction with the Assessment Center. Promotions are accomplished through a civil service examination coupled with an assessment center. Candidates completing the Assessment Center will have their seniority points added to their score and then placed on a eligibility list for a period of 24 months. Candidates not promoted by the end of the 24 month period, must start over with the promotional process.

Educational points will be added for each level of the promotional exams up to 2 points.

The rank of Assistant Chief is appointed by the Chief of Police.