The Background History Application is the official application for the position of Police Cadet.

Applicants may go to the Application section of the Recruiting Unit website and complete a short interest card online. Once the interest card has been submitted the applicant will be allowed to print out the Background History Application and Background Instructions.

The Background History Application packet must be mailed to the Austin Police Department Recruiting Unit with the required documents or it will be rejected and given back to the applicant until all documents are received. To view which documents are needed for your packet go to the "Application" link on the web site.

Once the applicant has passed the Background History Application interview they will be eligible to receive a testing confirmation letter. Please go to the Recruiting Unit web page menu and review "Test Dates" link for more information.

You will be required to be in Austin, Texas for 2 days of initial testing. Day 1 will be the entrance test, physical ability stage and written psychological exams. Day 2 will be the formal Oral Board interviews for all applicants that pass Day 1 events.

On Day 2 of testing all applicants are encouraged to wear appropriate interview clothing for a formal Oral Board interview that may last up to 2 hours.

Each applicant must successfully complete all stages of the physical ability test to remain eligible for employment consideration.

The following information is designed to describe the physical tasks you will be required to perform for the Austin Police Department’s physical ability examination. You will increase your chances of a passing score if you spend a fair amount of time preparing for the test.

Vertical Leap

Applicants will be measured on their height with feet flat on the ground and arm raised straight overhead. Then from a flat footed position (you may bend your legs), jump straight up as high as you can. You will not be allowed to have a running jump start. You must jump at least 16 inches past your measured reach. Applicants must pass the vertical jump to continue in the process.

1.5 Mile Run

The applicant will be required to complete 1.5 mile run. The course is completed at a local middle school running track. You must complete the run in 14 minutes 32 seconds or less to pass this portion of the hiring process. Applicants may wear running attire such as shorts and running shoes. The use of any electronic equipment is prohibited. Please note that during the second day of the Training Academy those applicants selected will be required to run a 6 mile run at an approximate 10 minute mile pace.

Push-Ups/Sit-Ups:

Applicants will then conduct a Pass/Fail physical assessment of 33 sit-ups timed in 1 minute and 30 push-ups, which are untimed. Applicants must pass both the sit ups and push ups to continue in the process. Please view the correct method for push-ups and sit-ups.

300 Meter Sprint

The applicant will be required to complete a 300 meter sprint. The sprint is completed at a local middle school running track. You must complete the sprint in 70 seconds or less to pass this portion of the hiring process. Applicants may wear running attire such as shorts and running shoes. The use of any electronic equipment is prohibited. Applicants must pass the timed run to continue in the process.

If an applicant wishes to be physically assessed prior to their scheduled testing dates, please email the Recruiting Unit.

A Recruiting Officer will contact you to schedule a date to test your ability to conduct the proper push-ups, sit-ups and vertical jump to be successful in passing our initial physical ability testing.  After your assessment is completed, the Recruiting Officer will offer suggestions for improvement if needed for the applicant.

Applicants are also encouraged to view the following links to help with physical fitness that the Austin Police Department promotes for its employees.  This program utilizes high intensity training techniques and principals. Please visit the following Twitter or Facebook pages for more information.

The entrance exam consists of two portions. The first step involves taking the Nelson Denny reading comprehension test. There are 80 vocabulary questions and 38 reading comprehension questions. You are expected to put your answers on a Scantron answer sheet. Your scoring sheet will be processed and you must receive a passing grade in order to continue in the hiring process. The passing score is based on a first year in college reading comprehension level.

No Study Guides are offered by the Recruiting Unit. A search of the internet will provide sample test questions for the Nelson Denny exam.

Writing Sample

Applicants will also submit a sample of their writing skills. Applicants will be shown a video of a crime and will be asked to describe in detail what they observed. Applicants will be graded on detail, neatness and grammar.

Written Psychological Phase

The first day of testing also involves completing the written psychological testing phase, which consists of two different tests. The first is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the second the Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI). Once again you are expected to answer on a Scantron answer sheet; however, some answers will be filling in the blank.

Applicants will spend 3 to 4 hours taking a series of written questionnaires designed to measure a variety of personality and psychological factors related to police work. The results of these questionnaires will be reviewed and follow-up questions will be asked during the psychological interviews at a later date.

Applicants are encouraged to bring their own lunch and snacks on Day 1. Due to the time constraints placed on Day 1 activities you will not be allowed off site for lunch.

Conditional Offer of Employment: Applicants who successfully complete the Nelson Denny reading comprehension/vocabulary examination, Writing Sample and Physical Ability Testing will be given a conditional offer of employment. This offer is conditional upon successful completion of the remaining portions of the application and training process, and upon funding authorization by the City of Austin.

All prospective candidates who have passed the initial Entrance Testing, Physical Ability Testing and Background History Application review will be scheduled for an Oral Board interview.

Day 2 of testing clothing attire should be formal interview clothing. Out of state and outside of Central Texas candidates (250 miles or more) will be scheduled for a formal Oral Board interview. Candidates from Central Texas may be interviewed on this date depending on how many candidates have passed Day 1 of the testing phase.

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.

The Oral Board will be graded on several topics: Knowledge of the Austin Police Department/City of Austin, Communication Skills, Appearance, Cultural Awareness, Integrity and Situational Reasoning. Applicants will be asked questions related to the reason they are seeking a police career, as well as skills and traits that they will contribute to the Austin Police Department. Integrity and Situational questions will be based on specific scenarios.

You will be told orally or in writing within 14 business days or earlier if you passed or failed the Oral Board interview and Background History Application review. The Background History Application review will include a complete review of your entire application packet, documents and exams.

*The actual Oral Board will last approximately 1.5 hour to 2 hours.

All applicants that pass the Oral Board interview and Background History Application review will proceed to the Background Investigation stage.

The prospective candidate will be required to appear before the assigned investigator for an interview (out of state candidates and out of Central Texas candidates will be interviewed on Day 2 of testing).

The assigned investigator will contact all references, co-workers, and any other person the investigator deems necessary. Should it become necessary, the prospective candidate will be expected to assist in getting his/her references to contact the investigator in a timely manner or to provide any information deemed necessary by the investigator.

*The Background Investigation Stage can take anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks to complete the investigation. Most of the delay will be caused from the lack of reference response. Applicants are asked to take part in their background investigation by ensuring that reference information is current and correct.

Once the prospective candidate passes the Background Investigation Stage, the candidate will be scheduled for a polygraph examination. The candidate will receive instructions on how to prepare for the polygraph examination.

A pre-polygraph questionnaire will be completed during initial testing.

The Polygraph examiner will develop your examination from the information you give on the pre-polygraph questionnaire and from the report of your background investigator. The polygraph examination will be done after completion of your background investigation.

*This is approximately a 2 hour process. The Polygraph and Psychological Stages usually occur on the same day. For out of state and outside of Central Texas candidates this will be the second trip you will have to make to Austin, Texas in order to complete the hiring process.

Out of state and outside of Central Texas candidates will also have their Medical/Physical Assessment and Drug Testing done during this same week. Those prospective candidates should plan on being in Austin, Texas for 2 to 3 days.

The psychological interview is usually scheduled directly after the Polygraph examination. The department Psychologist will conduct a one on one interview with the prospective candidate.

After the interview, the psychologist will score the previously taken psychological exams (MMPI & IPI). The psychologist will then review all the information deemed necessary and make the decision on 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.

Applicants who successfully complete all previous stages will be required to take a general fitness assessment and a medical examination conducted by Austin Police Wellness Staff. Wellness staff will assess each candidate’s physical and medical condition 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.

The appointment must be made within 10 days of passing the Polygraph and Psychological Interviews. The actual physical and assessment need not be completed within the 10 days; the only requirement is that the assessment must be scheduled within the allotted 10 days. Please note that the Recruiting Unit will speak with you and make this appointment for you. Out of state or city applicants will have their appointment placed on a day they are here for the final stages.

At the completion of the physical assessment, the prospective 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 in an effort to detect the use of illegal drugs. Drug testing will be done at St. Davids Hospital in Austin. A map to St. Davids has been provided under the "Maps" section of the website. Drug testing results will be known in 7 business days.

Applicants will be placed on the eligibility pool for 2 years from the date they pass the entire hiring process.

Ranking on eligibility list will be from the date a completed Background History Application packet was turned into the Recruiting Unit. A completed Background History Application packet includes all required documents. This date will be used to determine your ranking on the eligibility list after you have passed all other steps in the hiring process. It is imperative that all applicants turn in completed Background History Application packets as soon as possible.

*The eligibility pool list will not be finalized until after all Medical and Drug Screening results have been submitted to the Austin Police Department.