Oakland Police Department

***Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply immediately**

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. 

Why Join Oakland Police Department?

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. 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.

Minimum Requirements for Application

Minimum 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.

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.

Police Officer Trainee Application

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 opdjobs@oaklandca.gov. 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 must be scheduled by September 18, 2026.

The In-Person National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Written Examination is scheduled to be administered on various days and locations. 

You can also complete National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Written Examination virtually. Please review the Virtual Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page at: https://www.nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/index.cfm?mode=page/faq-virtual-testing. If your computer system will not support virtual testing, please notify our office via e-mail at opdjobs@oaklandca.gov.

Step 3A: OPD Physical Ability Test. The written exam must be submitted or scheduled no later than September 18, 2026, to participate in the Physical Ability Test.

When: Saturday, October 3, 2026

Where: TBD

If you have problems scheduling the written examination, the link for NTN Customer Support is: http://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/contact.cfm

Note: OPD accepts the NTN and PELLET-B 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 Saturday, October 3, 2026, 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 September 18, 2026, 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 September 18, 2025, will not be accepted.

Candidates who have previously taken the PELLET-B 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 September 18, 2026, 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 September 18, 2026, will not be accepted. POST T-Scores and test dates will be verified with POST. 

Candidates who wish to take the PELLET-B written exam before September 18, 2026, 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 emailed to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit at opdjobs@oaklandca.gov no later than September 18, 2026, to be considered for this test group. All results will be verified.

Candidates who have previously taken the Physical Agility Test / Work Sample Test Battery 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 September 18, 2026, to be considered for this testing group. The minimum passing score is 320. Test dates older than September 18, 2025, will not be accepted. All scores and test dates will be verified with South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium.