Qualifications
Entry Level Police Officer describes a candidate with no prior law enforcement experience and those who have completed a self-sponsored academy and have not worked as a commissioned officer/deputy for a law enforcement agency. All candidates must meet the minimum qualifications. Learn more about the Entry Level Hiring Process.
Exceptional criteria:
- At the time of the test you have less than two (2) years of full-time employment as a Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Tribal Officer or State Trooper with full police powers and duties.
- Successful completion of field training (FTO) in the state you're certified.
- At the time of the test your break in service is between two (2) - five (5) years (13 - 60 months) of full-time employment as listed above.
- Apply as an Entry-level candidate. There is no Exceptional application.
- Testing dates for Exceptional candidates correlate to the Entry-level dates. The process is the same minus the physical agility test (PAT).
- Exceptional candidates if hired start at Step 1 on the pay scale listed on the website.
- The Seattle Police Department retains the right to send an Exceptional Entry candidate to the WSCJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy and reclassify them as an Entry Level Police Officer if it is determined that a candidate's existing training is not comparable.
CJTC Equivalency/Reciprocity summary (Click to view)
Please Note: The Seattle Police Department retains the right to send an Exceptional Entry candidate to the CJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy and reclassify them as an Entry Level Police Officer if it is determined that a candidate's existing training is not comparable. Officers successfully completing the Washington State Equivalency Academy and Seattle Police Department training will then enter into the Field Training program.
Lateral Criteria:
- At the time of the test you must currently be working full-time as a Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Tribal Officer or State Trooper with two (2) or more years of experience with full police powers and duties (Academy not included).
- At the time of the test you were employed full-time as specified above but your break in service is less than 1 year (12 months).
CJTC Equivalency/Reciprocity summary (Click to view)
Learn more about the Lateral Entry Hiring Processes.
The Seattle Police Department employees civilian support staff. You can find more information about job openings with the department on our careers page.
While some qualifications below are required by State law for officers, others are simply standards considered during the hiring process for both civilian and officer hires. If you do not meet a standard that isn't required by State law-still apply. We value honesty and life experience over perfection.
An applicant must be at least 20.5 years of age at the time of taking the written exam. This requirement is necessary to ensure all police applicants will be able to legally enter all premises that SPD responds to. There is no maximum age limit See RCW 41.12.07.
Proof of high school graduation or a certified GED. See WAC 139-07-02 (1)(b)(ii)
Entry Level applicants must pass the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Fitness Ability Test.
See WAC 139-05-230
Information about the Physical Agility Test requirements are available at the Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Laterals and Exceptional Entry candidates do not take the PAT (Physical Agility Test) during the testing and hiring process.
An applicant must be a United States Citizen or lawful permanent resident to be hired.
See RCW 41.12.070 and WAC 139-07-020(1)(b)(i) and 8 U.S.C See 1101 (a)(20)
An applicant must have been discharged under honorable conditions (Fair Employment Laws apply).
See WAC 139-07-020 (1)(b)(iii)
An applicant must have a valid Washington State Driver's License prior to being hired. It is understood that out of state candidates won't have this at time of application, but they must get one prior to accepting a job. Driving is an essential function of this position with SPD. See RCW 46.20.001 for license rights and restrictions.
An applicant's criminal record, including all arrests, prosecutions, deferred prosecutions, 'Alford' pleas, and non-conviction information will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification.
The following examples will be disqualifying:
- Any adult felony conviction.
- Any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity.
- Any domestic violence conviction.
An applicant's driving record will be considered on a case by case basis with the past five (5) years being the most critical. The following will be disqualifying until the time parameters have been met:
- Driving under the influence (DUI), Negligent and Reckless Driving, Hit and Run within the past five (5) years of taking the exam.
- Suspension of your driver's license as a result of a DUI within the past five (5) years of taking the exam.
An applicant's employment history, including any terminations or leaving an employer in lieu of termination, will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification.
An applicant's credit history will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification. The following are areas of concern:
- Failure to pay income tax.
- Failure to pay child support.
All applicants are expected to maintain a professional appearance. SPD has the sole discretion in determining what is considered professional, as it relates to the position the applicant is applying for. Tattoos, branding (intentional burning of skin to create a design), voluntary disfigurement (marring or spoiling of the appearance or shape of a body part), or scarification (intentional cutting of the skin to create a design) shall be carefully reviewed by SPD on a case-by-case basis.
Seattle Police guidelines for applicants relating to drug use:
To be considered the most competitive candidate and to increase the likelihood of continuing on in the process, the closer the applicant is to the timeline listed for the drug(s) in question the better. All illegal drug use will be closely scrutinized on a case by case basis.
- MARIJUANA: Has not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking the Police Officer Civil Service Exam.
- The use of PRESCRIPTIONS not prescribed to you by a Doctor or a pattern of illegal use of prescription medication.
- CLUB DRUGS: Has not used club drugs, such as, but not limited to: Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, or MDMA (ecstasy) within three (3) years prior to taking the Police Officer Civil Service Exam.
- STEROIDS: Has not used steroids within three (3) years prior to taking the Police Officer Civil Service Exam.
- AEROSOLS: Has not inhaled aerosols, sometimes referred to as Huffing (paint) or Whippits (Nitrous Oxide) or used Khat within three (3) years prior to taking the Police Officer Civil Service Exam
- COCAINE/CRACK: Has not used cocaine or crack within five (5) years prior to taking the Police Officer Civil Service Exam.
- HALLUCINOGENS: Has not used any Hallucinogens; PCP, Angel Dust, Wet, Phencyclidine, LSD, Mushrooms, or Psilocybin, within five (5) years prior to taking the Police Officer Civil Service Exam.
- OPIATES: Has not used Opium, Morphine, or Heroin within five (5) years prior to taking the Police Officer Civil Service Exam
- STIMULANTS: Has not used Methamphetamine, Crank, Crystal, Ice, Speed, Glass, or Amphetamine within five (5) years prior to taking the Police Officer Civil Service Exam.
- Has not used any illegal drug(s) while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity.
- Has not manufactured or cultivated illegal drug(s) for the purpose of the sale/marketing of the drug(s).
- Has not sold or facilitated the sale of illegal drugs.