Police Officer Recruit

City of Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Berkeley's Police Department is seeking qualified candidates who are interested in becoming Police Officers.

As a Police Officer Recruit, you will attend a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified police academy to receive education and training in all aspects of law enforcement such as laws of arrest, search and seizure, crime prevention, community relations, first-aid, physical conditioning, self-defense, handling of weapons and other related duties.

Qualifications

• Completion of 60 college semester units.
• Must be free from disqualifications for employment, including felony convictions.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
• Must be 21 years of age or older at time of appointment.
• Must be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files.
• Must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
• Must be a high school graduate, pass the GED or other high school equivalency test approved by the State Department of Education.
• Must be able to meet physical, psychological and background standards.
• Must be willing to work evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts.
• Must be able to obtain required POST certification and maintain firearms qualification.

Responsibilities

• Attend a POST certified police academy to receive education and training in all aspects of law enforcement.
• Upon graduation from the academy, the Police Recruit is sworn in as a Police Officer and assumes the duties of that position.

Education

60 college semester units

HS diploma or equivalent or higher degree from accredited college/university

Job description

The City of Berkeley's Police Department is recognized as one of the most progressive and innovative law enforcement agencies in the country, and continually strives to develop programs which focus upon increased service to the community in conjunction with enhanced effectiveness in combating crime.

The City of Berkeley is seeking qualified candidates who are interested in becoming Police Officers. As a Police Officer Recruit, you will attend a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified police academy to receive education and training in all aspects of law enforcement such as laws of arrest, search and seizure, crime prevention, community relations, first-aid, physical conditioning, self-defense, handling of weapons and other related duties. Upon graduation from the academy, the Police Recruit is sworn in as a Police Officer and assumes the duties of that position.

See the full job class specification here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/berkeley/classspecs/105026

Click the following links for more information about this exciting career opportunity:

Police Officer Recruit Flyer

Join Berkeley PD | Police Officer Jobs

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:

Completion of 60 college semester units. Previous volunteer or paid experience in a law enforcement support area is desirable.

Other requirements include:

• Must be free from any disqualifications for employment, including felony convictions.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
• Must be 21 years of age or older at time of appointment.
• Must be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose a criminal record.
• Must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
• Must be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development Test or other high school equivalency test approved by the State Department of Education that indicates high school graduation level, pass the California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited college or university.
• Must be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record.
• Must be able to meet physical, psychological and background standards.
• Must be willing to work evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts.
• Must be able to obtain required POST certification and maintain firearms qualification.

The exam process will include, but may not be limited to:

1. Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents (qualifying experience will be calculated based on the administrative review date)
2. Written Exam: POST PELLETB
3. Performance Exam: Physical Abilities Test (PAT)

The written exam and performance exam will be administered on the same day. There is no cost to take the exams with the City of Berkeley. Upcoming City of Berkeley exam dates:

• Saturday, August 22, 2026 (Applications due June 22, 2026)
• Saturday, October 17, 2026 (Applications due August 31, 2026)
• Saturday, December 5, 2026 (Applications due October 26, 2026)

If you are unable to attend the City of Berkeley exam dates, you may register and take your exams with The Academy. The Academy charges a non-refundable materials fee of $10 for the written exam, $25 for the practice PAT, and $100 for the official PAT. After taking the exams and receiving passing scores, please attach your scores to your application.

POST will not authorize you to take the exam within 30 calendar days of having taken your last POST written exam. Please refer to the POST website for additional information.

The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.

Reasonable Accommodations: The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to [e-mail] at the time of application.