Police Officer Trainee (199C)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

CalPERS pension

Vacation, sick leave, holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Deferred compensation

Job summary

The City of Oakland is seeking Police Officer Trainees to join the Oakland Police Department. Ideal candidates demonstrate motivation, fairness, and the ability to resolve issues under pressure in a fast-paced urban setting.

Upon academy completion, officers advance through scheduled steps and receive a comprehensive benefits package, including city-paid health and dental insurance, CalPERS pension, and paid leave.

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.
• Driver's License: Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.
• Criminal Record: No felony or disqualifying misdemeanors that would prevent carrying a firearm.
• Citizenship: Must be U.S. citizen.

Education

High school diploma or GED

U.S. citizenship

21 years of age by academy graduation

Valid California Driver's License

Job description

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 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. 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 [phone] 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 [e-mail]. 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 October 30, 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 [e-mail].

Step 3A: OPD Physical Ability Test

The written exam must be submitted or scheduled no later than October 30, 2026, to participate in the Physical Ability Test.

When: Saturday, November 14, 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, November 14, 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.

Additional Information

Candidates should keep copies of all documents submitted, as these will not be returned.

The Oakland Police Department reserves the right to modify the selection process as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessities.

Oakland Residency and Veteran's Preference Points

Candidates claiming residency preference points will be required to show proof of Oakland residency at the Oral Exam. Acceptable forms of residency verification include a California Driver's License, California Identification Card, or a utility bill.

Candidates claiming veteran's preference points must submit a copy of Form DD‑214 at the Oral Exam.

Selective Certification

Some positions may require specific bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Candidates for those positions would have to demonstrate the required skill to be selectively certified to the positions.

Fee Waiver

NTN charges a nominal fee for its test. Candidates with demonstrated financial hardship may submit a request to have the fee waived by NTN prior to registering for the exam. Fee waiver requests must be submitted by October 30, 2026. Late requests will not be accepted. To complete the Fee Waiver Request Form visit www.nationaltestingnetwork.com.

Candidates will be required to mail the waiver to the address on the form. It will be forwarded to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit for final decision. The process may take several weeks. It is the candidate's responsibility to allow sufficient time for waiver request review and processing. Submitting a fee waiver does not exempt the candidate from meeting testing deadlines. Candidates will be notified by email of the decision. See "Candidate FAQ #25" on the NTN website (www.nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/faqs.cfm) to learn more about how to apply for a fee waiver.