THE APPLICATION PROCESS
MINIMIUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please Review The List Below
- License: Valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License at time of appointment.
- Education: Possession of a US high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency, or California high school proficiency certificate.
- Age: Must be 21 years of age or older at time of appointment. No maximum age
- Citizenship: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
- Vision: 20/20 uncorrected each eye; corrected to 20/30 each eye.
- Hearing: Must not have suffered a hearing loss of over 25 decibels in the 500, 1000, and 2000 frequency ranges for each ear.
- Physical: Ability to meet such health standards established by the County Medical Consultant.
If you are interested in police careers and feel you can meet the challenge, you are encouraged to apply.
BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS
Background Requirements
A thorough background investigation including a polygraph examination, a medical examination, and psychological testing shall be conducted according to the specifications of the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
Inquiries into hate group membership, participation in hate group activity, or public expressions of hate as defined by Cal. Pen. Code § 13680 and pursuant to Cal. Pen. Code § 13681 will be made as a part of the background investigation. Candidates shall not have been convicted of a felony in this state or any other state or in any federal jurisdiction, of any offense in any other state or in any federal jurisdiction, which would have been a felony if committed in this state, or discharged from the military for committing an offense, as adjudicated by a military tribunal, which would have been a felony if committed in this state as defined by Cal. Gov. Code § 1029.
Disqualifying Factors:
In addition to the definition of disqualifying criminal acts as defined by Cal. Gov. Code § 1029, applicants who have engaged in “Serious Misconduct” as defined by Cal. Pen. Code § 13510.8 are ineligible to be employed as a peace officer in the State of California.
The testing process takes approximately two to three months to complete depending on each applicant’s individual background.
FINAL TESTING & APPOINTMENT
6 Month Eligibility
Applicants who pass both the written and oral tests will be placed on the Deputy Sheriff-Recruit eligibility list for six months. Rank on the list is determined by the oral board test score and any veteran’s credit for which individual competitors may qualify. Applicants’ scores are grouped into Certification Bands. Scores between 83 to 100 are placed in Band A, scores between 77 to 82.99 are placed in Band B, and scores between 70-76.99 are placed in Band C. Candidates are moved on into the background process from the list. Typically, the Sheriff’s Office administers two Basic Academies per year.
VETERAN'S PREFERENCE CREDITS
Make Your Service Count
Veterans who have received an honorable discharge and disabled veterans may be allowed an additional 5% of their total earned score (providing the exam is otherwise successfully completed). To obtain this credit, veterans MUST provide a DD214 that indicates the applicant received an honorable discharge or proof of disability ATTACHED TO THEIR APPLICATION AT THE TIME OF FILING.
